Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-18


propaganda of American republics in
France and develop social intercourse
between subjects of American repub-
lies residing in or visiting the capltal'
The project amounts to the estab-
lishment of a sort of a Pan-American
association like that at Washington,
that would group twenty-one dlHefent
American republics with Canada and
the new continent.
1.-The excellent work of the PAN
American Union in Washington which
has never encountered the $shghtest
objection" says Senior Lomba. lis the
best indication of the feasibility OF the
American House in Paris.
This institution should be semi
official" he added, that is to say that
it ought to be subsidized by different
governments represented. 1t would
have for a special object the develop
ment of a better acquaintance of Eu-
rope by Americans and Of America by
Europeans and to develop relations
between the two continents. a Whole
collection of institutions might ma
place in this institution; first, a gem
eral information bureau in which each
American country would have its sep
crate office, while q general ONCE
might centralize information relating
to all of the countries, for instance,
prices of different American securities,
quotations on the different exchanges,
current prices of principal products
and movements of shipping.
1.-The museum attached TO this insti-
tuition" said Senior Lomba. might
comprise a commercial section with
permanent exhibition of American
products that would put American re-
sources in touch with French buyers;
a fine arts section that would organize
an annual exhibition that would enable
American artists to become better ac-
quainted; a section of natural history,
another of ethnography."
Senior Lomba proposes as one tea
ture of this institution a sort of COM
bined Family House." to be used as a
home by American students in Paris
and prevent the evil effects of young
persons being dispersed in Paris.
The closer relations of American re-
publics to each other and to Europe by
the development of means of COM
munication, he suggests, would make
desirable the establishment of uni
versity in connection with this Instltu-
ton in which would be given courses
in the history, geography and leglsla-
ton of American countries. thus pro-
viding knowledge that will be more
necessary in the future with increased
business relations.
Certain of the Latin American re-
publics" says Consul General Lomba,
would like to exclude the United
States from this project because they
imagine there may be developed in the
great republic of North America de-
sire for absorption or at least OF
hegemony AS far as ! am con-
cerned | think it purely imaginary and
that it a calumny against the people
of the United States to attribute to
them such state of mind. 1t would
be profoundly regrettable if the South
American and Central American re-
publcs deprived themselves voluntar-
lily of the cooperation of North Ameri-
cans who would air them materially to
exploit their natural resources.
Some North Americans have also
raised objections to the creation of
this American House, thinking that it
would amount to obstruction to the
commerce in the United States with
the Latin American republics, by aid
ing them to develop their commercial
relations direct with European coun-
tries They forget that the same in
stitution would permit the United
States to increase its outlet upon
European markets"
THAT France would welcome and
favor such a project since it would
facilitate contact by French manufac-
turers with all the markets of the new
world" is Senior Lomba's belief: