The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-12
pAN-AMERIoAN CONVENTION

| PAN-AMERICAN CONVENTION.
The administration has managed to get
itself in hot water over the Pan-AmeT1-
can congress and 4s setting back fires In
an attempt to save itself from public
censure. These back-fires consist of a.
series Of inspired articles sent out from
Washington through plastic correspond
ents, charging the anticipated failure OF
the congress to European interference.
! These jingoes claim that European diplo-
mats see in the Pan-American congress
a menace to their commercial supremacy
| in South America and are doing all in
their power to foment discord among the
Latin republics; that they encourage
both Peru and Chile in their fight over
the disputed territory Of Aria and Aetna
| while ait the same time they represent
to Argentina that the United States is
| backing Chile in its ambition to be the
| dominant factor in South American poll
| tics. They claim to see In the recent an
nouncement from Argentina that she
is an unrestricted discussion of the ques-
tons Of arbitration, the grasping
| diplomacy of Germany and the fine Ital-
ian hand of the old Latin powers This
| is the merest bosh-'springs Ito catch
| woodcocks," lingo hogwash, If you
| please. The present hitch in the nego-
at f0Fu ri Infa rpr
of the South and Central American re-
| publics at the City of Mexico was caused
| by am objectionable blunder made by
the United States representatives at the
very outset OF the project Whether the
blunder was made by Secretary Hay, per-
sonally or by some fool-understrapper
playing at diplomacy is not apparent at
this time. Certain it is. that the state
department which is guiding this inter
continental enterprise assured Chile that
! IL she would come into the deal the SUBJ
Ject of arbitration would be confined to
subjects arising In the future and that
no pending dispute would be allowed to
be taken up by the congress.
Chile having a dispute with Peru ana
Bolivia which it refuses to submit to ar
bitration stood aloof until the great re-
| public OF the northern hemisphere as
sured her that her interests should in
no way suffer ut the hands OF this con-
| venton
When we remember the fact that arbi-
| +rot
countries Of South and Central America
are interested and the establishment of
q high court to dispose of international
disputes is the one desideratum desired
from this congress. the gravity Of the
mistake of our state department can be
appreciated.
With the factor of arbitration elimi-
mated from the discussions Of the con-
gress or it's consideration confined to
general principles to be made applicable
in the future, and all this for the sole
purpose Of allowing Chile to repudiate
the solemn obligations Of her treaty with
Peru, the other South American powers
would have been worse than foolish to
take part in its deliberations.
On the face Of things it looked as II
the United States and Chile had entered
into close partnership TO run the show
| in their own interests, the one to in
crease its commercial power in the south
ern continent and the other to maintain
| its political dominance on the Pacific
| slope. What the United States hoped
to gain by this crooked piece of diplo-
macy is difficult to see Chile has given
the United States the Icy hand ever
since the Bolivia Peru-C Chile war fifteen
years ago. This may have been an at
| tempt to win back that lost favor; If
so. it was made at the sacrifice of the
respect of every other South American
| republic. Argentina, which can furnish
| Uncle Sam with ten times the trade which
he can ever expect from Chile. refuses to
join this limited convention. Brazil, Peru,
Bolivia Colombia and the smaller repub-
| lies must also stay away.
| Ii the United States desires to have
a convention for the benefit OF Chile it
| is liable TO be reduced to a duet with
| Mexico as timekeeper
What the state department should do
| now Is to issue circular to the repre-
| sentatives of ell the nations concerned
| renouncing its former action and declar-
ing this government In favor OF a full and
free discussion OF the question Of arb4-
tration as q means of settlement for all
disputes both pending and to arise in
che future. with declaration in favor Of