All for One

Any attempt on the part of a non-American State against the integrity or inviolability of . . . an American State shall be considered as an act of aggression against the States which sign this declaration--Final Act & Convention, Second Meeting of American Foreign Ministers, Havana, July, 1940. (All 21 countries signed.)

This week hemisphere defense switched abruptly from theory to fact. When the U.S. was attacked, 20 neighbor nations, bound by convention and economic necessity, took spontaneous action ranging from expressions of sympathy to declarations of war. There was general agreement that the immediate creation of a solid, unified front transcended all other hemispheric problems, past and present.

To that end the U.S. agreed to a consultative conference of the Foreign Ministers of the 21 American Republics, the third in 2 1/2 years. Appropriately enough, the conference (slated for Rio de Janeiro) was proposed by Chile, where the U.S.-Japanese war is assayed in terms of a 2,800-mile Pacific coast line, of a profitable, well-knit shipping industry, and of South Pacific islands that would make ideal Japanese coaling stations. Chile ordered "naval measures" to protect her coast and the Magellan Strait.

Brazil recognized the new war as a possible opening wedge for Axis penetration of South America, perhaps from Dakar into Brazil's Natal. Pan American Airways intensified precautions at its airports, most of which dot the Brazilian coast.

Uruguay's President Alfredo Baldomir asserted his country is "the enemy of all those who attempt to impose their ideas by force," offered to construct air bases for "our planes and those of all friendly American nations."

Most of the Caribbean nations, a weather eye on the Panama Canal, declared war against Japan. Costa Rica led the others (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic), plumping a good 18 hours before the U.S. declaration. Cuba's President Fulgencio Batista, with the backing of his Cabinet, asked the Congress to follow suit.

Colombia seized two Italian ships which were tied up at Cartagena. Said Bogota's El Espectador: "Technically Colombia is at war."

Nicaragua jailed its entire Japanese population: Gusudi, Yakata and Juan Hissi.

War news hit Panama with almost the impact of a Japanese bomb. Full wartime precautions were ordered. Searchlights sweeping the Gulf of Panama (the Canal's Pacific entrance) and lights of Panama city (police required illumination in running down some 300 Japanese) flared impudently in the Canal Zone blackout. Several Japanese barbers were revealed to be engineers, technicians, experts of various types. Thirty-six hours after the first bombing of Hawaii Panama declared war.

Argentina heard of the Japanese attacks during its feverish provincial elections in Buenos Aires. Acting President Ramon S. Castillo said flatly that the country's attitude would be one of "absolute neutrality." Later, however, Foreign Minister Enrique Ruiz Guinazu revealed the neat device whereby Argentina may dodge "the customary declaration of neutrality": the U.S. will be treated as a nonbelligerent, may use Argentine ports in the war against Japan.

Mexico severed diplomatic relations with Japan, declared solidarity with the U.S., ordered 24-hour special patrols on the Pacific Coast, debated letting the U.S. use its air and naval bases.

Peru pledged "an absolute, frank and unflinching solidarity" with the U.S., froze Japanese funds, sent protective troops to Limatambo Airport.

Thus the united front neared completion. But the U.S. spotted two glaring chinks: Martinique and French Guiana. New World colonies of Axis-bent Vichy-france. Under the Havana Convention, the U.S., or any other American nation, may seize them whenever it chooses.

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