The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-04-23
SPANISH-AMERICA OF TODAY
DUR RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AMERICA BY JOHN BARRETT.

reau or Hepublics-Fhe Awakening of Latin America-The Significance of Secretary Roots Trip--Our Infiu- ence Must Be Intellectual and Moral. Honorable John Barrett, director of the International Bureau of American Republic, delived a lecture on Spain ish America of To-day and Its Rela- tions with the United States" before a good sized audience at College street hall last night. MT. Barrett was brought here by the Spanish club of the University recently organized by | Professor Rudolph Schevill of the de- partment of Spanish.
 MT. Barrett has travelled in all parts l of the world, and for the past ten years has been especially in Central and South America. He was minister to Siam and traveled through Asia, ! Japan and the Philippines. During the Spanish war he was special correspon- | dent from the Philippines for syndi- cate of American newspapers. He has been Americas minister to the Argen- tine Republic to Panama and to Colombia. Tn the latter country his position was especially difficult and 1t was necessary for him to exercise un- tiring energy and bring to the front all his diplomatic skill in order to soothe the ruff1ed feelings of the Colombians, who had just been deprived of Pana- ma. His selection as chief of the In- ternational Bureau which was ap- proved by the unanimous votes of twenty-one governments of the western hemisphere, is high compliment to his diplomatic ability and an evidence of Mir. Barrett's authority in the af- fairs of South America. The purpose of this International Bureau Is the fur ther development of our commerce and the promotion of friendly feelings be- tween the United States and Spanish America. The position of chief of this bureau requires wide experience as a diplomat and an intimate knowledge of the character and temperament of our Southern neighbors. His long sojourn in South America has provided MT. Barrett with all these requisites and fitted him well for the responsibilities of his position
 Mr Barrett said in part:
 Spanish-America is entering upon great industrial, political, and intel lectuaI onward movement. It is des- tined to soon divide our attention with that we are giving to Europe and Asia. No one can predict the limitations of South American development during the next decade. It Is safe to say, however, that 1t wil lastonish the whole world. One thing Is certain: the United States must be up and doing in pro- noting its commerce and In strength ening its political influence throughout Spanish America, or it will be left far behind In the pace that Europe is set ting
 Tt is no exaggeration to say that 1t is now or never with the United States in Latin-America. This not stated for the purpose of saying anything sensa- tlonal but simply to tell the plain truth. If S%e go on as we have been doing, We will wake up a few years later to find that Europe has such hold com fnercially and morally III Spanish-Am- erica that we must forever occupy seor 0nd place. In our tremendous material progress and prosperity we have neg lected and overlooked LAtin-Amerlca. Europe has never lost sight of 1t for a moment. She Is taking advantage of the situation in way that Is worthy of our keenest admiration rather than Jealousy.
 "The one saving feature is the meas ure of new interest that has been awakened by the visit of our great Secretary of State, Elihu Root to South America. In his unprecedented journely he accomplished more for the prestige and trade of the United States than a hundred years of diplomatic, correspondence and efforts of regua- ton ministers and consuls. If the United States had manifested one tenth of the interest in Secretary Roots tour that was shown not only by South America itself but by Eu- rope, we would now see inaugurated a widespread South American movement in both commercial and educational cir cles throughout North America. Every where he went in South America he was shown attentions and welcomed with q cordlality and enthusiasm that could not have been surpassed if he had been a conquering hero or the President or Monarch of foreign na- tion. There was no limit to the crowds that cheered him upon his arrival at the different capitals or on the cost and lavishness of the accompanying display Upon his return to the United States, on the other hand, he has giv- en no more welcome or shown no more appreciation than a Congressman who might have made 8 passing visit to Panama
 Il want to say that one of the prln- cipal influences that made MT. Roots visit to South America a success was the fact that he was there recognized as representing our best intellectual standards and not as mere politician or agent of trade One of our greatest mistakes In the past has been that we have approached the peoples to the south of us on the material and com mercial side only. We have always acted as if the only reason we cared for them was to capture their trade or to exploit the Monroe dlctrine We have overlooked their splendid histori- cal achievements, their great intellec- tual development, and their old and conservative civilization. We have, in short, 'patronized' them to a degree that has been offensive. Mir. Root in- augurated a new method of approach and struck responsive chord when he pointed out their wonderful achieve ments along other than mere material lines. The more we follow up this new idea, for instance by the exchange of college nrofessorS hV travel hV asgOc-