Evening star., 1942-02-19
Chancellor Assures
u. ). Chile Is Not j.
Pro-Fascist
Rio Conference Linked
Republics Closer, Rossetti
Tells American Writers

Mr.. Rogers Is one OF seuer1l
american 7setcspdpern,en Uho
pisited Chile as guest OF Chilean
newspaper, returning q Uisit OF
Chilean netpspupernen last year
iDho fere guests OF American
newspapers, including The Star.
The interchange OF journalists
tDas arranged By United States
Ambassador to Chile Claude
BotUers.
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.
SANTIAGO, Chile (MaiD EN-
phasizing that the declarations Of
the recent Rio de Janeiro confer
ence must be approved by the
Chilean Congress, to which they
will be submitted late in February
Or early ir March, Chancellor Juan
B. Rossetti in an interview with
North American journalists char
acterized Chile as "the most demo-
cratic country of the American con-
tinent."
He received the group of visiting
newspapermen February 6 in the
handsome reception hall of the
Foreign Ministry, where he talked
for about an hour, and presented
his views on many subjects, espe-
cially the similarity between the
democracy of the United States and
Chile. He called on North Ameri-
cans not to believe what he said
were unfounded sensational state
ments that Chile was "pro-Fascist I"
The chancellor spoke freely, an
swering many questions, and volun-
teering Iurther expressions of his
feelings for the United States.
Republics Linked Closer.
Discussing the Rio conference,
the chancellor said that it had
brought together and united with
firmer ties the countries of the
American continents, and had in no
way divided these countries, as has
been said in some circles.
The Foreign Minister explained
that in his opinion, the countries of
the American continents were now
linked in common interests and
were moving along the same road.
In this connection, he explained,
the road might be long, but it led
to one goal that all these countries
seek, in a united effort. Further
more, he said, these countries now
were working together toward
common ideal which would satisfy
the democratic principles of all
these countries"
Chile, he declared emphatically,
was already cooperating with the
United States and other pan-Amer-
ican countries openly and definitely,
and this cooperation would be am
plif1ed progressively.
Asked about how the agreements
at the Rio conference would be sub
mitted to the Chilean Congress, he
explained they would be up for dis
cussion late in February or the first
week in March, month before Juan
Antonio Rios, the President-elec
takes Office April 2
AS demonstration that the gov
ernment of Chile desires to speed
up the approval and ratisfication
of the Rio agreements as early as
possible in view of the Importance
attached to them, and the neces-
sity of enacting practical measures
without delay, he explained the
various resolutions would be sub
mitted first t the Chamber of Depu-
ties and sent to the Senate, one by
one, as approved.
Economic Pacts Popular.
With reference to the economic
agreements Of Rio, however, he felt
these already had met with the
of the Chilean public. In
particular, he mentioned the agree
ments which refer to the limitation
of prices in order that specially
articles imported
from the United States and other
countries may not increase the cost |
of living. He also referred to eff !
forts of Chile to obtain suitable
prices for Chilean exports.
The Chancellor stressed the i'm
portance of the Rio plan for a
meeting in the near future of the
of Finance of the Amer
ican countries, to consider the es-
tablishment of the gold standard
throughout these countries.
Sterilization of exchange through
this means, he said, would be based
on additional increase of gold re-
serves in the various countries. He
explained this plan, presented by
the Chilean delegation to Rio, had
been approved here already in prin-
ciple, and every effort would be
made to put it into practice.
The Chancellor made it plain he
would like the North American
journalists to tell the public of the
United States that Chile is a DEM
ocratic country, proving the prin-
ciples of democracy by practical
action, and not by mere words.
I'm Chile" he said, every citizen
enjoys maximum of freedom; press
is not censored, and is free; tyran-
nies will not exist in Chile, never
prosper here. Chile has enjoyed