CHAPTER III. MEMBERS

ARTICLE 4

All American States that ratify the present Charter are Members of the Organization.

ARTICLE 5

Any new political entity that arises from the union of several Member States and that, as such, ratifies the present Charter, shall become a Member of the Organization. The entry of the new political entity into the Organization shall result in the loss of membership of each one of the States which constitute it.

ARTICLE 6

Any other independent American State that desires to become a Member of the Organization should so indicate by means of a note addressed to the Secretary General, in which it declares that it is willing to sign and ratify the Charter of the Organization and to accept all the obligations inherent in membership, especially those relating to collective security expressly set forth in Articles 27 and 28 of the Charter.

ARTICLE 7

The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Permanent Council of the Organization, shall determine whether it is appropriate that the Secretary General be authorized to permit the applicant State to sign the Charter and to accept the deposit of the corresponding instrument of ratification. Both the recommendation of the permanent Council and the decision of the General Assembly shall require the affirmative vote of two thirds of the Member States.

ARTICLE 8

The Permanent Council shall not make any recommendations nor shall the General Assembly take any decision with respect to a request for admission on the part of a political entity whose territory became subject, in whole or in part, prior to December 18, 1964, the date set by the First Special Inter-American Conference, to litigation or claim. between an extracontinental country and one or more Member States of the Organization, until the dispute has been ended by some peaceful procedure.

CHAPTER IV. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF STATES

ARTICLE 9

States are juridically equal, enjoy equal rights and equal capacity to exercise these rights, and have equal duties. The rights of each State depend not upon its power to ensure the exercise thereof, but upon the mere fact of its existence as a person under international law.

ARTICLE 10

Every American State has the duty to respect the rights enjoyed by every other State in accordance with international law.

ARTICLE 11

The fundamental rights of States may not be impaired in any manner whatsoever.

ARTICLE 12

The political existence of the State is independent of recognition by other States. Even before being recognized, the State has the right to defend its integrity and independence, to provide for its preservation and prosperity, and consequently to organize itself as it sees fit, to legislate concerning its interests, to administer its services, and to determine the jurisdiction and competence of its courts. The exercise of these rights is limited only by the exercise of the rights of other States in accordance with international law.

ARTICLE 13

Recognition implies that the State granting it accepts the person ality of the new State, with all the rights and duties that internationa law prescribes for the two States.

ARTICLE 14

The right of each State to protect itself and to live its own life does not authorize it to commit unjust acts against another State.

ARTICLE 15

The jurisdiction of States within the limits of their national territory is exercised equally over all the inhabitants, whether nationals or aliens.

ARTICLE 16

Each State has the right to develop its cultural, political, and economic life freely and naturally. In this free development, the State shall respect the rights of the individual and the principles of universal morality.

ARTICLE 17

Respect for and the faithful observance of treaties constitute standards for the development of peaceful relations among States. International treaties and agreements should be public.

ARTICLE 18

No State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs. of any other State. The foregoing principle prohibits not only armed force but also any other form of interference or attempted threat

against the personality of the State or against its political, economic, and cultural elements.

ARTICLE 19

No State may use or encourage the use of coercive measures of an economic or political character in order to force the sovereign will of another State and obtain from it advantages of any kind.

ARTICLE 20

The territory of a State is inviolable; it may not be the object, even temporarily, of military occupation or of other measures of force taken by another State, directly or indirectly, on any grounds whatever. No territorial acquisitions or special advantages obtained either by force or other means of coercion shall be recognized.

ARTICLE 21

The American States bind themselves in their international relations not to have recourse to the use of force, except in the case of selfdefense in accordance with existing treaties or in fulfillment thereof.

ARTICLE 22

Measures adopted for the maintenance of peace and security in Accordance with existing treaties do not constitute a violation of the principles as set forth in Articles 18 and 20.

CHAPTER V. PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

ARTICLE 23

All international disputes that may arise between American States shall be submitted to the peaceful procedures set forth in this Charter, before being referred to the Security Council of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 24

The following are peaceful procedures: direct negotiation, good offices, mediation, investigation and conciliation, judicial settlement, arbitration, and those which the parties to the dispute may especially agree upon at any time.

ARTICLE 25

In the event that a dispute arises between two or more American States which, in the opinion of one of them, cannot be settled through the usual diplomatic channels, the Parties shall agree on some other peaceful procedure that will enable them to reach a solution.

ARTICLE 26

A special treaty will establish adequate procedures for the pacific settlement of disputes and will determine the appropriate means for their application, so that no dispute between American States shall fail of definitive settlement within a reasonable period.

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CHAPTER VI. COLLECTIVE SECURITY

ARTICLE 27

Every act of aggression by a State against the territorial integrity or the inviolability of the territory or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American State shall be considered an act of aggression against the other American States.

ARTICLE 28

If the inviolability or the integrity of the territory or the sovereignty or political independence of any American State should be affected by an armed attack or by an act of aggression that is not an armed attack, or by an extra-hemispheric conflict, or by a conflict between two or more American States, or by any other fact or situation that might endanger the peace of America, the American States, in furtherance of the principles of hemispheric solidarity or collective selfdefense, shall apply the measures and procedures established in the special treaties on the subject.

CHAPTER VII. ECONOMIC STANDARDS

ARTICLE 29

The Member States, inspired by the principles of inter-American solidarity and cooperation, pledge themselves to a united effort to ensure social justice in the Hemisphere and dynamic and balanced economic development for their peoples, as conditions essential to peace and security.

ARTICLE 30

The Member States pledge themselves to mobilize their own national human and material resources through suitable programs, and recognize the importance of operating within an efficient domestic structure, as fundamental conditions for their economic and social progress and for assuring effective inter-American cooperation.

ARTICLE 31

To accelerate their economic and social development, in accordance with their own methods and procedures and within the framework of the democratic principles and the institutions of the inter-American system, the Member States agree to dedicate every effort to achieve the following basic goals:

(a) Substantial and self-sustained increase in the per capita national product;

(b) Equitable distribution of national income;

(c) Adequate and equitable systems of taxation;

(d) Modernization of rural life and reforms leading to equitable and efficient land-tenure systems, increased agricultural productivity, expanded use of undeveloped land, diversification of production, and improved processing and marketing systems for agricultural products; and the strengthening and expansion of facilities to attain these ends;

(e) Accelerated and diversified industrialization, especially of capital and intermediate goods;

(f) Stability in the domestic price levels, compatible with sustained economic development and the attainment of social justice; (g) Fair wages, employment opportunities, and acceptable working conditions for all;

(h) Rapid eradication of illiteracy and expansion of educational opportunities for all;

(i) Protection of man's potential through the extension and application of modern medical science;

Proper nutrition, especially through the acceleration of national efforts to increase the production and availability of food; (k) Adequate housing for all sectors of the population;

(1) Urban conditions that offer the opportunity for a healthful, productive, and full life;

(m) Promotion of private initiative and investment in harmony with action in the public sector; and

(n) Expansion and diversification of exports.

ARTICLE 32

In order to attain the objectives set forth in this Chapter, the Member States agree to cooperate with one another, in the broadest spirit of inter-American solidarity, as far as their resources may permit and their laws may provide.

ARTICLE 33

To attain balanced and sustained development as soon as feasible, the Member States agree that the resources made available from time to time by each, in accordance with the preceding Article, should be provided under flexible conditions and in support of the national and multinational programs and efforts undertaken to meet the needs of the assisted country, giving special attention to the relatively lessdeveloped countries.

They will seek, under similar conditions and for similar purposes, financial and technical cooperation from sources outside the Hemisphere and from international institutions.

ARTICLE 34

The Member States should make every effort to avoid policies, actions, or measures that have serious adverse effects on the economic or social development of another Member State.

ARTICLE 35

The Member States agree to join together in seeking a solution to urgent or critical problems that may arise whenever the economic development or stability of any Member State is seriously affected by conditions that cannot be remedied through the efforts of that State.