PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 7

PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE

UNITED STATES'S GESTURE WARDING OFF WAR REPERCUSSIONS PANAMA, September 25. (Received September 26, at H a.m.) 1 Mr Sumner Welles, American Undersecretary of State, at the opening of the Pan-American Conference, offered Latin America the United States’3 economic co-operation and the assistance of the United States’s merchant marine ,as ways of helping to cushion the effect of the war in the Western Hemisphere. He asserted that the Western republics were determined to defend themselves and their rights, and called on the delegates to state emphatically. " We cannot agree that the security of nationals and legitimate commercial interests should be jeopardised by belligerent activities in close proximity to the the New World.” Mr Sumner Welles, recalling the disruption of inter-American shipping in. 1914, said the United States felt " the opportunity at» present afforded ns severally to assure ourselves and each other that it shall not occur again.”' He was authorised to state the position of the United States as follows; “ While the present situation continues the, regular facilities for shipping lines at present in operation are not only not being curtailed, but are being strengthened and increased whenever increase is desirable and feasible." Ha expressed the opinion that the republics’ desire to consider the rights and duties of neutrals would obtain “ complete respect by all the belligerents of our respective sovereignties."

MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION IN HANOVER FACTORY BERLIN, September 25, (Received September 26, at 1 ip.ra. A mysterious explosion in a factory in Hanover killed 10 people. R.A.F. COASTAL COMMAND VISIT FROM THE KING (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 25. (Received September 26, at 1 p.ra.) ! The King to-day, wearing the service dress of a Marshal of the R.A.F., and accompanied by the Air Minister, visited headquarters of the R.A.F. coastal command. He was shown, among other things, some of the secret# of the R.A.F. anti-submarine campaign.

The King took tea in the officer#* mess.

NATIONAL REGISTER BEING TAKEN IN BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 25. (Received September 26, at 11 a.m.)’ Sixty-five thousand enumerators have been appointed to help in the compilation of the national register of all persons resident in the United Kingdom. They began yesterday to distribute registration forms. Tho distribution will continue until Friday night next. The form must be filled in by the householder or other person responsible, giving certain particulars of every person spending the night in th® household.

COMMERCIAL INQUIRIES NEW DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED i (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 25. (Received September 26, at 11 a.m.)’ The Ministry of Economic Warfare announces that for the convenience of British and neutral traders, a Commercial Inquiries Section has been established to answer inquiries from commercial firms, shipowners, and agents. Inquiries by letter, whenever possible in duplicate, should be marked “ C.E.’ ‘ They will be answered with the utmost dispatch. The main object is to assist concerning particulars of consignment* of goods detained, or likely to be de- * tained, by contraband patrols.

The section is unable to advise on export policy, import or export licensing, assistance for British exporters itt neutral markets, or questions arising out of the Trading With the Enemy Act. These matters arc the responsibility of other Government departments.