Evening star., 1942-01-20
Unanimous Rupture
OF Relations With Axis
Is Predicted al Rio
Argentino's Stond Held
Radically Modified
After TuIks With Aronho

b. the Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 20.-A
unanimous break In relations
with the Axis powers by the 81
American republics within two
days was predicted today by a
high functionary of the Pan
American conference.
The informant, who declined to
be quoted by name, said Argentina'S
attitude had been radically modi-
fied" after her Foreign Minister, DR..
Enrique Ruiz Guinazu. talked yes
terday with Brazil's Foreign Min
lister Oswaldo Aranha.
There were high hopes that Ruiz
Guinazu would abandon his isola-
zionist position completely. Argen-
tina and Chile have been the lone
holdouts, and observers have ex-
pressed the belief that Chile would
follow the Argentine lead.
The predition came as delegates
of the United States, Brazil, Vene-
zuela and Colombia emerged from
a conference in Aranha's office with
Sumner Welles, United States Un-
dersecretary of State and head OF
the American delegation.
Other Resolutions Submitted.
The group had been joined by
Cuban delegates and by Ezequiel
Padilla, Mexican Foreign Minister,
and 1t was learned authoritatively
that they were discussing the rup-
ture resolution.
The conference secretariat dis
closed that additional resolutions
were submitted, including one by
the United States for a stabiliZation
fund to support South American
currencies.
1t followed Chiles proposal yes
terday calling for the joint use OF
gold reserves by the American ma
tions.
Peru proposed, among other
things. that the conference declare
itself in permanent session for the
duration of the war. Another res
olution demanded the dissolution of
all organizations of Axis nations
numerous in Latin America-and
strict control over Axis diplomatic
pouches.
Chile Urges Military Parley.
Chile drafted a proposal calling
for conference of the general
staffs Of fighting forces of all the
Americas as the conference neared
its crucial decision.
The proposal for a rupture with
the Axis was expected to reach the
full Defense Committee late today
and possibly the plenary session of
the conference tomorrow. Earlier
she Argentine group was reported
to have asked a 24-hour delay to
make up its mind.
Axis Threats Backfire.
German and italian attempts to
torpedo the conference by thinly-
veiled threats aimed at the South
American nations appeared, mean
while, to have backfred.
The conference leaders determine
I1Oil W oCSh a SllOWd do"11 1olloWCo
swiftly the disclosure that German
and italian diplomats had orally
warned Aranha that should Brazil
sever relations with the Axis, their
governments would regard it as "a
most nfriendly act"
The threat, apparently part Of q
widespread Axis attempt to sabotage
the conference, was cloaked in diplo-
matte phraseology. An excellent
source, however, declared it had
aroused President Getulio Vargas Of
Brazil to make the grim declaration
that since war had come to the
Western Hemisphere his country
could no longer be neutral
Aranha himself left no doubt that
Brazil would support a break with
the Axis. asserting his government
would follow a policy Of absolute
cohesion with America"
Further Axis Vaccinations Charged.
Indications of further Axis
Vaccinations came from Padiua,
who declared in an interview:
I'VE know that Axis agents are
working in their well-known fashion,
which is very skillful, to keep some
American nations from breaking of
relations"
Padilla failed to elaborate, but
said other conference leaders were
fully aware of underground Axis
operations.
Prior to the prediction that Ar
sentines had changed their stand,
there were reports that they de-
sired to introduce a counter proposal
70 the original anti-Axis resolution.
It's nature was not disclosed, but
Argentina has been represented
previously as ready to support q
compromise calling for service re-
strictitons on activities of Axis diplo-
mats In the Americas.
100 Resolutions Offered.
Seven conference committees la
bored, meanwhile, to digest more
than 100 resolutions covering every
conceivable economic, political and
nilttarycSituation which might re-
suit from the advent of war in the
Western Hemisphere.
Among the proposals awakening
interest were:
1. A resolution offered by Mexico
and Uruguay which would have the
rest of the American nations treat
the United States and her Allies as
-belligerents. This would per-
NIT full use of port facilitieS-not
generally granted belligerents-by
Allied warshipsD
2. A measure offered by the United
States providing for strict control
of subversive activities.
3. A Dominican Republic sugges-
ton for creation of an 1nter-Ameri-
can Defense Committee.
Chile Backs Unity, but