Functions of the Major Components of the Organization of American States

1. Inter-American Conference. This is the supreme organ of the OAS. It lecides the general action and policy of the Organization; determines the structure and functions of its organs; and has authority to consider any matter relating to friendly relations among the American states. The Inter-American Conference meets every five years.

2. Meetings of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. This organ of the OAS meets to consider problems of an urgent nature and of common interest to the American states and to serve as the Organ of Consultation in cases of armed attack or threats to the peace. It is called into session by a vote of an absolute majority of the Council, or in the case of an armed attack, immediately by the Chairman of the Council.

3. Council of the Organization. This organ is the permanent deliberative or representative body of the OAS. Among other functions, it has responsibilities with respect to the various organs of the OAS, for relations between interAmerican organizations and between them and international bodies, and for the proper discharge by the General Secretariat of the activities assigned to it. The Council is also empowered to act provisionally as the Organ of Consultation. The Council itself has three organs: The Inter-American Economic and Social Council, the Inter-American Council of Jurists, and the Inter-American Cultural Council, each of which has technical autonomy within the limits of the Charter and is responsible for promoting inter-American cooperation in its field of activity.

4. Pan American Union. The Pan American Union is the central and permanent organ of the OAS and the General Secretariat of the Organization. It is directed by the Secretary General of the OAS, elected by the Council of the Organization, and is responsible for promoting economic, social, juridical, and cultural relations among the member states; for performing various specific functions assigned by the Charter; and for carrying out such other duties as may be assigned to it by inter-American treaties and agreements.

5. Specialized Conferences. This organ meets to deal with special technical matters or to develop specific aspects of inter-American cooperation, when called by the Inter-American Conference or the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs; when inter-American agreements so provide; or when the Council of the Organization considers it necessary, either on its own initiative or at the request of one of its organs or of one of the Specialized Organizations.

Specialized Conferences held to date cover a wide range of subjects, including agriculture, copyrights, economics, education, highways, ports and harbors, health and sanitation, natural resources, statistics, travel, child welfare, and Indian affairs.

6. Specialized Organizations. This organ is composed of intergovernmental organizations established by multilateral agreements and having specific functions with respect to technical matters of common interest to the American states. The organizations enjoy the fullest technical autonomy while taking into account the recommendations of the Council, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.

7. Special Agencies and Commissions. This is a group of organizations, commissions, or other agencies which are independent bodies within the OAS or which have technical or administrative autonomy and which work in cooperation with the Council, the Pan American Union, or other organs to achieve objectives in specific fields of common interest to the American states. 49

Major agenda items

Feb. 21 to Mar. 8, 1945. Mexico City, Mexico.. 20; all the American Republics
except Argentina.

Inter-American Conference for Aug. 15 to Sept. 2, 1947. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 20; all the American Repub

the Maintenance of Conti-
nental Peace and Security.
9th International Conference of
American States.

Mar. 30 to May 2, 1948. Bogotá, Colombia.

lics except Nicaragua.

21; all the American Republics.

20; all the American Republics
except Costa Rica.

Major agenda items

Consideration of possible post-
war problems. Hemispheric
relations of Argentina.

Consideration of proposals for
a treaty of mutual defense
of the hemisphere.
Discussion of means to

strengthen the inter-Ameri-
can system, and to promote
inter-American economic co-
operation. Consideration
of juridical and political
matters, including recogni-
tion of governments and
colonies.
Consideration of hemispheric
policy respecting the inter-
vention of communism into
the Americas; discussion of
possible economic assistance
to Latin America.

20; all American Republics.... Admission of new members...

19; all American Republics
except Venezuela.i

Functioning and strength-
ening of inter-American sys-
tem; improvement of meth-
ods and instruments for the
peaceful settlement of dis-
putes.

"Declaration of solidarity for
the preservation of the politi-
cal integrity of the Americas
against the intervention of
international communism."
"Act of Washington" relative
to the method of admitting
new members to OAS.
"The Act of Rio de Janeiro"
relating to amendments of
Charter of Bogotá: "Eco-
nomic and social Act of Rio
de Janeiro". Adopted
other related resolutions on
coordination of activities of
international and inter-
American organizations, es-
tablishment of Inter-Ameri-
can Emergency Aid Fund
and Inter-American Export
Promotion Agency: also res-
olutions pertaining to the
Inter-American Peace Com-
mittee, asylum for Cuban
political refugees, and ex-
panded functions of the
Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights. among
others.

Meetings of consultation of foreign ministers, 1939-65

[Each meeting attended by all 21 American Republics]

Major agenda item

Consideration of means for mainte-
nance of the neutrality of the hemi-
sphere.

Discussion of European possessions in
the Americas and the danger of their
possible transfer to other non-Ameri-
can powers.

Determination of attitude to be
adopted by American Republics in
face of attack by a non-American
power upon an American state and
subsequent declaration of war by
Germany and Italy.

Consideration of problems of commu-
nism and hemispheric security.

Consideration of problems of unrest
in the Caribbean. Discussion of
problems of democracy and human
rights in Latin America.

To consider acts of intervention and
aggression by the Government of the
Dominican Republic against the
Government of Venezuela.

Tensions in the Caribbean (Cuban
situation).

Outcomes

Declaration of Panama, establishing a hemi-
spheric zone embracing the American Re-
publics within which the belligerent nations
were to commit no hostile acts. General dec-
laration of neutrality.

Act of Havana and Convention of Havana,
concerning the provisional administration of
European colonies and possessions in the
Americas. Resolution XV: Any attempt by
a non-American state against sovereignty or
independence of an American state to be
considered attack on all.

Resolution: "The American Republics*
recommend the breaking of their diplomatic
relations with Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Establishment of the Inter-American De-
fense Board. Establishment of the Emer-
gency Advisory Committee for Political
Defense.
Recommendation that each Republic examine
its resources to determine what steps it could
take to contribute to collective defense of con-
tinent. Recommendation that governments
examine their laws with view to adopting
changes considered necessary for prevention
of subversive activities of Communists.
Declaration of Santiago, concerning effective
exercise of representative democracy and
respect for human rights. Special temporary
power to Inter-American Peace Committee
to investigate and conciliate in cases of inva-
sions by foreign-based rebels.
Condemned the Government of the Dominican

Republic for acts of aggression and interven-
tion against Venezuela and agreed on break-
ing of diplomatic relations with the Domini-
can Republic and the suspension of trade in
arms and implements of war with the Do-
minican Republic.

Condemned intervention by an extraconti-
nental power; reaffirmed the principle of
nonintervention; proclaimed that all member
states obliged to submit to discipline of the
Inter-American system; establishment of Ad
Hoc Good Offices Committee.