Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-22
FINANCIAL. CONFERENCE
'ns John Unon1
Ono OF tho Days Best {
ely John Barrett,

The Pan American Financial Confer
terence which has been called hy the
Secretary of the Treasury. William g.
McAdoo, To meet In Washington May
-, bids fair To be the most representa-
tive gathering of American nnanciers
which has ever assembled OH the West
crn hemisphere. In some respects II
has possibilities of being the most i'm
Dortant international conference which
has met in tho United states since the
first great International Conference Of
American Republics. which was held
In Washington In tho winter OF 1889
lS9o. ana presided over 10y james O.
Blaine. then Secretary OF state.
~ this writing (April 80 seventeen OF
the twenty Latin American governments
nave formally accepted the invitation
to participate which was extended TO
them 10y President Wilson through the
state Department. Twelve OF the re-
publics. namely, Argentine. Bolivia.
chile. Colombia. Costa Rica. Dominican
Republic, Nicaragua. Panama Para
quay. Peru, Salvador and Uruguay
Five others. Ecuador. Guatemala, Hon
duras, Venezuela and Cuba have an
nounced that they will presently APP
point their delegates. Two other coun-
tries Brazil and Haiti. have not yet ac-
ccptcd the invitation. but Will prob
ably take action in the near future
Mexico cannot be expected TO be repre-
scented under present conditions, al
though II has been suggested that
some prominent Mexican iinanciers, not
connected with tho revolutionary fac
lions. be invited TO participate.
The Official call for the conference is
based upon provision contained in
the diplomatic and consular appropri-
alton bill passed at the last Congress.
as follows:
The President is hereby authorized
to extend to the governments of Central
"a II a
represented by their ministers OF
finance and lending bankers not ex-
cecdlng three in number in each case
to attend conference with the Sccrc-
tary OF the Treasury in the city Of
Washington AT such date as shall be
determined by the President with "a
view OF establishing closer and more
satisfactory financial relations between
their countries and the United States
of America. and authority is hereby
given to the Secretary of the Treasury
to invite. in his discretion, representa-
tive bankers Of the United States 10
participate in the said conference. and
Tor the purpose of meeting such actual
ana necessary expenses may be in
cidental to the meeting OF said CON
ference and for the entertainment OF
the confcrecs the sum OF s5OOo0 IN
hereby appropriated. out OF any money
in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
nriated to be expended under tho
direction of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury"
ny the wording of this provision II
will be noted that each country is en-
htied TO four delegates. although sew
eral of the countries will probably send
only TWO or three II can be safely as
Sum"d. therefore, that fully sixty dele
gates viii attend the conference from
the twenty Latin American republics
This will make indeed n notable gath
nv, nf ,.nl
interest on the part of the bankers and
iinanciers of the United States. and IT
is to be hoped not only that the news
papers OF the United States will show
particular interest in this gathering.
but that the financial and business or
CARNATIONS and men OF the country
viii manifest a spirit of hospitality and
appreciation OF the coming of thcsn
in-American men of distinction
which will react favorably upon tho
Latlh-Amcrican governments and pco-
pies.
The delegates from tho southern
countries will be the guests Of the
United states government from the
time Of their arrival In this country
until the conference or the program
connected with it is concluded The
sessions will BIO fttingly held in the
Hall Of the Americas Of the Pan Aneri-
can Union, the official international or
ganiZation Of the American republics
deNotcd To development OF commerce.
friendship and peace among them IL
is probable that this inaugural ccre-
mony May "a Will be characterized with
speeches of welcome by President Will
son, Secretary Bryan, Secretary Nc
Adoo and some of the Latin-American
representatives. While the plan Of en-
tertainment has not yet been fully
worked out. 1t is intended to give a
reception on the opening night in the
Pan-American Building, which will al
low the delegates to become acuuaintc ed
with each other and the representa-
tive United states fnanciers and Of
iiccrs In attendance.
The conference is expected to last
through the entire last week OF May
and possibly may reach through the
first week of June. After it's adjourn
mcnt il is now intended to take the
delegates for visits to some Of the
principal financial and commercial CEN
is some possibility OF their being taken
in special train TO California to sec
the great eXpositions. Already several
cities and their banking and CONNER
cial organizations have expressed a
strong desire 10 entertain the delegates,
and there are indications that the com
petition to show them courtesics will
he greater than the itinerary will per-
init.
Following the general plan of or
SaniHation Of such conferences il Is
possible that there will be official dele
gates appointed By the United States
government and that their number will
be supplemented by representative
bankers, fnancicrs and commercial
leaders whose cooperation and parlici-