Evening star., 1942-03-30
Farley Opens Here
To Map Plans for
Hemisphere Defense
Protection of Shipping
Is Major Problem;
Knox Declares

IS MoIOI TIOOieW,
Knox Declares
Ranking oficers OF the armed
forces of the American nations
gathered around a conference table
here today to plan the defense OF
the Western Hemisphere.
Secretary of War Stimson. Secre-
tary OF Navy Knox and Gen.
George C. Marshall, army chief Of
staff, welcomed the uniformed rep
resentatives of the American Re-
publics at their initial meeting in
the Pan American Union Building.
The military men were members
of the Inter r-American Defense
Board, which was formed at the
direction Of the Rio de Janeiro
Conference Of Foreign Ministers.
Secretary Knox warned the dele
gates that control and protection of
the merchant shipping OF American
nations was zone of the most urgent
measures to be solved" Already,
some of the nations represented at
the military council table have lost
shipping to Axis raiders.
Stimson States U. s. Policy.
Secretary Stimson told the dele
gates that the United States policy
was to extend to other American
nations as much help in the shape
of munitions and supplies as possible.
But. he explained, the exigencies Of
battle have made it impossible for
us to do as much as we would like.
But as our production has
accelerated and approaches its peak,
we have correspondingly attempted
to accelerate the tempo OF our dis
tribution of its assistance.
In the 1nter-American Defense
Board which we are now establish
ing we hope to have an instrument
where, in common council and dis
cussion of the needs and resources
of each nation, the possibilities of
mutual assistance can be fully un-
derstood and q solution of our vari-
Gus problems be reached in a spirit
of mutual amity and helpfulness."
Secretary Knox, in his address to
the group. warned that the Ameri-
ca nnations must be prepare for
extension of the naval warfare in
the South Atlantic and Pacific areas.
Long War Forecast.
Enemy vessels are operating off
the coasts of the United States and
certain of the other American re-
publics," he said. These opera
tions are evidently for the purpose
of disrupting the sea communica-
tions between the Americas. The
merchant shipping of all the Amer
lean republics is in danger"
AT the same time, Secretary Knox
warned that the hope of a perma-
nent peace" must be deferred while
we prepare for long war. This is
to be a war which demands loyal
cooperation, he said. adding that
we must be prepared to give re-
ciprocal aid"
He asked that each Of the Ameri-
can republics develop its own naval
resources to the fullest extent, prom
Using that the United States will pro-
vide as much naval material as
possible. He also promised the
United States would continue to
train the fighting personnel of other
nations.
This continent is in imminent
peril from non-American aggres-
sion," he declared
Offensive Planned.
Gen. Marshall pledged to the con-
Terence that the major objective OF
United States strategy was to assume
the offensive at the earliest possible
date. The offensive. he said, would
be followed steadfastly and with de-
termination.
The Venezuelan Ambassador, DR.. |
Diogenes Escalante, presided at thu
conference, in his capacity as acting
chairman of the Pan-American
Governing Board. He told the dele
gates that "if the history of the
last two and a half years has taught |
one lesson, it is that every country |
of this continent is affected by a
threat to any one of them"
Gen. Arturo Espinosa Mujica of |,
Chile delivered the response for the
Latin American nations He said:
I'VE have faith and confidence
that the spirit of cooperation which
has been demonstrated so many |
times by our countries and govern
ments will inspire each of our meet
ings with the frankness and cordi-
ality which we all feel prevail today
at this first meeting
Emhick Permanent Chairman.
1t. Gen. S. D. Embick of the
United States Army was named per-
manent chairman of the conference.
The board met in an atmosphere
of solemnity. with delegates seated
about the large horseshoe shaped
table in the boardroom of the union.
A distinguished gathering OF officials
and diplomats witnessed the meet
Ing Among those in the audience
were acting Secretary of State Sum-
ner Welles, the British Ambassador.
Lord Halifax, and the President of
Haiti, Ellie Lescot.
Armed guards snapped to atten-
tion as the smartly uniformed mill
tary and naval men arrived at the
flag g-bedecked union. The Marine
Band played national airs of the 81
American republics
All the American nations were
represented except Costa Rica,
which is one Of the nine Latin
American countries which has joined
the United States in a declaration
of war on the Axis.
The sessions of the conference
were adjourned for the remainder
Of the week because of Holy Week.
They will resume again next Mon
day.
Mr.. Welles said after the meeting
that he was sure the outstanding
significance of the boards formation
would be understood in all the
American republics and the outside
world, especially in the Axis coun-
tries. He expressed confidence that
the board would be successful in