PAN-AMERICAN TALKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 January 1942, Page 5

PAN-AMERICAN TALKS

ANTI-AXIS RESOLUTION WAR-PRODUCTION POOL WASHINGTON, January 21. The Pan-American Conference at Rio de Janeiro is expected to approve a gigantic war production plan eiribracing the entire Western Hemisphere, including the abolition of trade barriers, the establishment of a common currency, and the use of United States air and nayal units to convoy hemisphere shipping. This was disclosed by a high official of the United States Commerce Department. The plan includes the creation of an emergency labour programme for the hemisphere, whereby skilled labour is to be allowed free movement between countries to meet labour shortages. In return for a pooling of Western Hemisphere shipping the United States is to take the responsibility for the transportation of war supplies and of essential exports and imports, including convoys, with naval and air protection. The Latin American States would nationalise all of their air lines and air services for a tenvear period, with the United States underwriting the cost and maintenance and giving a pledge for a reduction in freight rates and in the ceiling of passenger rates. . Argentina and Chile have officially agreed to a severance of relations with the Axis, but with a face-saving gesture requiring Congressional.ratification of the action of their Foreign Ministers. A four-point agreement to sever relations with the Axis was reached after a three hours’ conference of the leading delegates from all the American Republics. It is regarded as a victory for the United States.

ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION. RUGBY, January 22. The co-ordination of British and American economic warfare measures has already had considerable success in squeezing Axis commercial and political activities out of neutral countries in the Central and South American States. The Washington Economic Defence Board made agreements with Brazil, Mexico, and Peru during 1941, for the purchase of all the available surplus of certain minerals, fibres and other materials essential for modern war industry. Furthermore, the United States and Britain made an agreement assuring for themselves the whole production of Bolivian wolfram and tin, Colombian platinum and Argentinian wolfram. . The Board of Economic Warfaie now set up in Washington undei the chairmanship of the Vice-President (Mr. H. A. Wallace) has issued ‘proclaimed lists” of traders or sympathisers with the Axis, which together with the existing British “statutory lists make a formidable “black list against which it is difficult for them to carry on business. An example given today by the Ministry of Economic. Warfare is the “Diario del Comercio m the Dominican Republic. This newspaper. which carried pro-Axis news, recently closed down because, as it said: “We were asphyxiated by the. black list.” Many other examples ol similar results could be given m Central and South America. On January 14, the United States lists were extended to Europe and neutral countries. It is noted m London with satisfaction that the American Assistant Secretary ol State (Mi. Sumner Welles), at the opening ol the conference of American Republics, al Rio de Janeiro spoke ol cp-oraination of economic measures against the Axis Powers.

ARGENTINE ELECTIONS. WASHINGTON, January 21. Senator Connally declared that American officials hoped Acting Piesident Castillo “will change his mind, or the Argentine people will change their President. There is a very critical political situation in the Aigentine, with the national elections scheduled soon. If the people could have a free election, they would, vote for us. The Government machinery is so oiled, however, that the. Government ticket may be elected.