Evening star., 1915-12-27
URGES SCL0SE UNION
BETWEEN AMERICAS
Secretary Lansing, Addressing
Scientific Congress, DweIIs
on the Monroe Doctrine.
FRATERNITY is KEYNOTE
OF WORDS OF WELCOME
American Family of Nations" for
All the Republics Becoming Def
inite Force, He Asserts.

mite Force, He Asserts.
In addressing the Pan-American
Scientific Congress at its opening ses-
sion this morning, Robert Lansing.
Cecretary of State of the United
States, said that pan-Americanism is
an expression of the idea of interna-
tionalism and that America has be-
come the guardian of the idea which
will in the end rule the world"
The Secretarys address was as fol-
lows:
1T Is an especial qualification to me
to address you today, not only as the
officer of the United States who in
vited you to attend this great scientific
congress of the American republics,
but also as the presiding member of
the governing board of the Pan
American Union. In this dual capacity
have the honor and the pleasure to
welcome you. gentlemen, to the capi-
tai of this country. in the full conf
dence that your deliberations will be
Of mutual benefit in your various
not only in your individual spheres.
but in the all-embracing sphere of
pan-American unity and fraternity.
which Is SO near to the hearts Of us
all.
"It is the pan-American spirit and
the policy of pan-Americanism to
which I would for a few moments di-
rect your attention at this early meet
ing of the congress, since. 1t is my
earnest hope that 'pan-America' will be
the keynote which will influence your
relations with one another and inspire
your thoughts and words.
Nearly a century has passed since
President Monroe proclaimed to the
tional policy of the United States. 1t
was founded on the principle that the
safety of this republic would be imper-
lied by the extension of sovereign
ritory in this hemisphere. Conceived
in a suspicion of monarchial institu-
tions and in a full sympathy with the
republican idea, it was uttered at a
time when our neighbors to the south
had won their independence and were
gradually adapting themselves to the
exercise of their newly acquired rights.
To those struggling nations the doc
trine became a shield against the great
European powers, which. in the spirit
over the rich regions which the new
born states had made their own.
Has Remained Unchallenged.
1.-THE United States was then a small
nation. but a nation which had been
tried in the fire; a nation whose in
domitable will had remained unshaken
by the dangers through which 1t had
passed. The announcement Of the Mon
roe doctrine was a manifestation of
this will. It was a courageous thing
for President Monroe to do. It meant
much in those early days. not only to
this country. but to those nations which
were commencing a new life under the
standard of liberty. How much 1t
meant we can never know. eince for
four decades 1t remained unchallenged.
During that period the younger re-
publics Of America, giving expression
to the viri1e spirit born Of independ-
ence and liberal institutions, developed
rapidly and set their feet firmly on the
path of national progress which has
led them to that plane of intellectual
day enjoy.
within recent years the government
Of the United States has found no oc-
casion. with the exception of the Vene-
'zuelan boundary incident, to remind
Europe that the Monroe doctrine con-
tinues unaltered a national policy of
this republic. The republics Of Ameri-
ca are no longer children In the great
family of nations. They have attained
maturity. With enterprise and pa
their several destinies.
During this later time. when the
American nations have come into a
realization of their nationality and are
and privileges which are theirs as SOW
ereign and independent states. there
has grown up feeling that the repub-
lies Of this hemisphere constitute a
other nations Of the world. a group
which is united by common ideals and
common aspirations. I believe that
this feeling is general throughout
North and South America, and that
year by year 1t has increased until 1t
our political and commercial inter-
course. II Is the same feeling which,
founded on sympathy and mutual in
terest, exists among the members OF a
gether the twenty-one republics and
makes of them the American family
of nations.
Now a Definite Force.
'This feeling, vague at first, has be-
come today definite and certain force.
We Term it the 'pan-American spirit
from which springs the international
policy of pan-Americanism. It Is that
policy which is responsible for this
great gathering of distinguished men,
who represent the best and most ad-
vanced thought of the Americas. It Is
a policy which this government has un-
adopted and which will
do all in its power to foster and pro-
mote.
when we attempt to analyze PAN
Americanism we find that the essential
qualities are those of the family
sympathy, helpfulness and sincere
desire to see another grow in pros
perity, absence of covetousness of an
others possessions, absence of 5eal-
ousy of another's prominence, and,
above all. absence Of that spirit of in
trigue which menaces the domestic
peace Of a neighbor. Such are the
Qualities of the family tie among In
dividuals, and such should be. and !