The Washington herald., 1914-10-11

II Latin-Ameriea will be approached by
all those who wish 70 engage in its
material evolution in the same way that
the opportunities in the United States
and Canada have been approached, with
the corresponding victories and defeats,
successes and disappointments, there is
no reason why there should not be de-
veIopment during the next ten years In
these southern nations which will bring
not only greatly added prosperity to their
peoples but satisfactory rewards to the
engineers and investors OF the United
States and Europe who cooperate in the
right spirit with them.
For many years the Pan-American
Union, which is the international organ
ization Of the twenty-one Independent
American republics. maintained in WASH
ington for the development Of commerce,
intercourse, friendship and peace among
them all, has been carrying on without
ceasing a propaganda to educate the peo-
pie Of the United States regarding the
Latin-American countries, and, in turn 10
inform Latin-America concerning this
country. There are no better instrumen-
talities for. the advancement of both con-
fidence and commerce, of good under
standing and trade, than the spread OF
useful and reliable information about
each country among all the others. The
better they know each other, their re-
sources, their potentialities and their
peoples, the more will they be desirous
Of promoting exchange of commerce and
always preserving peace and prosperity
throughout the western hemisphere. In
response to this constant agitation OF the
Pan-American Union there has been
gradual growth OF interest in each Amer
ican republic about the others, and espe-
ciaIIy in the United States about its sis
ter American nations, which has been
gratifying and encouraging.
Eject of the War on Latin America
It has remained, however, for a great
misfortune in the relations OF nations 10
center an extraordinary and special in
terest in Latin-America- The European
war, which is perhaps the most deplored
combat in the history Of the world, has
Unexpectedly emphasized to the western
hemisphere the present onward move
ment and the future possibilities OF each
of the Latin-American countries, not
only in commerce, but in everything that
pertains to material, economic and social
advancement Although a larger num-
Der than is generally appreciated Of our
manufacturers, exporters importers,
bankers. travellers, and students OF the
worlds progress had already developed
close acquaintance with Latin-Amertca,
which was bringing splendid results. still
the great majority of people in the
United States required some extraor-
binary event like the European war TO
turn their attention to the southern re-
publics. o.
To get a proper appreciation Of Latin
America certain fundamental facts must
be borne in mind. "Latin-America" Is
comprehensive term. It includes all Of
the countries from the Rio Grande and
Straits Of Key West south to the Straits
of MAGELLAN. Spanish-America,"
term often misused. does not include
Brazil which has the largest area and
population of any country In Latin
America. 1t also excludes Haiti, which,
though small, is potential in the COM
merce and development Of the lands Of
the Caribbean Sea In discussing Latin
America, however, the Average man In
the United States must not make the
cardinal error of overlooking the indi-
yiduality of each one of these countries.
II he is speaking Of Argentina alone, he
must not call that a Latin-American
land or its population 'Latin-Americans."
He should refer TO the country invariably
as Argentine" and to the people as AR
gentines. - In mentioning the Brazilians
they should not be called Portuguese
but ''Brazilians In con-
sideriuR Chile, lit should not be described
as a Spanish American or South Ameri-
can country of the west coast but dis
tinctfvely as Chile" and II should be
remembered that the "Chileans" are just
as proud Of being called by that name as
peoples Of the lands of Europe are anx-
ious TO be called ''Engiishmen," French-
men" Germans" etc.
There has been too much Of tendency
in the past to call all the peoples south
Of the United States .'Latin-Americans,"
as II they all had the same history, the |
same characteristics and the same possi-
bilities, The truth fs that almost every |
one Of these twenty countries has It's |
individual characteristics as distinctive as
those Of the United States When the |
commercial man, the engineer or the |
traveller visits these countries. he should |
always bear this fact in mind II he would |
win the appreciation, interest ana con-
ndenee OF the peoples with whom he is |
attempting TO DO business or associate. |
Closely allied to this thought is the nee !