The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-03

Washington, January 2.-(Special)-A Pan-Amercan commercial conference. more practical and comprehensive than any trade gathering ever assembled in the national capital will be held during the week of February 13-1S, 1910, under the
 auspices of the Pan-American union,
 formerly known as the Bureau of Amer ican Republics, in the auditorium of the new building of the union, Washington
 D. D. Its purpose and plan, as announced by Director General John Barrett, will be that of awakening the commercial or ganizations, representative business men and general public of both North And South America to an appreciation of the possibilities of Pan-American commerce and the necessity of preparing for the opening of the Panama canal.
 Through the cooperation of the depart ment of state, diplomatic and consular off, ficers of the United States accredited to Latin America, either home on leave or detailed for this purpose, will deliver addresses describing trade conditions and opportunities based upon their official in vestigations and observations. The dip- lomatic and consular officers of the 20 Latin American nations accredited to the United States will on the other hand
 he invited to discuss the subject from the standpoint of their countries. particularly with reference to the exchange Of com merce and the extension of the market for their products in the United States
 The practical side of the meeting Is furth- CT shown in the fact that the best ex- port and import trade experts, both of ficial and private, aside from diplomatic and consular officers, will give talks on those particular subjects which manu- lecturers, exporters and importers not
 vet familiar with the field wish to hear discussed, such as Credits Trade marks" '"Tariff Regulations" Banking
 Facilities Packing Advertising,
 "Catalogs," ''Freight Rates." Steamship
 Routes" Laws Governing Statesmen and Samples" etc.
 Invitations to participate in this con- ference will be sent to the principal com
 mercial organizations in representative cities and to such other business organi-
 cations, individuals, companies and firms
 as may desire to attend Colleges and schools having special commercial
 courses including foreign trade will also send specialists to take part.
 Tt will have a novel feature in that 1t will consider the exchange of trade-im- ports as well as exports-and the oppor- tunities not only of the United States to
 extend the sale of its products in Latin America but of Latin America to sell It's
 products to the United States, for only
 upon the basis of reciprocal exchange of trade can permanent large commerce and lasting good relations be built up be- tween the United States and her 20 sis ter American republics. Heretofore all discussions and meetings have considered only the export field, with correspond- ing unfortunate effect on public opinion in Latin America and It's attitude to- wards the efforts of the United States to increase it's commerce with that import ant part of the world. Another special feature will be careful consideration. from the standpoint Of the business interests of all the American countries interested in the Panama canal of what should be done to get ready for greater exchange of trade through that waterway and to gain practical advan- | tages to their commerce from the day | it is opened. Heretofore, most of the discussion has been about the wonder ful good that will come from the canal. without any consideration of what should | be done now to secure that good.
 | The conference will also be unique in
 that no platform or resolution of a contro- versial nature will be considered. It
 will be absolutely non-partisan and non-