I believe there is a fair prospect that the other American Republics will recognize. first. that the Communists will use the doctrine of nonintervention to mask their subversive purposes. and. second. that the size and weight of the Communistfurnished arms makes the Castro regime far more of a threat to the security of the other Republics in Latin America than had been realized. All the American Republics must recognize the juridical as well as the moral propriety of invoking the authority of the InterAmerican Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance of September 2. 1947the Rio Pact. which. for the Western Hemisphere. is tantamount to the NATO Allianceas implemented by the Declaration of Solidarity adopted at the InterAmerican Conference at Caracasthe Caracas Declarationon March 28. 1954. A role in the informational part of this process may well become a most vital function of the refugees from Cuba and may be very significant to the ultimate course of events. I point out again that article 6 of the Rio Pact speaks precisely of the inviolability and integrity of the "sovereignty or political independence of any American State" being "affected by any fact or situation that might endanger the peace of America." Under such circumstances "the organ of consultation shall meet immediately. in order to agree on the measures which should be taken for the common defense and for the maintenance of the peace and security of the continent." The decision may be taken by twothirds of the signatory States that have ratified the treaty. and may result in "recall of chiefs of diplomatic missions. breaking of diplomatic relations. breaking of consular relations. partial or complete interruption of economic relations or of rail. sea. air. postal telegraph. and radiotelephonic or radiotelegraphic communications. and use of armed forces." Only as to the use of its own armed forces is such a decision not binding on every signatory State. The other sanctions must be applied. if voted under the terms of the treaty.
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refugees