The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-21
In the Third international Con-
ference Next Monday.
IMPORTANT RESULTS
In Connection With the Future
Are Anticipated.
The Idea Originated With the
Late James 6. Blaine.


New York. July 21.-The third In
fernational American conference, when
viii be called to order on Monday
next In the Brazilian capital at RIO
Janeiro. is one of a great trilogy OF
American family gatherings during the
close of the past. and the beginning
of the present century destined. In the
opinion of Dubhcists. 10 have most
important bearing on the future of the
nations Of the western hemisphere
Conceived in the mind of the late Sec
rotary Blaine. the idea of bringing into
close relations the different govern
ments of North. Central and South
America had not only a sentimental
and political, but also a business like
side that at once attracted the atten-
ton of Europe. For up to the early
90's, owing in large part to dlmcultles
of communication. to lack of cables;
to the mutual absence of knowledge OF
the resources of the two continents of
the western hemisphere, the commerce
between North and South America
had been Insignificant in volume and
the commercial nations of Europe
were monOpolizing the trade of Latin
America.
So to meet this condition and to ef-
feet an exchange of natural and manu-
IA ctured commodities to the mutual
benefit of the countries Of North, Cen
trail and South America after many
months of negotiation necessary to al
Law the ieaIousies of the lesser states.
in October. 1889. representatives of all
the republics of the three Americas
gathered in Washington, and, after
brief tour Of the principal Industrial
cities Of the country. were called to
order by Secretary Blaine TO consider
measures for the common veal. Many
1aF sfelf discussed
ing that conference; in fact it has been
thought that the programme was too
pretentious, but substantial results
were achieved. The survey for the in
tercontinental railway, now making
rapid strides toward completion, was
inaugurated. Provision was made for
securing uniformity of customs regula-
tons so far as the different business
methods of the various countries would
admit. The bureau of American repub-
lies was created and isnOw doing useful
work An advance was made toward
general reciprocity though the pro-
ject has even yet failed to reach
fruitiOn. A monetary commission was
had with sensible benefit to the cur
rency relations of the American re-
pubIics. The metric system moved
ahead another step; being authorized
3u the customs service of the United
States and other countries. These we're
all valuable achievements, but there
ence recommended that the work be
carried forward by another congress.
The Second Conference.
This second conference was held in
the City of Mexico, in 10000 While
many Of it's recommendations have not
yet been generally carried into effect,
this second gathering also was pro-
ductive of good. What was accom-
plished was this: The approval of
Al or q a "A rr.
of all the twenty-three instruments
signed a The Hague: the approval of
the United States of the convention
for the exchange of publications; the
treaty on pecuniary claims and the
scheme for the reorganization of the
bureau Of American republics; the ap-
proval by several Of the South and
Central American nations of some of
the most important of the treaties pro-
posed by the second conference; sub
sequent congresses which adopted reg
ulatiOns for the improvement Of Gus
toms regulations; sanitation of Amer
lean port cities. and the regulation of
the coffee growing industry But this
conference also left behind it unfin-
ished work, hence the gathering at
Rio TODAY The City of Mexico con-
ference felt that the ten-year period
proposed by the original conference for
the holding Of such family gatherings
period.
So the Rio conference will open un-
der the most promising auspices with
the purpose of considering a pro-
gramme fully equal in Importance to
that which was laid before any of the
preceding gatherings Injected into
this programme, after it had been
practically completed at preliminary
meeting of an international commit
tee held in Washington last winter
was one little article CIV) that is per-
haps likely to give rise to more con
troversy and excite more feeling and
be generally of greater importance
than any other article. This concerns
the interesting Drago doctrine. itself
an outgrowth of DR.. Calvo's famous
dictum, involving the right of q ma
ton to use force IN the collection from
other nations of public debts In the
programme this takes the form Of the
proposition to allow The Haeue CON
ference to determine this important
question, and as many of the South
American debtor nations are bitterly
opposed to allowing the creditor ma
lions of Europe to pass upon this vital
doctrine. bitter discussion is ex-
pected when the subject comes before
the third conference
Reorganization of the bureau of
American republics so as to greatly
enlarge the usefulness of that instftI1-
ton is the very first article of the pro
sFafalne- IL IS proposed to erect
magnificent building in Washington
for its accommodation; to open a com
nercial muesum in connection there
with, and. a suggestion based largely
upon American suspicion. to
limit the life of the bureau to ten
year period Some of the nations have
failed to supply their pro rata assess
ments for the maintenance of the bu-
reau with regularity; this IS to be cor.
rected-
A Move for Arbitration.
A strong effort is to be made to
bring about unanimous action of the
American republics to agree to settle
BY arbitration all future disputes aris-
Ing between them. and to endeavor TO
have the approaching Hague confer
ence apply this principle generally to
The nations Of the world
The United States and several other
American rannhlics rrera si.-s,at -. =