1938: International Conferences

Pan-American Conference.

The Eighth Conference of American states met in Lima, Peru, Dec. 9-27, amid the keen interest of the world and the enthusiasm of the twenty-one American states which were represented by the largest number of voting delegates (107) and of experts and advisers ever attending a Pan-American conference. The agenda of twenty-three articles, prepared by the Governing Board of the Pan-American Union, was divided into the main chapters of peace, international law, economic problems, political and civil rights of women, intellectual cooperation and moral disarmament, and the Pan-American union and conferences. Nearly a hundred proposals covering the agenda were submitted by the various states, which included projects for establishing an American court of international justice and an American league of nations, for condemning racial discrimination, for strengthening already existing peace machinery, and for renouncing diplomatic protection in connection with pecuniary claims.

The peace problem naturally assumed first place in the discussions. Not a treaty or convention issued from the conference; but its outstanding achievement, the Declaration of Lima with accompanying declarations and resolutions, appears to represent the substantial fact of the American nations united today in a solid continental bloc, determined to defend one and all against any threat to their peace, institutions or territory. In the Declaration of Lima they have agreed that any problem that involves the peace and security of any one of them involves all and that when such a problem arises it will be solved by them all through consultation of their foreign ministers. Other declarations designed to strengthen and support this were directed against European persecution of racial, religious or language minorities and against the exercise by aliens of political rights conferred by another country.

A final Declaration of American Principles contained what the conference regarded as fundamental in international relations: no intervention in the internal or external affairs of another state; settlement of all international differences by peaceful means; no use of force as an instrument of national or international policy; conduct of international relations according to international law; faithful observance of treaties and revision only by agreement of the contracting parties; peaceful collaboration between states and development of intellectual interchange among peoples as conducive to understanding the problems of each and of all and to peaceful settlement of controversies; the value of economic reconstruction to national and international well-being and to peace; and the necessity of international cooperation in maintaining these principles. The conference supported the view of the United States that political peace is impossible without a sound economic foundation, by its resolutions urging the greatest possible reduction of all existing types of restrictions upon world trade and the principle of equality of treatment as the most beneficial and effective way of extending it. The part of intellectual cooperation and cultural relations among nations in securing political solidarity was recognized in several resolutions. A total of 110 projects was approved by the delegates. The three main objectives of the United States delegation were met — a strong declaration of solidarity, an economic program designed to increase world trade, and some advance in perfecting the consultative machinery left undeveloped from the Buenos Aires Conference of 1936. (See also PERU; also ITALY: The United States.)

Conference at Evian.

At the initiative of the United States Government, an inter-governmental conference for facilitating involuntary emigration from Germany and Austria met at Evian, France, July 4-15. Its instigation came from an appeal sent by Secretary Hull, March 24, to Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and the twenty American republics, to join in a cooperative effort for this purpose. Italy refused, and Switzerland was unwilling to have the conference held in its territory. Thirty-two states were represented at the meeting in France under the presidency of Myron C. Taylor. For regulation of future emigration, the conference made various decisions: that its activities be for persons still in their original country but who must emigrate because of political principles, religious beliefs or racial origin, and for those who may have left but who have not yet established themselves permanently elsewhere; that the participating governments furnish the committee with confidential information as to the immigrants that can be received; that the immigrants must be prepared in many cases to accept, at least temporarily, changed conditions of living where they settle; that the governments of countries of refuge and settlement should not assume any financial obligations for involuntary emigration; that in lieu of official documents not possessed by the immigrant other available documents should be accepted and that the country of foreign residence issue a travel document serving as passport.

The conference set up an Inter-governmental Committee of representatives designated by the governments, having headquarters at London, with expenses apportioned among the participating governments. The director, George Rublee of Washington, is undertaking negotiations to improve the present conditions of exodus and approaching governments of countries of refuge with a view to developing opportunities for permanent settlement. The committee will cooperate fully with the League of Nation's refugee service and the International Labor Office. The first meeting, in London on Aug. 3, has been followed by many others in the refugee crises since then.

Conferences Concerning Criminal Law and Tele-Communications.

Three international conferences met in Cairo, the Seventh International Conference of the International Bureau for the Unification of Criminal Law in January, the Administrative Conference of the International Tele-Communications Union in February, and the International Leprosy Congress in May. The last resolved to establish contact with the health organization of the League of Nations with a view to continued collaboration. The Tele-Communications meeting, with delegates from sixty-three countries, included the Telegraphic and Telephonic Conference and the Wireless Communications Conference. The decisions taken formed the main business of the Third World Conference of Radiotelegraphic Experts for Aeronautics in Paris Nov. 2-5, in so far as they apply to the measures to be taken by the aeronautical services of all countries. A regional conference concerning the use of radiotelephone in the North and Baltic Seas, including representation from the United States, met at The Hague Oct. 17.

Aviation.

Representatives of civil aviation in Canada and the United States met in Washington, Jan. 10-14, and, by exchange of notes July 28, the two countries renewed their international arrangements regarding technical requirements for air navigation, reciprocal issuance of airman certificates and recognition of certificates of air worthiness concerning planes for export, and regional arrangements governing the use of radio for aeronautical services in harmony with existing international understandings. On May 23 the sessions of aerial legal experts for the purpose of codifying international private air law opened in Paris. Three draft conventions and a protocol resulted.

Other Conferences.

The Peasant Peace Conference at Geneva, Feb. 5-6, was attended by representatives from sixteen countries, the League of Nations and the International Labor Office. At Prague, Feb. 25-27, a Youth Conference of Central European Countries, with participation of seven countries was held.

At the International Conference of Teachers held April 21-25 in London, twenty-one countries participated, with representatives from eight ministries of education, the League of Nations, the International Labor Office, the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation and the International Federation of League of Nations Societies. The delegates discussed the present international situation as to problems of preventing war and of providing both social and international justice, the teaching of international relations in schools, practical training for world citizenship and the training of teachers. (See also CHILD WELFARE.)

The Sixteenth International Conference of the Red Cross was held in London June 17-25, and also, at about the same time, the Whaling Congress at which a protocol extending protection for whales and a final act were signed by delegates from the United States, Argentine, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Self-governing Dominions. The Plenary Congress of the twenty-second session of the International Federation of League of Nations Societies met at Copenhagen, July 2-10. The Thirty-fourth Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, meeting at The Hague, Aug. 22-27, was opened by Dr. Colijn, Dutch premier.

The United States was represented at the Sixteenth International Congress on Planning and Housing, Aug. 13-20, at Mexico City, and at the Fourteenth International Conference on Documentation held in Oxford, England, Sept. 21-26.

A Moslem Conference, attended by over two thousand representatives from fourteen countries (not including Saudi Arabia), met at Cairo, Oct. 7-11. Resolutions declared the Balfour Declaration null and void, demanded cessation of Jewish immigration, rejected partition of Palestine, and called for a national government with a parliament proportionately elected and a satisfactory treaty with Great Britain. It was further resolved that non-acceptance of this program as the only solution of the problem would result in open hostility towards Great Britain. On Oct. 10 an Arab Women's conference opened in Cairo.

The Volta Foundation Congress of specialists on African questions from fourteen countries ended in Rome on Oct. 13. The discussions centered on the responsibility of the European nations for the development of Africa, and proposals were put forward for creating a council of economic development composed of the European powers with colonial experience in Africa.

The twenty-fourth session of the International Labor Organization met, June 2-8, at Geneva. Mr. John G. Winant (United States) was elected director in place of Mr. Harold B. Butler (Great Britain) who had resigned. Italy has withdrawn from the organization, but Chile and Venezuela are to continue despite withdrawal from the League. During the year the International Labor Office has pursued, at the request of the League Assembly, a preliminary study of workers' standard of living so as to clear the ground for research on such national and international measures as would permit raising the standard of living for entire populations. The Governing Board held its eighty-fifth session in London during October at the invitation of the British Government, a fact of some importance as evidence of the active part which states desire to play in the work of the Organization. Plans were discussed for the Second Labor Conference of American states, to be held at Havana in November 1939.

The first official registration of a ratification by the United States of an international labor convention was made during November. The five conventions, adopted by the maritime session of the 1936 International Labor Conference, thus ratified, regulated hours of work aboard merchant ships, paid vacations for seamen, owners' liability in case of injury or death to seamen, minimum requirements for masters and officers, and the employment of children.