Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-13

Inc pam american commercial CONFER
ence. which opens today in this city,
gives promise of yielding excellent results
in forwarding the mutual business inter
ests Of the countries in the western
hemisphere. Political conferences have
been held from time TO time in the past
10 regulate and adjust matters of gov
ernmental import and to establish a bet
ter understanding between the peoples
of the American republics. Through the
agency of the Bureau Of American Re-
publics, now by virtue OF action at Buenos
Aires last autumn become the Pan-Amer-
lean Union, great strides have been
taken toward the goal of understand
ing and cooperation. This valuable in
sttution is now responsible for the as
semblage here of representatives of the
business interests of all the western re-
publics. for the purpose of discussing bet
ter modes of commercial exchange, a
clearer conception of conditions and the
establishment of standards that will serve
the manufacturers and exporters Of all
the countries in their foreign trade rela-
lions.
The program arranged covers a wide
field of practical matters. The confer
ence is to be opened by the President Of
the United States, who IS at this time
engaged in a movement closely allied to
the interests underlying the pan-American
conference. He is just returned from a
speaking tour in the course of which he
has been setting forth the merits and
urgency of the Canadian reciprocity
agreement. which is founded upon princi-
ples of common sense in business and
is destined unquestionably to work out
to the mutual advantage of both coun-
tries. What President Taft has to say
on the subject of pan-American CONNER
cial relationships will be of especial in
terest in this connection.
1t is obvious that the completion of the
Panama canal will have a material effect
upon pan-American trade. Its tendency
should be to draw into closer trade re-
lations all the countries Of this hemi-
sphere. Thus the present conference is
held at a propitious time to lay the
foundations of a broader trade under
standing between the continents with ref
erence to the greater facilities for the
exchange Of goods that the interoceanic
waterway will afford. The canal itself
is a subject of vital Importance in the
discussions, and this conference is OPP
perfume I'm that it will doubtless serve
TO enlighten Congress on the subject of
canal administration, which it is now con-
sidering.
question which will underlie the dis
cussions at this conference is whether
the United States or some other nation
will reap the commercial advantage of
The isthmian canal. Every South
American country expects it's trade to in
crease greatly as a result of the union
of the oceans. Will this increase come
from and flow to these shores? Systematic
study of South and Central American
trade conditions and needs by North
American manufacturers and exporters
will serve to bring the profits accruing
from the isthmian investment into their
own pockets rather than those of Euro
pean merchants.
Whatever may be the political relations
between the countries of this hemisphere.
their trade relations should be close and
permanent. They should find their readi-
est markets for their surplus products
along INES running perth and south
rather than east and west In other
words, North America and South Amer
lea should be each the best customer of
inc other- Climatic conditions operate
10 establish An ideal commercial balance
Despite the racial disparitics, the arti-
''s'ai "hiriefs or language, the occasional
assumptions through political causes. these
countries should supply one another S
needs with profit. In order 10 do this
each must study the other sympathetically
and scientifically, abandoning all preju-
di"es. ready at all times to grant con-
cessions. enterprisins in the acquisition
OF information. This conference should
be worth much to every member of the
western family OF nations