The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-30

puhllcs, including Mexico, Colonabi American countries, Panama and at war,
 The original resolution for sever- anco of relations was mandatory, but due to Argentine and Chilean oppo- sition it waS toned down to tho status of c recommendation, which the remaining American nations excepting Argentina and Chile acted upon immediately.
 The recommendations Of the con. ference also included strict control over Axis financial and commercial interests in the American republics and close vigilance over political ace tlvltles of Axis nationals to prevent espionage sabotage and propaganda,
 Many Axis aliens were rounded up in various Latin- American countries Some were interned, others held and deported to the United States for safer internment there or fore rec patriation to their native lands, Other Axis aliens were moved away from strategic coastal areas.
 Watch Axis Aliens
 A committee for the political de. fense of the hemisphere was formed and has been functioning at Mcna tevide0 for several months, check ing on Axis alien activities and pre- pairing recommendation to the vafs ious American republics.
 Two powerful Latin.American ila- tions joined the ranks of tho cotiFis tries warning against the Axis drrs ing the course Of the year. Mexico declared war on Germany, Italy afid Japan on June 1 as 6 result Of sub- marine sinkings of iier ships, and Brazil entered the war against Ger many and Italy in August for c similar reason, shortly after more than six Brazilian coastwise vessels were sent to the bottom without warning . short distance from shore, More than 600 lives were lost ip these sinkings.
 The entry of Brazil and of Mex leo in the war marked closer CO., operation between each of those countries. on the one hand, and the United States on the other, or iFls dustriai, military and political fronts.
 With United States aid, the mill. tary power Of each rose toward ipodern tempo, and Brazil began to emerge as potentially the strongest military power on the South Amer. ican continent. largely due to the lerd-lease shipment of United States planes, and other war materials. and c system whereby Brazil's military flyers received United States train. ing.
 Under leadership of BYazil's Pres ident 0etulio Vargas and Foreign Minister Oswaido Arsnha and Mex ico's President Manuel Ayila Cama. cho and Foreign Minister Ezequicl Padilia, the two countries suyged to- ward q position Of pan-Americar leadership.
 Chile IntsTns Nasi Agents
 Tn February, Juan Antonio Rtos was elected President of Chile and in April he was inaugurated for c six-year term, to succeed President Geronimo Mendez, who served for . brief period following the death of President Pedro Aguirre Ceyda in November, le4t.
 Although Rios Is regarded as pro- democratic on the basis of his pub- lic pronouncements, hts administya- ton late in December, fe42. still had made no move to break off relations with the Axis, although 6 number of German espionage agents were interned, and the government took measures intended to deal with es- pi0nage activities aimed against tire interEts of warning American na- tiors.
 Rios was scheduled to pay an cf- ficial visit to the United States in October at the invitation Of Presi- dent Roosevelt. He postponed 1t the week before he was due to depart after Under-secretary of State Summer Wells, in a speech at Bos- ton. said Argentina and Chile were permitting Axis agents to "stab h the back" other American countries by permitting the into send out shipping information resulting in sinkings.
 An international incident" was almost caused. The Chilean eab1- net resigned as a result of the Welles speech and Foreign Min1s- ter Ernesto Barrcs Jarpa. under stood to have been sharply opposed to Q break with the Axis. lost his post.
 The Argentine government pro tested the WeIles speech. but in November. after Welles' statement was supported by memoranda pre sented to Argentina by the D. S government. containing information cf Axis spy activities. the ArEeu- tine police and Federal courts pro secuted 36 Axis nationals. mostly Germans. on espionage charges They allesedly involved highly placed members of the German en- basSy in Buenos Aires
 New RrezlEem1s Ser Umity Dr. Alfonso L0pez was elected president of Colombia in April fur a fouryear term. and tsok oEflee in August. He succeeded DE. EIszaEsz Santos. Both men are strongly pEB- dem1craElg and EemrAUsxlean-