Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, February 21-March 8 1945

Introduction

The Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace at Mexico City February 21-March 8, 1945 was held by the American republics collaborating in the war effort.

For some time prior to the Conference, it had been felt by the United States Government and by other American governments that there was need for a meeting of their representatives to discuss war and postwar problems. In January 1942 just after the Pearl Harbor attack, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American governments had met at Rio de Janeiro to consult regarding the measures that the American countries should take together for their mutual defense and protection against the Axis aggression. Since then there had been no other general conference. Following this lapse of three years, therefore, and in the light of the developments during the course of the war, further joint consideration had become desirable of means to strengthen the contribution of the American republics to the achievement of their common objectives in the war and to assure their future peace and security.

There were, in the view of the Government of the United States, three major groups of problems involving the adjustment and extension of the cooperative relationship and activities of the American republics. The first group related to the prosecution of the war and further measures that might be necessary to intensify cooperation in the war effort in all fields. The second group concerned international organization. The problems in this group included both the establishment of the general International Organization for the maintenance of peace and security and, in the light thereof and of inter-American experience, the adjustment of inter-American instruments and agencies. Informal conversations had been initiated at Washington in the autumn of 1944 between the diplomatic representatives of the other republics and officials of this Government with respect to the

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proposals formulated at Dumbarton Oaks on the establishment of a general International Organization, and it was agreed that further study and discussion of this subject should be undertaken. It was the consensus that concurrently steps should be taken to develop further the inter-American system as the instrumentality for the fulfillment of the common purpose of the American republics.

The third group of problems related to postwar economic cooperation. It was strongly felt that the close collaboration which characterized the action taken by the American nations in their struggle against the common enemy should be continued not only to assure their political security and integrity but, and as complementary in the attainment of those objectives, to effect the permanent betterment of the economic and social welfare of the peoples of the Western Hemisphere through a rising standard of living throughout the continent.

After full consultations and exchange of views among the interested governments, it was agreed, in December 1944, that a conference should be held at an early date to consider the foregoing problems.

The governments subsequently accepted the invitation of the Government of Mexico that the Conference be held in Mexico City the following February and approved that Government's suggestions for the agenda of the meeting.

The results of the Mexico City Conference were undoubtedly of far-reaching importance for the present and future of the Western Hemisphere. In the words of Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., in his address at the conclusion of the Conference: "What has been accomplished by the twenty American republics represented at this Conference will mark an historic turning point in the development of inter-American cooperation for peace and security from aggression and for the advancement of the standards of living of all American republics."

Of the notable agreements reached at the Conference, there are at least five which may be considered to be of outstanding significance. First, the American republics participating in the Conference reaffirmed their wartime association in the common struggle against the Axis. Second, those American republics endorsed the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals as a basis of the charter for a world Organization. Third, in the "Act of Chapultepec" steps were taken going beyond the "Act of Habana" in developing machinery for united action by the American states in the face of aggression or threat of aggression, whether from within or without this hemisphere. Fourth, the Conference also adopted sweeping and specific measures for strengthening and reorganizing the inter-American system and preparing it for whatever new responsibilities it may assume with the establishment

of the world Organization. Fifth, in the "Declaration of Mexico City", in the "Economic Charter of the Americas", in the "Declaration of Social Principles of America", and in other resolutions a reaffirmation and extension was made of American principles and aspirations which seek the general improvement of the well-being of American peoples.

Through the accomplishments of this Conference necessary measures were initiated to meet the salient problems of war and peace confronting the American republics. The way was also prepared for the International Conference of American States at Bogotá, Colombia, in 1946, when it is expected that many of the projects for a broad and definitive reorganization and strengthening of the inter-American system will be completed.

The deep appreciation of the United States Delegation is expressed to His Excellency Manuel Avila Camacho, the President of Mexico, to Dr. Ezequiel Padilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico and President of the Conference, and the other officials of the Mexican Government for their outstanding work in organizing the assembly and for the brilliant direction of its deliberations. At the same time the Delegation records its gratitude to the Mexican Nation which throughout the stay of the Delegation in Mexico extended it the utmost hospitality and courtesy.

Participation

Delegations representing nineteen American governments were present when the Conference convened on February 21. The Government of El Salvador was not represented at the beginning of the meeting, but on March 1, the date when the new administration of that country took office, the Delegates of El Salvador were seated with the representatives of the other countries.

More than three hundred and thirty delegates, advisers, counselors, and secretaries participated in the Conference, one of the largest interAmerican gatherings ever held. The delegations of seventeen countries were headed by their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Under the regulations of the Conference, the Director General of the Pan American Union, Dr. Leo S. Rowe, attended as an honorary member. He was accompanied by the Counselor of the Union, Dr. William Manger, and the Chief of the Juridical Division, Mr. Manuel Canyes. Several other inter-American and international organizations were also represented by observers; among them, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, the International Labor Office, the League of Nations, and the Inter-American Union of the Caribbean.

United States Delegation

President Roosevelt designated the Honorable Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Secretary of State, as the United States Delegate to the Conference, and the Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller, Assistant Secretary of State, as Alternate Delegate. A large number of advisers, technical officers, and secretaries also attended the Conference to assist the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary. They rendered valuable aid to the delegates, not only at the Conference but also in the preparations leading up to it. The participation of the members of Congress whose advice and counsel were immeasurably helpful is particularly appreciated. The entire personnel of the delegation is listed in appendix I.

The Secretary of State arrived by air on February 21 direct from the meeting of President Roosevelt, Marshal Stalin of the U. S. S. R. and Prime Minister Churchill of Great Britain at Yalta. He had made one stop en route at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he had visited President Getulio Vargas. On his return trip to the United States, Mr. Stettinius took the opportunity to visit Cuba where he was the guest of President Ramón Grau San Martín.

Agenda

As has been indicated in the introductory section of this report, the agenda of the Conference was agreed upon through consultation among the participating governments. As formally approved at a preparatory session of the chairmen of the delegations held on February 21, the agenda was as follows:

1. Complementary measures to intensify the cooperation in the war effort to complete victory.

2. Consideration of problems of international organization for the maintenance of peace and collective security:

(a) World organization;

(b) The further development of the inter-American system and its coordination with the world Organization.

3. Consideration of the economic and social problems of the Americas: (a) Economic cooperation during the war and in the transition period;

(b) Consideration of methods to develop such cooperation for the improvement of economic and social conditions of the peoples of the Americas, with a view to raising their standard of living. 4. Pursuant to the desires of the governments consulted, whenever the foregoing topics are disposed of, consideration would be given to the resolution adopted by the Governing Board of the Pan American Union at its meeting on Monday, January 8, relative to the request of the Argentine Government.