The Washington times., 1901-07-27
The Pan-Americuu Congress.

Chile again appears to be assuming
the role Of marplot in connection with
the proposed Pan-American Congress,
called to convene in the City of Mexico
next autumn. Not only that, but the
truculent little State has ventured to
adopt tone in addressing the Govern
ment of the United States which, to say
the least, is offensive if not impertinent.
But for Chile, all the nations of the
Western Hemisphere would be in cor
dial agreement concerning the plan,
scone, and programme of the Congress.
She alone is making difficulties and is
atti.udinizing in a manner out of all
proportion to her intrinsic Importance,
which, outside of South America, is
negligible. Only the other day formal
announcement was made that every
American Republic had accepted the
original invitation of Mexico TO partici-
pate in the Congress. That Chile
should follow that up with a note
couched almost in the language of an
ultimatum. is a great surprise. 1t fatty
notifies this Government of its insist
ence that the PanAmerican Congress
shall not be sovereign on the question
of its programme and proceedings, al
though Chile's executive officers know
that it had been agreed between the
United States and Mexico and the other
American Republics that it should be
so. In case of failure to submit to its
dictation Chile threatens to withdraw
altogether.
In order clearly to understand Chile's
position it is necessary to bark back to
April, 1900, when the Executive Com
mittee of the Bureau of American Re
publics mapped out a tentative pro-
gramme for the Congress. 1t recon-
mended the following subjects for con-
sideration and action:
'First-subjects discussed by the former Con-
gress which the conference may decide to
consider.
''second-Arbitration
''Third-InterIIational court Of Claims
''Fourth-heasures for the protection of in
dustry, agriculture, and commerce. Develop
Inent Of the means Of communication between the
countries composing the union. Consular. port,
and customs regulations. Statistics
''Fifti-Reore anizstiOn Of the international Bu-
reau of the American Republics.
In the June following representatives
of the Pan-American Union met and
decided that the Congress should be
held in the City of Mexico. the Mexican
Government having offered TO issue the
invitations and entertain the delegates
In August 1900. Mexico addressed a, cir
cular TO all the Governments Interested,
enclosing the programme previously
adopted at Washington in the April
preceding and asking an early reply
Meanwhile Chile found fault with what
her Foreign Office termed the vague
ness" Of the programme. and instructed
her Minister at this Capital TO obtain
modification of the terms He informed
the Department of State that Chile
would not attend the Congress unless
she was given sufficient guarantee be-
forehaDd that no questions OF "A iisa-
greeable nature would be allowed TO
come UP for discussion at the said Con-
gress." The Chilean Foreign Office. in
communication to this Government
also expressed the opinion that 1t should
be made rule of the Congress that at
the request OF any delegate any discus
sion not agreeable to his nation could
and should be ipso facto stopped.
So ridiculous proposition could not
be entertained, and was not taken
seriously. II was thought only neces-
sary here and elsewhere to assure Chile
that the Congress itself could be de-
pended on to avoid topics. not of gen.
erai International character. which
might produce irritation between given
States. In February last the Chilean
envoy informed the Mexican Minister in
Washington that his Government had
decided to appoint himself and two