Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-21
NORTH AND SOUTH
AMERICANS MEET
Nations of the Western Henlis-
phere to Hold an Important
Conference
GREAT GOOD WILL RESULT
Third of the Great Pan American Con-
crosses to Be Held at Rio Janero
! Expected to Result in More Thor
1 ouah Understanding Between the
/ Countries Interested.

| oush Understanding Between the
Countries Interested.
kelnational American conferences
which will be called to order in the
Brazilian capital at Rio Janeiro, Mon-
day next, is one of a great triology of
American family gatherings during the
close OF the past and the beginning OF
Sha present century, destined. In the
opinion of publicists, to have most
important bearing on the future of thes
!, nsttions of the western hemisphere.
Conceived in the mind of the late Sec
retary Blaine, the idea Of bringing in
f5Nclose relations the different govern
ments of North Central and South
America had not only sentimental
and political, but also a business like
side that at once attracted The atten-
tioal of Europe. For up to the early
'90's, owing in large part to difficul-
tiesrof communication, to lack of ca-
DleS. to the mutual absence OF knows
edge of the resources of the two conti-
merits of the western hemisphere, the
commerce between North and South
America had been Insignificant in vol
ume and the commercial nations of Eu-
rope were monopolizing the trade of
Latin America.
$50 to meet this condition and to ef-
feet an exchange of natural and mans
ufactured commodities to the mutual
bertef1t of the countries of North, Cen-
trail and South America, after many
months of negotiation necessary to al
lay the jealousies 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
important subjects were discussed
during that conference; in fact, it has
been thought that the. program was too
pretentious, but substantial results
We're achieved The survey for the in-
ter:ontinental railway, now makine
rapid strides toward completion. was
inangurate... Provision was made for
securing uniformity of customs regu-
lations so far as the different business
methods of the various countries would
admit. The Bureau of American Re-
puhlics was created and is now doing
useful work. An advance was made
toward general reciprocity, tho the
project has even yet failed to reach
fruition. A monetary commission was
had with sensible benefit to the cur
rency relations of the American re-
publics. The metric system moved
ahe,id another step; being authorized
In the customs service of the United
States and other countries. These
We're all valuable achievements, but
there was more to be done and the
conference recommended that the work
be carried forward by another con-
gress.
Second Congress.
This second conference was held in
the City of Mexico, in 1901-02, while
many of its recommendations have not
vet been generally carried into effect,
this second gathering also was pro-
ductive of good What was accom-
plished was this: The approval Of
Guatemala, Salvador and Honduras of
all the twentyt three instruments sign
ed at 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 approval by
several of The South and Central AM
erican nations of some of the most inn
portant of the treaties proposed by the
second conference, subsequent con-
crosses, which adopted regulations for
the improvements of customs rela-
tions 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 it unfinished work,
hence the gathering at Rio today. The
City Of Mexico conference felt that the
ten-year period proposed by the or
iginal conference for the holding of
such family gatherings was too long
and proposed five-year period.
Third Congress.
So the Rio conference will open un-
der the most promising auspices with
the purpose of considering program
was laid before any of the preceding
gatherings. Injected into this program
after it had been practically completed |
at a preliminary meeting of an inter-
national committee held in Washington |
last winter. was one little article-IN-
that Is perhaps likely to give rise to
more controversy and excite more feel |
ing and be generally of greater i'm |
portence than any other article. This |
concerns the interesting Drago Doc |
trine- itself an outgrowth of DR.. Cal |
vo's famous dictum, involving the right |
of nation to use force in the collec- |
ton from other nations of public debts |
In the program this takes the form OF
the proposition to allow The Hague |
conference to determine this important |
question and as many of the South
American debtor nations are bitterly
opposed to allowing the creditor ma
tions OF Europe to pass upon this vital
''.--.'n. ''-.'n. hitter discussion is expect