Evening star., 1942-02-17
Wenes Assures Iatins
u. ). Won't Interfere
In Their Affairs
AssuiIs Those Who Seek
Puppet Governments in
Hemisphere Motions
~ ths Associated Press

~ ths Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. IA recogni-
ton of American interdependence
now exists which renders full as
surance that the liberties and the
independence of the free peoples OF
the Americas will be maintained
against all hazards and against all
Odds" UndersecreGary of State
Sumner Welles said last night.
Criticizing persons who he said
advocated United States interfer-
ence in the domestic affairs Of the
other American republics, Mr..
Welles said In a speech at a dinner
of the Cuban Chamber of Com
merce that application Of such
policy would mark 1.-The end of all
friendship and understanding be-
tween the American peoples"
Bedrock on which the new epoch
OF inter- American understanding
was founded "is the recognition In
fact, as well as in word, that every
one of the 81 American republics Is
the sovereign equal OF the Others"
he said.
Interference "Inconceivable."
That implies" Mr. Welles as
serted, that interference by any
one of them in the internal affairs
of the others is inconceivable. De-
stroy or change that foundation and
the inter American federation
which now exists will crash into
ruins"
Referring to the proponents of the
other policy only as alleged lib
erals" Mr.. Welles said he wondered
II they realized that what they are
now proposing is the pursuit by
their Government OF policy which
Is identical with that which has
been pursued during the past five
years by Hitler"
What they are demanding in
fact Is the exercise by the United
States Of its power and of its in
f1uence in order to create puppet
governments in the sovereign ma
tions of the Western Hemisphere
because of the belief by these people
that these puppet governments
would be more responsive to the
political theories which they them
selves hold.
1T would signalize the termina-
ton of the new epoch which COM
menced at Rio de Janeiro. 1t would
mark the collapse of the finest and
most practical form OF international
co-operation-the system OF the
Western Hemisphere-which in my
Judgment modern civilization has
yet produced"
81 Nations Oppose Axis.
Pointing out that the Americas
we're joined in the fight against Hit
Ter. that 81 nations and people in
all were opposing the Axis, the
Undersecretary of State said:
Upon us, the people of the United
States, are fixed the eyes of mil
lions upon millions who have for
long past been suffering the burden
and heat Of the battle. For many
weary months they have been wag-
ing our fight for us They now look
10 us to make good the faith they
have in us. We cannot fail.
I'VE shall not fail because the
lnd for which We strive, and which
We seek, Is that goal which to all
The Americas-from TERRA del Fue-
90 to Hudson's BaY-implies the one
supreme velue in nfe-liberty"
Mr.. Welles said that in the Rio
De Janeiro conference the world wit
messed "the ending Of an epoch in
the Western Hemisphere, and the
beginning OF q new era.
at witnessed the termination of
the period in the history Of the
in which the phrase the
solidarity of the American repub-
lies had been an Inspirations COL
lection of mere words.
No Appeasement in Evidence.
Unanimously the 81 American
republics determined upon their
course. And the nature Of their
course was fortnight and catego-
rical. I can assure you that If the
spirit of appeasement fingers any
where on the American continent
1t was not much in evidence at Rio
de Janeiro."
He predicted that the govern
ments of Argentina and Chile soon
would join the other American re-
publics in the common action
against the Axis.
AS an outgrowth of the confer
ence, he hailed the settlement of a
125-year-old dispute between Ecua-
dor and Peru, saying it will always
be regarded as direct result of the
spirit engendered at that meeting