Evening star., 1945-01-09
Pan-American ParIey
Without Argentina
Called for February
By JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

A Pan-American conference to
consider the setting up of world
security organization and Western
Hemisphere political and economic
problems will be held in mid -Eeb-
ruary, the State Department an
nounced last night But Argentina
will not be present.
The announcement was made
shortly after the governing board
of the PAN American Union reject
ed Buenos Aires request for a meet
ing of foreign ministers to consider
diplomatic recognition of the regime
of Gen. Edelmiro Farrell, which the
State Department considers pro-
Axis.
May Discuss Argentine Problem.
Although the State Department
did not specify the exact time and
place of the meeting, diplomatic
sources said Mexico City had been
definitely selected. 1t is expected
the Argentine problem will be dis
cussed then, although it is not on
the formal agenda of the confer
ence.
The action of the Pan-American
Union brought prompt criticism
from Rodolfo Garcia Arias, Argen-
tine Minister and Charge d'Affaires
here. He declared the decision was
inconsistent with the usual con-
sultative procedure of the union
and that his government could not
overlook this fact.
Exclusion of Argentina from the
Mexico City meeting was accom-
plished by the adoption of a defini-
ton limiting participants to those
countries which are taking part in
the war effort.
Yesterdays developments were re-
garded by observers as diplomatic
victory for the State Department,
which has opposed the idea of
conference where Argentine repre-
sentatives would openly debate the
claims of the Farrell regime for rec
ognition. While the department has
said that it would not oppose a con-
ference on Argentina if it were de-
sired by a majority of the other
American States. its negative atti-
tude was well known to them.
Objectives Are Defined.
The objectives of the forthcom-
ing Pan-American conference were
defined by the State Department
under three headings. These are
to Cd strengthen the contribution
of the American republics to the
United Nations war effort, CD work
toward secure and lasting peace"
and go explore economic measures
for the future.
The third point in the agenda,
although it has received little pub
lie attention, is regarded by diplo-
mats as highly important. The
Latin American countries are wor-
ried about the effect on their
economies of the cessation of heavy
Allied buying of strategic war ma
terials which will follow the defeat
of Germany and Japan.
For instance, it is pointed out, the
United States has been buying tre-
mendous amounts of such metals as
tin, lead, zinc and copper in Latin
America. 1t also has stepped up far
beyond the level of its peacetime
purchases imports of crude rubber
from Brazil and other rubber-pro-
ducing states.
Economists who have studied this
problem believe that the answer to
it lies in expanding the industriali-
zation of the Latin American states.
This, it is pointed out, would pro-
vide new industries and work for
their peoples and also provide a
postwar market for United States
machine tools and other industrial
equipment.
On the political side, the Mexico
City conference will give the Latin
American countries an opportunity
to express their viewpoint toward
the world security plan drawn up by
the United States, Great Britain,
Russia and China at Dumbarton
Oaks last summer Some Latin
American diplomats have expressed
disappointment and chagrin over
what they consider the minor role
assigned to small states in the peace
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