NEUTRAL INTERESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1939, Page 5

NEUTRAL INTERESTS

IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE UNITED STATES URGES DEFENCE. I MR WELLS AT PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) PANAMA. September 25. The American Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Sumner Welles, opening the Pan-American Conference, offered Latin America the economic co-opera-tion of the United Stales, and of its 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 delegates to state emphatically that: "We cannot agree that the security of our nationals and legitimate commercial interests should be jeopardised by belligerent activities close in proximity to the shores of the new world.” Recalling the disruption of interAmerican shipping in 1914, Mr Welles said the United States felt that “an opportunity is at present afforded us severally to assure ourselves and each other that it shall not occur again.” He was authorised to state' the United States position as follows: “While the present situation continues, the regular facilities of shipping lines at present in operation arc not only not being curtailed but are being strengthened and increased whenever an increase is desirable and feasible.” He expressed the opinion that republics desiring to consider the rights and duties of neutral would obtain “complete respect by all belligerents of our respective sovereignties.”