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ognized or accepted by the American repub lics, regardless of the form that may bel employed to attain such purposes.

Temporary provisions in the Act of Habana] are designed primarily to cover situations that may arise prior to the coming into force of the convention, which will require ratifica tion by the various governments. They au thorize the creation of an emergency committe composed of a representative of each of the American republics, which is to be regarded as constituted when two-thirds of the members: shall have been appointed. The appointments) are to be made promptly. Should the com mittee be under the necessity of administering any region before the effective date of the convention, it will utilize the applicable provisions of the convention.

The act also recognizes the possibility of emergency situations and the right of any of the American republics, acting singly or jointly with others, to proceed in any manner required! in its own defense or in the defense of the con tinent. If action is taken as an emergency measure, the matter is to be placed before the committee as soon as practicable in order that it may adopt appropriate measures.

The spirit of unity and solidarity has been likewise strengthened by the action of the con ference on projects relating to subversive ac tivities. I refer especially to the attitude toward propaganda designed on the one hand to stir up dissension in the Western Hemi sphere by beguiling and misleading the people and, on the other hand, to intimidate them by express or implied threats of what may happen if the American republics fail to recognize and to take into account the foreign purposes and policies of certain foreign governments. These activities at times have been in the nature of oral or written representations and at other times in the form of a promiscuous circulation of literature. In pursuing these policies, the

ersonnel of diplomatic and consular missions as been increased out of all proportion to the eeds for legitimate functions of such missions. t is well known that members of diplomatic issions have well-recognized functions and at the members of such missions are clothed ith special immunities. When they engage activities foreign to those that are recogized, they abuse their immunities, and the overnment that has received them may well e concerned. Likewise, the functions of conular officers are generally defined in internaonal law and practice, and the officers. hemselves enjoy certain special consideration y the local authorities. But when such offiials engage in activities divorced from the ustomary consular functions, they abuse the ospitality of the state in which they serve.

That situations of the foregoing character ave developed in many of the American reublics, has been generally known for some ime past.

This meeting of ministers of foreign affairs as taken cognizance of these matters in sevral resolutions, particularly the one relating -o activities directed from abroad against donestic institutions and that relating to interAmerican development of standards on diplonatic officers.

The first-mentioned resolution recites that he American republics have equal concern and qual responsibility for the preservation of peace and security of this hemisphere, and that ach shall adopt all necessary measures to preent and suppress activities directed, assisted, r abetted by foreign governments or foreign groups or individuals which tend to subvert he domestic institutions or to foment disorder n the internal political life of the Americas. It also provides for immediate consultation in he event that the peace of any of the American republics is menaced by such activities and

Mini Amer

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ing subversive activities within their respectiv jurisdictions.

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In a word, there is in the resolution a deft nite recognition by the American government E of an intrusion upon their hospitality and disregard of their desire to live in peace, free from systems of government and of interna tional policies which are foreign to the pret cepts of free and liberal institutions upon which the democracies of this hemisphere ant based. The Habana Meeting recognized th common interest of all of the American repub lics in these matters and showed determination to maintain a solid front against any incur sions. The resolution concerning improper ac tivities of diplomatic and consular agencies set forth the underlying principles relating to thfi functions of such missions and calls upon th respective governments to take action to pre vent and suppress such activities.

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In these, as in other matters of a kindre character discussed and acted upon by the cons ference, there has been demonstrated not onl a desire but a zeal and determination to fact movements of a subversive character with b solid and united front. The American repub lics have resolved that the political institution and aggressive practices of other nations shalt not be imposed upon the free and independen peoples of this hemisphere.

In the economic field, too, we set out th examine together the dangers and difficultie confronting all of the American nations and to consult as to the best means of meeting themp The task was approached with a strong com viction shared by all that the present state of affairs, as well as the outlook for the future imperatively calls for the creation of instru mentalities of economic defense that must nec essarily gain in effectiveness in proportion to the degree of common action and cooperativel effort which they represent.

All of our nations are faced today with the istressing consequences of war-created disrupon of world trade. Surpluses of commodies, the exportation of which is essential to the conomic life of the American republics, have ccumulated and continue to accumulate be

use Europe at war is unable to absorb them. Their existence is a matter of serious concern roughout the continent. In addition, we ust envisage the possibility that, after the rmination of hostilities, many important uropean markets for these commodities may e directed and controlled by governments hich regard international commerce as an strument of domination rather than as a eans of enabling all nations to share fully nd on a basis of equality in a mutually benecial exchange of their surplus products.

The resolution on economic cooperation dopted by the Habana Meeting is designed to reate and set into operation machinery of ction to deal with and meet both of these tuations.

In that resolution the 21 American republics Deaffirmed their adherence to liberal principles if international trade-those of equal treatent, of fair practices, and of peaceful motives. They declared their determination to apply ese principles in their relations with each ther as fully as present circumstances permit nd their readiness to conduct trade in accordnce with these principles with any non-Amerian country prepared to do likewise.

At the same time, they announced their purose "to devise and apply appropriate means of effective action to cope with the difficulties, isadvantages, and dangers arising from the resent disturbed and dislocated world conditons".

It was the unanimous opinion of the Habana leeting that continuing consultation among he American republics is essential to the atainment of these pressing objectives. Accord

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ingly, it was decided to strengthen and expa the activities of the existing Inter-Americ Economic and Financial Advisory Committ as an agency of such consultation. Th Habana Meeting specifically instructed t Committee to proceed at once with the prep ration of detailed plans for cooperative temp rary handling and orderly marketing existing and prospective surpluses; for t development, where feasible, of commodit production and marketing agreements and a rangements; and for the promotion among t American nations of mutually beneficial trad The Committee was also instructed to devi methods of increasing consumption in t American republics, through relief and in oth ways, which would aid in the disposal of su plus commodities. Finally, the Committee w instructed to consider, while these measur and plans are being developed, the possibilit of a broader system of inter-American cooper tive organization in matters of trade, cred money, foreign exchange, et cetera.

Some of the measures proposed can be p into operation very quickly. Some will quire a certain amount of time for the matu ing and execution of appropriate plans. Tak in its entirety, the program of action which envisaged is flexible enough to apply to a emergency and effective enough to make it po sible for each of the American republics meet more fully the difficulties resulting fro war-disrupted trade and to safeguard itse from possible dangers of economic subordin tion from abroad.

It is a system of economic defense und which the American republics will be prepar to trade with any nation willing to meet the in good faith, in a spirit of friendly and peac ful purpose, and on a plane of frank and fa dealing; and under which they will be full equipped to protect themselves against an other kind of dealing.