The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-22
R. S. NAON ADDRESSED THE |
MEN OF THE AMERICAN Bar
Ambassador to the United States Spoke
on "Ths Argentine Constitutional
Idea He Compared Their System
With That Of Ours

Washington, Oct. 22.-Ardbassador
Naon, of the Argentine Republic, who
recently acted as one of the mediators
in the Mexican troubles, to-day ad-
dressed the American Bar Association
now in session here, on "The Argen-
tine, Constitutional Idea" The Am
bassador outlined broadly the essential
features of the Argentine constitution,
its democratic spirit, and its effect in
the social development of the people.
Comparing the system with that of the
United States, he said:
1.-THE organization given by the
American Constitution to the various
departments of the government, served
as model to the trainers of our Con-
stitution of '53, with some differences
relating to the organization and oper-
alton of the Executive Power Thus
our Legislative power reveals in the
Constitution of its two chambers the
federal principle of our institutions,
the idea of national unity being re-
flected in a Chamber of Deputies. the
genuine representation of the people of
the Nation, elected therefore in proper
tion to the population of the country,
and in an Epper Chamber of Senate
composed of two representatives for
each State and two for the federal
capital who represent the local au-
tonomy of each State.
''The right of the federal capital to
send its Deputies and Senators like any
other province, a right not enjoyed by
the American capital, is the only detail
of the organization of the Legislative
Power which differentiates the Argen-
tine Congress from it's great model, the
American Congress, if we do not con.
slider the form of election of the Sena-
tors and Deputies, the former being
elected by the Legislatures in each
Province. and the latter by the appli-
cation of the principle which guaran-
tees to the minority a permanent rep
resentation in the Chamber of Depu-
ties
Referring to the pacific progress of
the people of his country, the Ambas-
sador said:
"Resort to arms has never attracted
their predictions, and il they have
more than once been compelled to ac
cept it as an incxorable and inevitable
necessity, they have not done so either
to seek a benefit or 10 procure an ao
vantage, because they have never con
ceived any benefit which could spring
from the misfortune or from the pros
tration which war entails. 1t is only
the unavoidable exigencies of the ma
tional dignity or the integrity of our
institutions which could compel it to
accept the calamities and consequences
of war.
Mr.. Naon pointed out that his coun-
try "was the first to strive for the sue
cess of a formula establishing compul-
sorry arbitration without limitations,
proclaiming and defending it in all the
deliberations of international congresses
and conferences in which she has par.
ticipated, and finally including it in the
numerous treaties of arbitration which
she has entered into between 1899 and
the present date. In all of them the
following clauses have been inserted:
The contracting parties agree to sub
nit to arbitration all questions of any
nature that may arise between them
provided they do not affect the provis
ions of the Constitution of either
State, and cannot be settled by direct
negotiations.
Pointing to a broad International
humanitarianism as constitutional
idea in Argentina, the Ambassador as
serted that "the Constitution and the
/ laws have declared the principle that
foreigners enjoy in the territory of the
nation all the civil rights of citizen :"
and that Sin the same manner that the
principle of democracy is the founda-
ton of our political organization, the
sentiment of international democracy is
the foundation of our international pol
icy
This humanitarianism had shown it.
self, he said, at the end of the war,
with Paraguay. when Argentina which
was in position to impose its will
upon the defeated country and fix the
boundary line between the two coun-
tries, refused to take advantage of her
incontrovertible superiority, and even
of the much Wanted rights of the vic
tor, and in spirit of lofty generosity
acclaimed to the world the phrase that
has ever since epitomized her policy:
Victory gives no rights. A few days
later treaty of arbitration was signed
submitting the determination of the
boundary line to the decision of an i'm
partial judge, the President of the
United States.
" Victory gives no rights, is the
highest expression of our aspiration +"