The Washington herald., 1917-11-23
SUGCESTSNEW
PAN-AMERCAN
ADVICE BOARD
John Barrett Says Special
Council Needed to Com
bat German Agents.

Establishment of a special PAN
American advisory council to combat
German propaganda in tn United
States and particularly in Latin
American countries was proposed last
night by John Barrett, director gen
eral of the Pan-American Cnion.
There is immediate need Of CO.
ordinating and extending cooperation
. Of effort between the United States
and these twelve countries Oatin-
American countries at war with Ger
many) to combat the vicious German
propaganda among them which is
every day growing bolder and more
desperate
Suggests New Council.
The council proposed would be COM
posed of a small group Of men in
the United States familiar with the
conditions in the countries to the
south of the United States. Advice
would be offered the United States
government on means Of curbing the
activities OF German agents in these
countries and the other eight coun-
tries which still are neutral.
The proposed council would be en-
tireIy separate from the Pan-Amer-
lean Union, Mr.. Barrett declared.
There is no intention whatever" he
declared in mis- memorandum "ot
recommending a combination Of one
group of American republics which
might be regarded as opposed to an
other-that is, a segregating Of the
rNfp N-aln n
tions with the enemy against those
which may remain neutral
This would be contrary to the true
principles of pan-Americanism and
harmful to the Pan-American Union. "
The suggestion Of establishing such
a council was advanced once before
by Mr.. Barrett, but no favorable ac-
ton was taken upon II.
In view of the international eharac-
ter of the Pan-American Union, whose
membership includes the neutral coun-
tries of America, as well as those
which have broken of 1elations with
Germany, the director wishes it un-
derstood that what is stated in this
memorandum is his personal opinion
and does not in any way commit the
Official attitude of the organization.
The statement, m part, follows:
Mr.. Barrett's statement.
The director of the Pan-American
Union feels it his conscientious duty
respectfully again to urge the creation
of a special Pan-American advisory
council. composed of a small group OF
the ablest available authorities in the
United States on the political, finan-
cial, commercial, economic and mill
tary conditions of batin-America, who
will assist by their advice the govern
ment in the coordination and mobili-
zaticn for the war of the vast CO.
operative possibilities of the twelve
Latin-AmeriCan countries. The press
ing necessity for the appointment of
this council would appear to be con-
firmed by the following facts:
'Tht fullest cooperation with the
United States of these twelve countries
in exporting to the United States and
the allies necessary staple food sup
plies and raw products required for
war manufacture; the increase of their
agricultural, mining and industrial
production by the reciprocal use of the
capital, skill and fuel of the United
States; the whole question of the
building up and conserving Of the COM
&C VI inc L llllGu OldlGS WIN olA
Latin-America. and preparation for
the successful meeting OF inevitable
competition after the war, involving
to-day ser .ous problems in the present
regulations of shipping and trade ex-
change, require the best expert con-
sideration. Here this council could ad-
wise the Food and Fuel Administra-
tions and the Shipping and War Trade
Boards.
The coordination among and with
them OF preparatory effort to meet
eventualities of war operations in
Guiding. ammunition, guns, aeroplanes,
general army and navy conditions,
and use of man power in agriculture
and industry as well as in the army,
will demand special study. Here this
council could advise the War and
Navy Departments and the Council of
National Defense.
The necessity OF coordination in
the official and international aims and
attitudes OF these twelve countries in
relation to the war, of their attitude
towards the United States and its al
lies, towards each other and towards
the eight neutral American countries
the sending and receiving of special
war commissions and cooperation
with such and of each with the other
are requiring constant attention. Here
the council can be Of great help to the
State and other departments.
in conclusion, lest there should be
some misunderstanding, it should be
said that, in the submission of this
suggestion for a Pan American ad-
visory council, there is no intention
whatever of recommending a COM
bination OF one group of American re-
publics which might be regarded as
opposed to another-that is, a segre-
eating OF the countries which have
broken OF relations with the enemy
against those which may remain neu-
trail This would be contrary to the
true principles of Pan-Americanism
and harmful to the Pan-American