Evening star., 1944-11-10
Dumbarfon Oaks Plan
Faces Opposition
In Latin America
BY JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

Inc Administration faced 8
serious problem today in connec-
ton with its efforts to set up q
postwar security organization
when it became evident that
some of the Latin American
states will oppose the Dumbarton
Oaks plan for a potent council
to be dominated by the "big
four" nations and, later, France
This was learned late yesterday al
conference among Acting Secre-
tary of State Stettinius and the
Latin American ENJOYS when Uru-
quay presented a memorandum sug-
gesting the revival of the old League
of Nations. Failing in that, Ambas-
sador Juan Carlos Blanco said, the
Dumbarton Oaks plan should be re-
written to give small countries more
authority.
Uruguay Opposes Russia.
The Uruguayan thesis collides di-
rectly with that of Soviet Russia
which has insisted that the big
four"-Russia, the United States,
Great Britain and China-must
dominate the council and be in a
position to use force quickly and de-
cisively to put down aggressors.
London, Washington and Chungking
also favor highly centralized coun-
Gil, although Russia has taken the
lead in insisting that the nations
now fighting Germany and Japan,
and which would supply the military
forces for the proposed United Ma
tions security organization, should
have dominant voice in controll-
Ing it.
The Uruguayan position, which is
supported in general by some of the
other Latin American states, raises
a delicate problem for President
Roosevelt, who is expected to confer
soon with Premier Stain and Prime
Minister Churchill to complete the
Dumbarton Oaks security draft.
Ut s. May Lean to Small Nations.
On the one hand, Premier Stain
may be expected to insist on a
strong, effective council dominated
by the great powers. On the other,
the United States will not want to
antagonize the Latin American ma
tions with whom Washington has
laboriously built up a cooperative
system over the last IL years.
The present Dumbarton Oaks
draft provides for permanent council
seats for the "big four"-and later
France-and six rotating member
ships to which representatives of
the small nations would be elected
annually.
New Rules Are Suggested.
Failing the adoption which
seems improbable-of Uruguay's
plan to revive the League of Ma
tions, Ambassador Blanco suggested
the following rules for the new Sc
curity organization to protect the
rights of small nations:
l. Important decisions must be
made by special voting majorities,
rather than mere plurality.
2. Nations not represented in the
council should have voice but not
a vote on matters directly con-
corning them.
3. The precise powers to be given
the rotating members of the council
elected by the assembly should be
specified in advance.
4. The number of nations on the
council should be fixed "in order to
avoid any contingencies contrary to
the rights and personalities of the
small nations"
Third Meeting on Security.
The consultative meeting held by
Mr.. Stettinius yesterday with the
Latin American ENJOYS was the
third of a series in which the
United States has attempted to
work out an informal agreement on
security with them in advance of
planned Pan-American confer
ence. 1t is understood that in ad-
dition to Uruguay, Venezuela also
is to present plan.
The disposition of the old League
of Nations was not settled at Dum-
barton Oaks. 1t is on the slate for
discussion between the President,
Premier Stain and Prime Minister
Churchill.
The Geneva organization still sur
wives on paper, although it had be-
come moribund long before the pres
ent war broke out in 1899. Germany
and Japan had withdrawn. Soviet
Russia was expelled when the Red
Army invaded Finland. And the
United States has never participated.
Geneva made no serious effort to
cope with the GermanPolish dis
pute which led directly to the be-
ginning of hostilities.
Stettinius Issues Statement.
The results of yesterdays discus
sion were summarized by Mr.. Stet-
tinius in the following statement:
1--WE are encouraged by the sup
port that the American republics
are showing for the basic ideas en-
bodied in the Dumbarton Oaks pro-
posals.
1--WE received assurances today
that all the, American republics are
giving careful study to the pro-
posals and are going to bring their
comments to the group.
Some of the heads of missions
have already placed the views of
their governments before the group"
Dumbarfon Oaks Debate
Schedulad for Monday