The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-14
(By Hon. Andrew J. Peters. Asslstan'
 Secretary of the Treasury)

(By Hon. Andrew J. Peters. Assistan'
 Secretary of the Treasury)
 Rv initiative and capacity of a sort rarely equalled in the history or our foreign trade relations, the Wilson ao- ministration has established an endur- ing foundation for stronger and closer financial and commercial relatlons between the United States and l1aun- America-t',e aspiration and dream oi American statesmen from the begin ming of the Republic.
 When war swept the continent or Europe, it was the genius, vision, ana statesmanship of William G. McAdoo. the Democratic secretary of the treas ury, that accurately guagedS the econ omic conditions of the Western Hem- isphere and clearly saw that the econ ornid security of the American Repup- lies and their democratic institutions depended upon closer and steadler relationship between these republics and the United States. To accomplish prompt and effective results, he con ceiyed the Pan American Financlal Conference and pointed the way to a. united continental trade policy as the sole means of enabling the nations of America to withstand any shock from the struggles of the Old World in the future. The idea was heartlly endorsed by President Wilson. and Congress appropriated, s50,000 for the purpose. The Conference. was held in Washington in May, 1915, and attend ed by the Ministers of Finance and nd a n n1xnrS of South and Central America, eager to take counsel with officials Of the gov ernment of the United States and re- presentative bankers and business nhen of this country.
 From the deliberations of that con- ference and the effective steps taken to continue it's important work VIII rise the economic structure that Will unite the nations of America to their great mutual benefit anad make them the greatest moral force in the world to advance the cause of peace among the nations of the earth.
 For many years the Republican party has talked about the potential resources and riches of South and Central America and the great mutual advantages that would accrue to the entire hemisphere from closer inter- course between the United States and her sister republics. The Democratic party has acted and given the coun- try an effective and constructive pro- gram to accomplish the ends which Republican leaders sought spasmedl- cally with no sustained effort. Secre- tary McAdoo's efficient grasp of the problems of practical Pan American ism and the energy with which he grappled with them have given to Am- erican business and American enter prise the greatest opportunity ever offered on this hemisphere.
 Would the Republican party have moved with the swiftness and vigor that the Democratic secretary of the treasury did in this crisis? No! The Republican party has made only des- ultory efforts to strengthen our Pan American relations. such as the visits of Secretaries of State Foot and Knoa to South America, but with what re- suit? Little else than pleasant mem. ories of professions of international friendship.
 McAdoo revealed himself g man o1 business intelligence, of action, ener- gy and motive power, in deriving prac- tical and concrete results from the Pan American Financial Conference Although the men attending the con. ference were drawn from the hem. isphere at large, the secretary of the treasury so organized it as 70 favor careful study of the general trade problems of each of the Latin ..mer- jean. Republics as we'll as problem. of general anad continental charac' ter. In word. substantial oppor tunity was given for the prom oti on oi a vide acquaintance among the finan. cal and business leaders of ail tho Americans and fer full and satisfac. tory survey of the hemisphere's econ olnic needs.
 This conference did not Iaxpirc witt the farewelis of adjournment. Int secretary of the treasury, with the eff fectivcness characteristic of the Will son administration, adopted practica measures to continue the work thu! |aGspiciously begnl in the finencia conference. An international higI commission wos organized to carr! its program intc effect This body consisting of a national section fo each of the participating American republics, Was charged wi:h studyi3: the best me ans of removing legal a1, administrative obstacles to closer if nancial and business relations It function was to prepare projects fo more modern and uniform fiscal reg ulations; to undertake the essentia l uniformity, if not literal identity, o codes of comercial law; and to Iabo for the strengthening of the publi | finances of all the participating ma l tions. The comission promptly pro | ceeded to work. Each of its section.
 consisting of nine men, exchanged ex
 pressions of views on all the topic 1 on the program and a meeting of tn Commission was held in Buenos Ayre
 in April. 1916, attended by a Unite States delegation headed by the Secre tary of the Treasury
 l Concrete measures were recon | mended at that meeting and they ar
 now in the process of realization. Tn
 co-ordinating and directing power o the work of the respective commis
 sions was consolidated at Washingto
 in the hands of council of three Secretary McAdoo, Honorable Johi
 Bassett Moore. and Dr. l.. S. Rowe I Successive meetings of the entire com
 mission will be held when the develop
 ments of the work require them. Sim | ilarly,, other financial conferences vii be held at Washington for exchang l of ideas on matters of commercial an, banking interest to all the Americal