Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

| in the opinion of publicists, to have a most
| important bearing on the future of the ma
| .tions of the western hemisphere Conceived
in the mind of the late Secretary Blaine
| the idea of bringing into close relations
| the different governments of North Gem
| trail and South America had not only a sem
timental and political, but a so business
| like side that at once attracted the atten-
tion of Europe. For UP to- the early 9Os
owing in large part to difficulties of COM
munication, to lack of cables, to the mutual
absence of knowledge of the resources or
the two continents of the western hem
| isphere, the commerce between North and
South America had been insignificant in
volume and the commercial nations of Eu-
rope were monopolizing the trade of Latin
America.
So to meet this condition and to effect an
exchange of natural and manufa ctured
| commodities to the mutual benefit of tho
countries of North. Central and South
America, after many months of negotia-
ton necessary to allay the jealousies of the
lesser states, in October. 1899. representa-
tives of all the republics of the three
Americas gathered in Washington and,
after brief tour of the principal industrial
cities of the country, will be called to order
| by Secretary Blaine to consider measures
| for the common veal.
| Many important subjects were discussed
during that conference; In fact. it has been
| thought that the program was too preten-
| tious, but substantial results were achieved.
The survey for the intercontinental rail
| pletion, was inaugurated. Provision was
| made for securing uniformity of customs
| regulations so far as the different business
| methods of the various countries would adj
| NIT. The bureau of American republics
was created and is now doing useful work.
| An advance was made toward general reci-
| procity, though the projet has ecyen yet
| failed to reach frution. A monetary. COM
mission was had with sensible benefit to
| the currency relations of the American
| publics The metric system moved ahead
another step, being authorized in the GUS
| toms service of the United States and other
| countries. These We're all valuable achieve
ments, but there was more to be done, and
| the conference recommended that the work
| be carried forward by another congress.
This second conference was held in the
| City of Mexico In 10000, and while many
| of It's recommendations have not yet been
| generally carried into effect. this second
gathering also was productive of good.
| What was accomplished was this: The ap-
prevail of Guatemala, Salvador and Hon
| duras of all the twenty-three instruments
| signed at The Hague; the approval of the
! United States of the convention for the
| exchange of publications; the treaty on Pc
| cuniary claims and the scheme for the re-
| organization of the Bureau Of American
| republics; the approval by several of tho
South and Central American nations OF
| some of the most important of the treaties
| proposed by the second conference: subse-
| quent congresses which adopted regulations
| for the improvement OF customs relations;
sanitation of American port cities, and the
regulation of the coffee growing industry.
| But this conference also left behind 1t I'M
| finished work, hence the gathering at Rio
| today The City of Mexico conference felt
| that the ten-year period proposed by the
| original conference for the holding OF such
/ family gatherings was too long, and pro-
posed five-year period.
60 the Rio conference will open under the
| most promising auspices with the purpose
| Of considering program fully equal In I'M
| portance to that which was laid before any
Of the preceding gatherings. Injected into
/ this program, after 1t had been practically
completed at a preliminary meeting of an
! international committee he'd In Washing
ton last winter was one little article-lV--
| that is perhaps likely to give rise to more
| controversy and excite more feeling and
| be generally of greater Importance than
/ any other article. This concerns the inter-
/ esting Drago doctrine, Itself an outgrowth
i of DR.. Calvos famous dictuIn. involving
| the right of q nation to use force in the
/ collection from other nations OF public
/ debts In the program this takes the form
| of the proposition to allow The Hague con-
| ference to determine this important ques-
! ton. and as many of the South American
debtor nations are bitterly opposed to al
4 lowing the creditor nations OF Europe to
/ pass upon this vital doctrine. q bitter dis
| cussIon is expected when the subject comes
| before the third conference.
Bureau Of American Republics.
Reorganization OF the bureau of Amer
ican republics so as to greatly enlarge the
usefulness of that institution 10 the very
first article OF the program. II II proposed
| to erect magnificent building IN wash
tngtOn for ita Recommendation 70 open q
commercial museum IN connecttom t1sero-
IN Al sssssss1ca 49, 8 liz :s
ot To hlareau y q tenEx
/ q ~ n&tlpQs haxe Alllp1 @ ll4
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