Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-30
PROGRAM
Topics of the Next Pan American
Congress-.
ARBITRATION And COURT OF CLAIMS
Consul, Port and Customs Regula-
tons.
DATE OF THE CONFERENCE

The executive committee of the Inter
national Union of American Republics has
just completed a tentative program to gov
ern the projected conference of American
republics to be held in the City of Mexico
The program has been embodied in cir
cular, copies of which have been furnished
to the resident ministers in Washington OF
the American republics, in order that they
may be transmitted at once their re-
spective governments for amendment and
approval. The executive committee was
of the opinion that the new conference
should select from the subjects which were
considered by the former conference, which
met in the city of Washington, those which,
at the present time are of the most i'm
portance; that it should study the new SUBJ
jects which may be submitted to 1t, and
with this object in view proposes the fol-
lowing program:
No. 1. Subjects discussed by the former
conference which the new conference may
decide to consider.
g Arbitra ton.
3. International court of claims.
l. Measures for the protection of indus
try, agriculture and commerce. Develop
ment of the means of communication be-
tween the countries composing the union.
Consular. port and customs regulations.
Statistics.
). Reorganization of the international bu-
reau OF American republics.
Results of the First Conference.
Touching the first head the executive
committee found that the program of the
first conference was probably too extensive.
Certainly it embraced everything possible,
and no new subjects, except those above
enumerated can be brought before the fu-
IF
the first conference, though limited in num-
Der. are declared to have had great sig
niticance and it certainly furthered har-
mony and understanding between the
American nations. Practical results were
the monetary conference of 1891, the survey
or the fntercontinental railway and the
compilation and publication of the code of
commercial nomenclature
Aspiration. the second topic while
touched upon by the first conference was,
II Is declared. not treated as it should have
been, and certainly not as it might be in
view OF the progress made toward the sol1l-
tion OF that important internationa ques-
tioh py Inc Hague peace conference.
International Claims Court.
Inc international court of claims Is an
entirely new subject, figuring under the
third head. AS indicated by the title. If is
supposed to create a permanent tribunal
for the settlement upon sound and uniform
principles of all claims arising between the
American republics
Head is very comprehen and i'm,
portant. 1t is felt that by mutual action
much can be done to further industry ag-
rlculture and commerce by proper legisla-
uon and by direct exchange of commOd-
tiles between the various countries repre-
sented in the conference. The DEVELOPMENT
OF means OF communication referred to will
probably, or at least that is the intention
involve the congress In discussion of the
snip subsidy question, from which will re-
suit, 1t is hoped, a uniform practice in the
matter of extending these subsidies that
Will avoid Implications of service and other
unnecessary expenses, while securing regu-
lar ana sufhcient steamship communication
between the ports of the American re-
publicS.
Fort and Customs Regulation.
The commercial world is said to be deep
ly interested in the subhead consul, port
and customs regulations" under the fourth
article. Here the purpose is to secure so
far as possible, uniform classification of
merchandise; similar methods-ad valorem
or specific-in the imposition of customs
tariffs and uniformity of the customs and
consular regulations so far as that can be
achieved. The committee feels that there
Is little need of emphasizing that the sub
ject of statistics be considered with a view
to securing accurate figures relative to
trade, transportation and other matters of
Vital interest TO the American republics,
upon which to base future action.
The reorganization of the present inter-
national bureau of American republics is
proposed with a view to providing an ex-
ecutive arm for the congress- Owing to
imperfect powers the present bureau was
unable to give effect to many of the con-
illusions reached by the first conference.
Therefore it is proposed to authorize and
empower the bureau to act as a. represen-
tative of the congress after it's adjourn
ment to carry forth its projects within
well-detned lines. and this will be in addi-
ton to its present important duties. With
view to fastening action upon this prof.
ect, upon motion of Minister Calvo, the
chairman Of the executive committee, Di-
rector Rockhill was instructed to prepare
q plan of reorganization to be submitted
to the congress.
Date of the Conference.
The question of the date to be selected for
the meeting of the second international con-
ference in MeXi2o was not settled by the
executive committee 1t did, however, in
view of its approaching absence from
Washington, and to guard against delay,
request Secretary Hay to cable the gov
ernments of the republics that had been in
vited to the conference, asking for an
answer to the invitation, and should their
answers be affirmative, requesting them to
authorize, by cable, their representatives in
Washington to designate the place and time
of holding the conference. So it Is eX-
pccted that this important question of date
will be speedily settled, and there is talk
Of the assembly Of the congress In Mexico
some time next fail.
The attitude of the United States govern
ment toward this project has been of
reserve, for though cordially approving Of
the projected congress, the State Depart
mcnt has consistently avoided taking any
conspicuous part in the movement, and
especially has it refrained from influencing
the above stated program in its prepara-
ton. 1t is proposed to demonstrate practi-
cally TO the sister republics of the United
States that in this congress the Union will
stand on an exact equality with 9he small