The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
A CONGRESS OF NATIONS
Spain's Last Hope of Retaining
Commercial Advantage.
Its Former Colonies Invited to Send
Representatives to the Gathering
Prompt the Moyement-Thc Nom
Committal Position of Mexico.

1
and sympathy between Spain and the eoun-
tries on this side of the Atlantic which
were formerly bound to her. However SIN
| cerely Spain may desire to subserye the
| interest of those nations and herself by
| holding such a gathering, where a common
| language would tend to influence the re-
suit, her purposes in this movement are
not overlooked by officials Of the United
| States. who have for years been working
toward the establishment of bonds of mu-
tual understanding and common interest
| between the Republics. large and small, of
the Western Hemisphere
SPANS move is particularly noticeable
at this time on account of the completion
of arrangements for holding an interna-
tional American conference in the City Of
Mexico In October of next year.
In the opinion. of several representatives
in Washington of South American nations
this movement on SPANS part has been
started TO forestall the effect which the
congress of next year will have in draw
ing into closer relationship the Republics
of the New World Next year also the
Pan American Exposition at Buffalo is ex-
pected 10 develop sympathy between
American nations and cause spontaneous
commercial activity between the nations of
North and South America which Spain de-
sires to prevent This overture of the
mother country from which the colonies
have broken away is considered the last
hope of Spain, whose arm is thrown out 10
keep her commercial advantage heretofore
held through the bonds OF blood and the
power of tradition and tyranny.
Mexico the foremost of the Latin
American Republics in recognizing the
advantage of a permanent bond of TN
ion between the Western nations, has
invited these nations to the InteIna-
tionaI Congress for October next year.
Since the first steps were taken toward
establishing such a union the deep
rooted prejudice toward English speak
ing North America has been demon
strated The wisdom of President Diaz
has greatly rodiled such feelings en-
the part of Mexicans, and it is believed
that If DiaZ lives long enough this feel
ing will be wholly uprooted.
1t is considered in Washington by Off
Gals who are interested in the coming
congress in Mexico, that it will result
in much more good from being held in
that city than IL held in the United
States. as the preponderating infu-
ence of the United States is too much
in this country. In Mexico they will
feel more at ease. and can enter into the
discussion Of their mutual welfare as
perfectly independent States. In view
of these conditions and the part Sat
Mexico is taking in bringing about such
congress, SPANS effort to draw the
Southern Republics to herself and away
from Western union Of interests is not
misunderstood in Mexico.
ba Of
Marquis of Corvera, has, in the name
of Spain, invited Mexico to participate
in the Spanish congress in November.
and Minister Mariscal, OF the Mexican
Foreign Relations Department. has ac-
cepted the invitation on behalf of
Mexico.
The translation OF Mr.. MariscaPs letter
TO the Marquis of Corvera. which has just
been received in Washington. is as fol-
lows:
Mexico Aug. 20, 1900.
Mr.. Minister: | have read with keen
interest the note which your exceilency
was pleased TO address to me on the 18Th
inst / have made known its contents to
the President, and by his Instructions I
have the honor of answering it, BY the
note in question and its important en-
closures. i am informed that the Ibero-
American Society, with whose merits | am
"
at Madrid a HispanO-American Economic
and Sociological Congress in the coming
month of November. and that the Govern
ment OF your excellency has issued a royal
decree whereby supreme committee OF
patrons was created whose chief duty will
be 10 invite those nations which are to take
part in the congress. well as a com.
mittee of organization which, as provided
by the decree in question has already
ORA nm raprIlatfODg Of he
assembly
Your excellency. in communicating to
me this important announcement, draws
my attention to the economic character
of the congress as one of its salient
features. This point unquestionably i'm
parts TO the congress strain of interest
and seriousness and bespeaks for its
labors, to the fullest extent. the practical
spirit which characterizes modern ciyiIi-
cation.
ION the other hand. your excellency is
pleased to observe that the intellectual
union between Spain and those nations
of American which speak the same Ian
guage viii be strongly emphasized in the
coming congress. which, on that account,
Will afford particular interest. The OBJ
seryation is one of unquestionable truth
and from this point of view there is no
doubt that the congress will be produc-
even to various departments of science
that are cultivated by the nations
of the Spanish race. Moreover, the
encouragem of the natural sym
pathy existing among them. on ac-
count of their community of language,
and, to some extent, of race and customs
is an important object and one worth be-
ing earnestly striyen for, seeing that
every effort to bring about a harmonious
understanding among nations. especially
these which have points of contact with
one another. is step in a direction OF
the universal amity Of nations. an IDEAL
Numerically opposed to the jealousies
and rivairies which at present unfortu-
nately are wont to divide them.
1T is quite true that sympathy, how
ever deep 1t may be. and TO whatever
extent 1t may be developed, will never
afford a sufficient reason for sacrificing
positive or material interests, whether
they be economic or political. or for los
ing sight of the special circumstances of
each nation, such as those of Mexico. for
example, but that sympathy may at least
prove a powerful incentive TO seek the
Cancellation of these interests with the
promptings OF sentiment, and il is TO
be hoped that in certain points it may
be found practicable to effect such con-
eiliation. From this point OF view, at
least in my opinion, the objects of the
projected congress at Madrid are quite
compatible with those set forth in an
invitation just issued by the Mexican
Government for another congress plan
ned some time back and in whiet. for the
second time, all the nations of America
are to figure.
with those who sincerely desire to
subserve the interests of nations TIE
field is ample, and there is room for the
Of oil