The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-25
Epoch-Making Meeting Opens
in Washington. Where Pam
American Delegates Convene
COMMON INTEREST TO
BIND ALL AMERICAS
Splendid impression Is Made
On Visitors, Who See In
Wilson Utterance an Ex-
preston of Real Cordially

Washington, May 24.-President
Wilson served notice today that I'M
less private capital provinces more ade-
auate transportation facilities for the
Ct mmerce of the United States with
the other countries of this hemi
sphere the government will enter the
shipping field His statement was
made in the course of an address of
welcome to delegates to the Pan
American financial conference, wnicn
was opened formally this mornins ..
and was regarded as a definite ind
c1t.on of tho administration TO press
for the passage of the ship purchase
bill again at the next session OF Con
aress.
Next to the Presidents speech, the
most significant utterance was tha-
of Frank A. Vanderlip, president Of
the Nationa. City Bank of New York
who predicted for the United States
period of SCAT expansion in loans
to other governments, especially South
America,
An Epoch Making Meeting.
The conference which began today,
attended by representative business
men from all parts of the United
States and by delegates from nearly
all the L.atin-American countries. is
ment--epoch- making was the way
President Wilson and other officials
described IL.
The impression created by President
Wilson's speech as to government
owned ships was supported by
speeches by Secretary OF the Treasury
McAdoo, who presided over the con-
ference: Secretary of State Bryan and
Secretary of Commerce Redfield later
in the day. All of these officials en-
phasized the Importance of the neei
for better transportation facilities as
a requisite to the realization of the
ideal of continental solidarity to
which the present conference is dedt-
Gated.
Todays session of the financial con-
ference, given over largely to speeches
tof welcome, disclosed no other definite
plan on the part OF officials in charge
isaye promotion of the shipping pro-
EagandR.
The Presidents speech seemed spe-
officially designed to combat any sus-
picion that may exist in the minds OF
the Latin Americans that the calling
of this conference is bot another
American move to serve American
ends He impressed upon the dele
gates The thought that she basic Of
successful commercial Intercourse is
common interest" and added:
We are not trying to make use of
each other. but We are trying TO be
of use to one another"
Presidents Speech.
President Wilson spoke as follows:
The part that falls to me this
morning is a very simple one, but a
VERY delightful one. 1t Is to bid you
la very hearty welcome indeed to this
conference. The welcome is the more
hearty because We are so convinced
that conference like this will re-
suit in tie things that we most de-
sire. | am sure that those who have
this conference in charge have al
Iready made plain to you its purpose
and its spirit. Its purpose Is to draw
the American republics together by
bonds of common interest and of mu-
ltual understanding, and we compre-
bend, hope. just what the meaning
OF that Is.
There can be no sort of union of
interest II there is purpose or ex-
Iploition on the part of any person