Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-23
SISTER REP u BLIGS
PROMOTION OF KNOWLEDGE AIM
OF MINISTER BARRETT.

The promotion Of knowledge in the
United States relating to the Latin Amer
lean republics is the end sought to be fos-
tered through a new offer from Mr.. John
Barrett American minister TO Colombia,
providing prizes for the best Essays on the
relation of the United States with the sis
ter republics of North and South America,
to be competed for by students of Ameri-
can colleges. A similar offer was made
about a year ago by Mr.. Barrett through
President Nicholas Murray Butler of Coz
lumbia University
In recent letter TO President Butler
Mr. Barrett refers to the former prize
test and comments as follows: THE re-
suit of that competition. which you duly
announced. not only demonstrated beyond
question the practical value of such an eff
fort TO arouse interest in the subject but
also proved the lamentable ignorance that
prevails generally throughout the United
States among the rising generation of our
citizens in regard to Central and South
America"
Minister Barrett makes announcement of
his new offer in the following terms: De
sirous of doing all in my power to promote
the study of the history. peoples, politics,
resources and possibilities of our sister re-
publicS. and pursuant to nv intimation
when | offered the prizes IL year ago,
now wish. through your kind cooperation
to provide for another competition of
broader scope, for which you will please
find fnclosed my check for 1925 This may
be divided. if you think wise into three
prizes, respectively, 800, s75 and $50"
In his letter Minister Barrett gives ten
different subjects, any one of which may
be treated by the competitor. These
themes are divided into two classes, the
first of which bears directly or indirectly
on the relations of the United States with
the Latin republics, while the second is
confined largely to the historical and po-
litical development of Latin America with
out reference to the United States.
List of the Subjects.
The first class, which may be termed po-
litical and economic, contains the following
subjects:
The Monroe doctrine and its influence on
the political and economic development of
Latin America.
The influence of the Panama canal on the
commercial and political development of
Latin America.
Present conditions and future possibilities
of the trade of the United States with
South America.
The present material and economic prog
reSs of South America.
The practica bility and utility of the pro-
posed pan-American railway
The second, or historical class contains
the following:
The influence and conditions that worked
for the independence and establishment of
the South American republics.
The influences and conditions that worked
for the independence and establishment Of
the Central American republics and Mex
leo
The character and achievements of Boil
var as shown in the struggle for the in
dependence of northern South America.
The character and achievements of San
Martin as shown in the struggle for the
independence of southern South America.
e conditions surrounding and circum-
stances influencing the overthrow of the
empire and the establishment of the repub-
lie in Brazil
MI Barrett suggests that would be best
to limit the essays TO 10000 words, but he
leaves that as well as the period over
which the competition shall extend, the
naming OF the judges and other conditions
10 President Butler.