Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-03

n y eloquent testimonial OF the
~ deep interest which the United
~ States feels In the welfare of
~ the twenty other republics Of
the western world, the Pan
American Union, with headquarters In
Washington. is unique international in
stItution. Organized for the purpose OF
promoting commercial intercourse be-
tween the twenty-one American repub-
lies, each OF which contributes to Its
maintenance In proportion to its popula-
tion. its work has expanded and Its ac-
tIvities have widened. until today 1t Is
ore of the leading factors In promoting
trade and increasing the bonds OF friend
ship which tend to unite all of the coun-
tries from the Canadian border to Cape
Horn.
This interest of the United States gov
eminent in her sister republics began
when America was young. When James
Monroe was President he boldly an
nounced that the safety and welfare OF
the United States made 1t necessary that
no country of the old world should &C
auire another foot Of territory In the
new world. whether by purchase. con-
quest or otherwise, and that attempts TO
do so would be regarded as acts OF I'M
warranted aggression. The nations OF Eu-
rope were astonished at the boldness OF
the new republic of the west In thus serv-
ing notice upon them that they must keep
hands off of American territory. but they
decided that 1t would be best Tor them
TO acquiesce in this attitude Of the United
States. and so the Monroe doctrine has
become one of the principles of interna-
tional law tacitly recognized by all ma
tons. To this doctrine the majority OF
the Latin American republics owe their
political existence. Under It the United
States stands as sponsor for practically
the entire western world south or the
Canadian boundary.
Bound together by so many ties, 1t is
but natural that the twenty-one Amer
lean republics should feel deep interest
in the political and commercial welfare OF
the whole American continent. This IN
terest will be enhanced by the building
OF the Panama canal which will vastly
benefit them all and make even more es-
sential close bones of friendship between
them. This growing interest finds CON-
crete expression in the increasing infiu-
ence of the Pan American Union. The
union has its existence by common con-
sent and cooperation and its admintstra-
ton and duties are fixed by the per1odlc
Pan American conferences Held In the
capitals of the various countries. to which
all of the countries interested send dele
gates.
The affairs of the Pan American Union
are controlled by a governing board COM
posed of the diplomatic representatives In
Washington of the other American ma
tiOnS and the secretary OF state OF the
United States. The affairs of the union
are administered by a director general.
an assistant director and corps OF spe-
cially trained assistants. The union Is
devoted to the development and conser-
walton of commerce and friendly inter-
course and good understanding among
the American republics. 1t was origi-
lily organized some twenty years ago as
q result of the action of the first Pan
American conference held In Washington
during the autumn and winter of 1S99-9O.
This famous gathering was presided over
by James G. Blaine. then Secretary of
State who long had advocated such close
union between the twenty-one republics
rs TO make them one great and happy
family of people. One of his dreams was
OF a Pan American railway to unite the
capitals of all of the American republics
and TO stimulate commercial and social
intercourse so that an era OF understand
Ing between the various peoples would in !
evitably follow.
This first Pan American conference was
attended by eminent delegates from all OF
the countries. and passed resolution
providing for a commercial bureau OF
the American republics" which should I
collect and distribute commercial and
general information among them in such
q way as not only to foster the exchange
OF trade but TO remove the great igno-
rance of each other which existed among |
their respective peoples. At each of the |
succeeding Pan American conferences the |
activities and consequent opportunities for
usefulness of the Pan American Union