Evening star., 1941-12-10
u. :. Asks 70 Nations
To |nter-American
Defense Conference
WeIIes Sees ENJOYS From
Chile, Argentina, Brozil
On Jonuory ToIks at Rio
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

front against Japan and possible
future Axis foes, the United States
today invited its 20 neighboring
American republics to meet in a
special inter-American conference
Although the note did not specify
a time or place for the meeting the
State Department subsequently an
nounced that Secretary Hull had
proposed Rio de Janeiro and the
first week in January.
Mr.. Hulls proposal was made in
a communication to DR.. Leo S. Rowe,
director general of the Pan-Amer-
lean Union. DR.. Rowe announced
later that the Governing Board of
the Union will meet at $50 pm,
December II, to set the exact date
and prepare the agenda for the con-
ference.
In swift diplomatic preparation
for the conference, Undersecretary
of State Welles, the administration s
foremost adviser on American az
fairs, arranged appointments today
with the Ambassadors of Chile, Ar
gentina and Brazil.
The United States note to the
American republics credited the gov
ernment of Chile with initiating the
events leading up to the convocation
of the special meeting.
Must Settle Dispute.
One gravely difficult question
hanging over the prospective confer
ence is the erasure of the boundary
dispute between Peru and Ecuador
a dispute which has been marked
for several months by intermittent
outbursts of military belligerency.
The course of events since the
outbreak of war in Europe in 1885
clearly demonstrates that the fat.
of every free and peace-loving ma.
ton OF the world hinges upon the
outcome Of the present struggle
against the ruthless efforts of Ger.
tain powers, including the japanese
empire, to dominate the entire eartt
by the sword" the American note tc
our sister republics stated.
THE wave of aggression has nov
broken upon the shores of the New
World.
In this situation that menace:
the peace, the security and the fu.
ture independence of the Western
Hemisphere, a consultation of the
ministers of foreign affairs appears
to be of urgent desirability.
Follows Havana Accord.
Therefore, in conformity with
the procedure on consultation ap-
proved by the second meeting OF
foreign ministers at Havana, the
Government of the United States is
informing the governing board OF
the Pan-American Union of its de-
sire to hold a consultative meeting
at the earliest possible moment.
"Inasmucn as the procedure
agreed upon in Havana lin 1940)
provides that the Governing Board
of the Pan-American Union shall
not only transmit the request for
consultation, but, on the basis Of
the answer received, determine the
date of the meeting, prepare the
agenda, and adopt all other meas
ures advisable for the preparation
of the meeting, it is hoped that each
country will appropriately INSTRUCT
its diplomatic representatives In
Washington in the premises"
The Chilean and the United
States action was taken in accord.
ance with the foresighted procedure
agreed upon by the American foreign
ministers at their meeting in Havana
in July last year-a meeting which
added new diplomatic force to tht
policy of continental solidarity bull
up since 1886 by conferences a
Buenos Aires, Lima and Panama.
Z. S. Cites Attack.
Article IS of the Havana protocol
the United States reminded th'
other American republics, provided
that the New World states woule
consult again if there were "an,
attempt on the part OF a non-Amer'
lean state against the integrity Of
inviolability of the territory, th'
sovereignty, or the political inde
pence of an American state"
That such an attempt is now il
progress the United States told 1t
sister republics in the note in thi
paragraph:
"On December 7, 1941, withou
warning or notice, and during tn
course of negotiations entered int
in good faith by the Government o
the United States for the purpos'
of maintaining peace, territory o
the United States was treacheroust
attacked by armed forces of th'
Japanese Empire"
At his press conference toda.
Secretary Hull warmly and appre
ciatively commended Canada ant
Cuba for their declarations Of war
He also expressed his pleasure owe
the attitude Of cooperation adopte,
hv Aroav.&isaa