Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 2.djvu/749

 60 STAT.] INTER-AMERICAN-ACT OF CHAPULTEPEC-MAR. 8,1945 among the nations of the Continent, constitutes an effective means of contributing to the general system of world security and of facili- tating its establishment; The security and solidarity of the Continent are affected to the same extent by an act of aggression against any of the American States by a non-American State, as by an act of aggression of an American State against one or more American States; PART I The Governments Represented at the Inter-American Confer- ence on Problems of War and Peace DECLARE: 1. That all sovereign States are juridically equal among them- selves. 2. That every State has the right to the respect of its individuality and independence, on the part of the other members of the inter- national community. 3. That every attack of a State against the integrity or the in- violability of the territory, or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American State, shall, comformably to Part III hereof, be considered as an act of aggression against the other States which sign this Act. In any case invasion by armed forces of one State into the territory of another trespassing boundaries established by treaty and demarcated in accordance therewith shall constitute an act of aggression. 4. That in case acts of aggression occur or there are reasons to believe that an aggression is being prepared by any other State against the integrity or inviolability of the territory, or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American State, the States signatory to this Act will consult among themselves in order to agree upon the measures it may be advisable to take. 5. That during the war, and until the treaty recommended in Part II hereof is concluded, the signatories of this Act recognize that such threats and acts of aggression, as indicated in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, constitute an interference with the war effort of the United Nations, calling for such procedures, within the scope of their con- stitutional powers of a general nature and for war, as may be found necessary, including: recall of chiefs of diplomatic missions; breaking of diplomatic relations; breaking of consular relations; breaking of postal, telegraphic, telephonic, radio-telephonic relations; interrup- tion of economic, commercial and financial relations; use of armed force to prevent or repel aggression. 6. That the principles and procedure contained in this Declaration shall become effective immediately, inasmuch as any act of aggression or threat of aggression during the present state of war interferes with the war effort of the United Nations to obtain victory. Henceforth, and to the end that the principles and procedures herein stipulated shall conform with the constitutional processes of each Republic, the respective Governments shall take the necessary steps to perfect this instrument in order that it shall be in force at all times. 80634°-48-PT. 11--47 Juridical equality of States. Attack against an American State. Acts of aggression. Procedures 1i case of aggression, etc. Effective date.

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