The Washington times., 1909-10-17


Exposition. some twenty years aeo, II
Sioux City In that capacity he demos
strated a large measure OF executive
ability and the eXpositions became ma
tionallys and even internationally, IA.
nous. As a result Governor Boies. OF
Iowa. made him commissioner from tha
state 10 the worlds Fair in Chicago ID
1880 and presently he was placed il
charge of the department of agriculture
and forestry Of the exposition. He grew
up 70 the new position. Grover CIeve.
Ittnd became President, and Buchanan
iuelung Democrat vas named by HIN
10 be minister to Argentina
Mr.. Buchanan, from booming the bust,
ness OF Western city through an eE.
position, developed the idea of pushing
commercial relations; he became a gen
eraI agent for American enterDrise IN
south America. He sought TO extend
American commerce I'm South America
ana presently had become the most
popular diplomat in Latin-AmeIisa
Argentina and CHILE were on the verge
c1auan was made the umpire in an eff
fort TO arbitrate their differences. Each
side named nve judges, and the two
agreed on him rs umpire. 1t was his
" ork which stcered that difficult and
complicated arbitration 10 "a successful
conclusion It was the first great tri-
ing vital international difficulties with
out resort TO arms, and in South Amer
[ 1Ca, and among the powers of Europe,
/ fl is still one of the great recognized
achievements Of its kind.
Powerful in South America.
At Santiago and at Buenes Ayres
alike, they look upon Buchanan today
as the man who contributed most large
/ " TO rescue South America from the
chaos OF petty conflict which had so
long arrested Its development. AS d.
rect result OF that arbitration. there ex-
lists today between Argentina. and Chile
the worlds model disarmament treaty.
Under II the two governments. once Bit
ter rivals have reduced their military
and naval establishments, and their peo-
pie have come to look upon war as be-
ing as impossible as it is undesirable.
mat was twelve years ago. " lille
minister to the Argentine. Buchanan ne
gotiated one of the best reciprocity
treaties ever formulated for this Coun-
ttrN; but II went the way of the other
treaties Of its aracter-smothered ia
the Senate committees.
Appointed minister as a Democrat,
he was retained under a Repu blican Adj
1lnlstration, finally retiring voluntarily
10 become a sort OF diplomatic agent
for the New York Life Insurance COM
pany in its big business relations with
the South American countries. The
New York Life had a great case pend
ing IN the Argentine. which required
skillEul and diplomatic management.
buchanan took il. and won for his
client Then he was sent TO Brazil hg
the same company, and did some more
euua lily effective work Later the West
iughOuSe interests. international in
scope. wanted his services; and for a
time he served both the Westinghouse
and the New York Life people in their
Latin-American affairs.
Directs Exposition.
The Pan-American Exposition of 1901
at Buffalo came on. and Buchanan. as
the foremost American authority ON
business relations of the three Amer iCas,
was selected to be director general.
once more his executive abilities stood
him in good stead. and his work for
the exposition marked him anew as a
man Tor great affairs.
Next came the Panama revolution ia
1903, and the development OF that maze
OF complication of Colombo, Panama
France, the canal. and the Washing
ton Government. buchanan had mean
while come to be the most widely and
fayorably known American diplomatic
business agent in an the Americas He
has won the confidence OF the minor
republics. They believed IN him, they
believed that the United States, however
much they might fear its general at
titUde toward them, would not InJure
them when Buchanan conducted the ne
/ gotiauOns.
] II was q very practical question. this
OF the canal, and President Roosevelt
/ turned 70 Buchanan with the request
/ that he give the Government the bene-
| fit of his experience. He did so and
| became minister 10 the Republic OF Pan
! anna From that time he had divided
his time between the big business en-
terprises with which he was asso
ciated, and the special service Of The
state Department Whenever he wa
0ee5e. the STATE Department borrowed
him, and he always produces the re
suits
Mission in Mexico.
Three years or so ago ne went GA 2
mission 10 Mexico, the exact character
/ of which is not yet known; but liz gen
/ eral it Is understood TO have related c
/ enecting agreement between Washing
ton and Diaz, for the settlement of con
! dftions in Central America, the ending
Of war there and restoration and
/ maintenance Of stable government and
relations among these warning little re
/ publics-
/ There was vast mystery about tha
/ mission AT the time. There were wll'
/ Stories about the intentions Of IN,
/ TTuittd States and Mexico 10 ESTABLISH
/ = 7oIut ur0tecUOrate over Central Amer
/ f.s4fs 1--WE little and turbulent govern