The times., 1901-06-02
The pnn-American Congress.

What is the usefulness of a union of
the States of two continents, forming
one of the worlds great hemispheres,
in the interests of peace and concord
among themselves? This is the ques-
ton which must be asked and answered
by the American nations invited to the
family council at the City of Mexico
next December. The meeting, aside
from its initial purpose, which is to de-
wise a scheme of arbitration which shall
make war between American States,
! whether big or little, difficult if not
! impossible. viii be promotive of good
i feeling There has been so much sus-
! picion among US of late, and the as
/ phalt contention in Venezuela particu-
I larly has thrown so much discredit
upon this Government, that it would be
the part of wisdom for all the Amer
ican Republics TO get together and have
! a frank conference relating to their
| international affairs.
1t is not too much to say that the
South American States would find it to
their advantage to engage in a con-
ference to which the United States
should adhere, and bind itself with
others TO a plan Of American interna-
tional action, even if that plan went no
further than the adoption of a scheme
of arbitration. There is little doubt
that, on principle, this country would
join in such a scheme, even though it
might affect the desire of certain in
( terests influential with the Adminissra-
ton to coerce Venezuela in the inter
ests of the Asphalt Trust. The great
advantage to our general peace and
comfort, in view of the umpireship
which the United States has assumed
over the hemisphere. under the Monroe
Doctrine. which would follow the adop-
ton of a bi-cOntinental peace organiza-
ton under an arbitration compact, Is
not TO be ignored. On our side, we
should have the satisfaction Of know
ing that our neighbOrs would be able to
avoid local conflicts, and the resultants
Of heavy debt and perhaps incidental
injuries to the property or persons Of
Europeans affected by the hoshlities.
On their side. they would feel that the
Colossus of the North was bound by
its adhesion TO the convention of the
City of Mexico, even as it and other
Powers are bound by the convention of
The Hague.
An unnecessary amount of suspicion
has attached TO the United States,
among other American States, largely
due TO English and Spanish influence
Our departure from the letter and spirit
Of the Monroe Doctrine, exhibited in
Mr.. Hays desire to revive the dead
and gone Clayton Bulwer Treaty, has
imbued the Central and South Amer
/ ican States with the idea that there is
no telling what we might choose to do
next It is true that our recent dipIo-
macy has been neither nice nor wise.
but in the aggregate there is nothing in
it, nor in our attitude toward sister
Republics on the two continents to
show that either policy or intention is
inimical to them. If there could be a
congress of American sovereign States,
we are satisfied that the suspicion to
which we have referred would be re-
moved and that the signing of con-
vention engaging each one of the CO.
terie to treat the others Jointly and
severally in the way pointed out by
treaty providing for the arbitration of
all differences would make the States
from northern America to Patagonia
at ease with one another. and cement
the friendship which ought to exist
between and among Governments and
peoples situated as we are
Arbitration imposed by international
agreement Is always the safeguard of
the weak against the strong. If some
OF our South American neighbors think
that the United States has designs upon
their territorial integrity. the easy way
TO cure that feeling is to join with
us In a treaty of amity and arbitration
which should convince them to the con-
trary. The same thing can be said Of
the South American countries as be-
tween themselves. The guarantee of
arbitration by the nations of the hem
isphere, as against the alternative of
possible wars of invasion and conquest,
is something that above all things the
smaller States should seek with ear
nestness. From every possible point
Of view, the Pan-American Congress is