Messersmith, G.S., Mexico City. To Cordell Hull, Washington.
Date
1944-08-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Manley 0. Hudson of World Court and [George A.] Finch of Carnegie Foundation for Peace while in Mexico City for meeting of Inter-American Bar Association gave luncheon to which were invited some of the leading men attending the meeting; Hudson and Finch presented some of conclusions reached by group of American and Canadian lawyers who have been making study of international law after the war; most of those present were in accord with findings expressed; one Mexican of rather insignificant capacity, struck discordant note by saying what concerned him about international law of the future was to what degree one country was going to intervene on behalf of another for its commercial and financial interests; showing by his remarks his distrust of American capital in Latin America and taking attitude that such capital must depend on laws of country in which it is invested for protection and that any diplomatic intervention or protection should be prohibited; much had been said about obligations of larger states under international law; thought the time appropriate to say a few things about obligations of small states; the larger powers, which have born the greater share of burdens and made the greater sacrifices during the war, give up a bit of their sovereignty every time they make an agreement among themselves for collective security, but some of the smaller countries stress their own sovereignty and nationalistic practices above the common good; most of the smaller countries welcome foreign capital as an aid in developing their own economy and capital so invested should accomodate itself to the laws of the country in which it is invested; the investor should be able to assume that those laws are such as will give his capital adequate protection; thinks point was made.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.