The Washington herald., 1914-12-09
URGE
NEUTRAL rights
Pan-American Union Forms
Board to Protect
Interests.
BRYAN EX-OFFICIO HEAD
Peruvian Minister Would Seek to
Have Territory Outlined Which Ma
tons at War Would Observe.

Steps toward concerted action by the
twenty American republics regarding the
definition and assertion OF their rights
as neutrals in the European war were
taken yesterday afternoon at the meet
ing Of the governing board Of the Pan
American Union, which is composed of
diplomatic representatives OF the South
ern republics and the Secretary of State
OF this government.
At the suggestion Of Ambassador Naon,
Of Argentina, Secretary Bryan was in
structed to appoint a commission OF
nine members OF the board, he to serve
as chairman ex-officio, which is to in
vestigate the problems confronting the
American republics as a result of the
war, and report to the board with rec
concentrations.
All Would BE Represented.
All proposals pertaining to the preser-
walton of American republics in the
war. which had previously been submit
ted. were referred to the commission
for consideration. This includes the sug-
gestion OF the Peruvian minister. Mr.
Pezet, that a neutral zone be circum-
scribed about the western hemisphere
from which belligerent operations are TO
be excluded.
The action taken at the meeting yes
terday is unique, in that 1t Is the first
definite action ever taken by the Amerf-
can governments looking toward their
acting as a unit with relation to the rest
of the world. Often they have sought
unanimous action with regard to COM
mon interests in their relations with one
another, but never before has there been
an attempt to solidify the American gov
ernments on problems relating to Europe
and Asia.
Much satisfaction is taken by adminls-
tration officials here in the fact that the
proposals to be considered by the special
commission were brought forward by the
South American governments. Argentina,
Chile, Uruguay and Peru have been par
ticularly active in urging common ac-
tion.
Bryan Names Committee.
Last night Secretary Bryan named the
special commission provided for by the
board, as follows: Secretary Of State
Bryan, chairman: Ambassadors da Cana,
Of Brazil: Suarez, of Chile; Naon. of Ar
gentina; Ministers de Pena, of Uruguay;
Pezet, of Peru; Cordova, Of Ecuador;
Membreno, of Honduras, and Cespedes,
Of Cuba. This commission will begin its
deliberations Immediately.
The only concrete proposal now before
the commission is that presented by Min
lister Pezet, Of Peru. Reciting the suffer-
ings Of the commerce Of all the American
countries as a result of the war, the
minister proposed that a neutral zone be
circumscribed about the western hemis-
phere, within which belhgerents were to
conduct no operations Of a hostile ma
ture, and in which trade was to be alb
solutely unmolested. He proposed that
a line be drawn half way between the
American continents and the European
and Asiatic continents, the area within
these lines to be exempt from belligerent
operations.
The difficulties surrounding the task OF
obtaining the agreement Of the belliger-
ents to this proposition are regarded as
practically insurmountable. Should the
ance Of the proposed neutral zone would
depend upon force, and 1t is not believed
the United States government, the only
one having a large naval strength, is
prepared to undertake such a task.