Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
THE RIO CONFERENCE
Importance of the Coming Con-
gresS.
MATTERS TO BE TAKEN UP
Gathering of Leaders of the Latin
American Republics.
TRIP OF SECRETARY ROOT
Much is Expected of His Tour-Will
Be Away From July Until
Next October.
MATTERS TO BE TAKEN UP
TRIP OF SECRETARY ROOT
BY WILLIAM E CTRTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The plans for the third international con-
ference of American republics per-
fected; the program has been adopted, the
delegates have been appointed and it will
meet at Rio de Janeiro on the 21st OF July
next In order to accommodate some of the
delegates who have important engagements
In the fall it has been decided to limit the
session to the first of September, thus Civ
ing six weeks for the discussion of the sub
jects that will be proposed. The delegates
from the United States will be-:
The American Delegation.
William l. Buchanan of Sioux City, Iowa.
chief of The department of agriculture at
the worlds Columbian exposition. minister
to the Argentine Republic, director general
of the pan-Amercan exposition at Buffalo,
first minister to the republic of Panama,
delegate to the second international Ameri-
can conference at Mexico, and now in
charge of the interests of the Westinghouse
Manufacturing Company In Europe
Paul S. Reinsch, professor of political
science in the University of Wisconsin. He
is q graduate of that institution, has taken
degrees in the universities of Paris and Ber-
lin and is the author of number of books.
A. +. Montague, recently governor of
Virginia.
Prof L. s. Rowe, head professor Of politi-
cal science in the University of Pennsyl-
vania; born at McGregor Iowa, graduated
at the University of Pennsylvania and Uni
versty Of Halle, Germany, revised the laws
OF Porto Rico, president of the American
Academy OF Political and Social Science;
author of several works upon those sub
jectS.
Troy Polytechnic School and the University
OF pennsylvania, built the first railroad in
Porto Rico, assistant secretary of the in
terror of the island. president of the Society
of Civil Engineers of Porto Rico, delegate
to Congress.
Van Leer Polk of Tennessee, one of the
leading lawyers of his state and descend
ent of James X. Polk, once President of the
United States
The secretary of the commission will be
Charles Ray Dean, chief of the bureau of
appointments of the Department of State
and his assistants will be II. Fletcher
Neighbor, private secretary TO Secretary
Root, and William c. Fox, director of the
bureau of American republics.
Frank l. Joannini of the bureau of Amer
lean republics Will be interpreter for the
American delegation.
The delegation will sail from New York
July on the steamship Byron, and are due
al Rio July is.
Secretary Roots Trip.
Secretary Root, accompanied by his WIFE
daughter and son. expects to sail from New
middle Of july and Will spend two weeks or
more at Rio during the session of the con-
ference. He does not go as a delegate, but
as a spectator and a visitor who takes
deep interest in the proceedings. The chief
OBJECT of his journey is TO make the per-
sOnal acquaintance of the presidents the
ministers of foreign affairs and other Off
clals Of the South American republics.
Mr.. Root has broad, comprehensive
American policy in mind, which he thinks
m Gf1gll NV a Toar
Sonal acquaintance with the men with
whom he has to deal. He will therefore
visit all of the South American republics
that lie on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
and has been assured of a cordial reception
After spending two weeks or more in
Brazil he will go southwark TO Uruguay
and the Argentine Republic. He will then
go around through the Straits OF Magellan
to Valparaiso and visit the west coast re-
publlcs in turn. At Panama he viii leave
the Charleston and, after making a thor
ough inspection of the canal work and con-
dltions on the isthmus, he Will take the
regular steamer for New York, expecting
to reach home about the middle of October.
DO not know or anything that VIII pro-
. mote friendly relations between the United
States and the other American republics so
much as this excursion. Our Latln-Ameri-
can neighbors are a very cordial, hospitable
and responsive people Secretary Root Is
what they call sympathetic" He under
stands their character he appreciates their
situation. he shares their aspirations and
with his genial nature will be able to get
very close to them Already he is more
intimate with the members of rhe dipo-
matte corps from the Latin American coun-
Jries than any other Secretary OF State we
have had He has been brought into inti-
mate relations with them in the prepara-
ton OF the program for the conference and
that has been difficult and perplexing
task. It has been the desire OF everybody
TO accomplish much possible at the
conference and avoid snares and pitfalls.
The object Of the meeting has been to pro-
mote peace and good feeling but there are
ii number of subjects upon which the sev-
eral nations have very decided differences
and II would be the easiest task in the
world to provoke eternal rumpus by IN
Producing a bone or two OF contention.
Secretary Root has gained the confidence
Of the ambassadors and ministers from
Isatin-American states and they have
gained his. He has made some very warm
friends among them.
Efforts to Arouse Suspicion.
Jealous European interests and political
agitators in Central and South America
have endeavored to excite apprehension
concerning the intentions and motives of
the Secretary Of State in making this trip.
Il has been asserted that he Is going down
20 swallow all OF the other American gov
eruments with single gUlp; and that If he
does not eat them up on the ground. he
Will bring them all away with him. Some
of the comments and predictions concern
ing his visit have been very amusing and
OF Central and South America have been
solemnly warned against him
To appreciate the significance of these
absurd publications you must understand
that certain interests in Europe are very
Jealous Of the influence of the United
States, not only in Latin America but
everywhere 1t must also be understood
that there political parties and political
issues among the people the other con-
tnents just there are In the United
States The policy of the liberal party in
each of the other American republics Is
generally speaking, to promote more init
mate political and commercial relations
with the United States. This policy is op-
posed by the newspapers and leaders of
the conservative party. which resists all
progTcss and is controlled largely by the
old Spanish aristocracy who against
free education. free religion. free press,
and liberal ideas generally. The newspapers
and the leaders OF the conservative party
do not see anything good IN the United
States and they object TO every movement
End every proposition In their own eoun-
tries that may in any way lead To more
Intimate relations. For that reason they
see all kinds of evils and disasters behind
the innocent excursion OF tie American