The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-03
n. +. 4. Washington Bureau,
112S-1l34 Munsey Bldg,
WASHINGTON, d. E.


(Thc following article written by
John Barrett, director-general of the
Pan-Amcrican Union, explains the
peace results obtained by a league Of
nations formed in the New World,
and which may furnish the model for
a worldwide league of all nations.)
BY JOHN BARRETT,
Director General of the Pan. American
Union, and Formerly United States
Minister to Argentina, Panama and
Colombia
The Americans alreadyshave a great
league of nations. In Washington is
the prototype of world organization.
The Pan American Union represents
today the highest perfected form of a
group of nations working together for
their common good.
In all the discussion that is noww
going on about a league Of nations
there should be special attention Civ
en- to the duties, work and scope of
the Pan American Union. That this
suggestion is well warranted is prov
ed by the remarkable fact that since
the Pan American Union, formerly
known as the International Union OF
American Republics, was reorganized
at the Pan American Conference held
at Rio de Janeiro in 1906. THERE
HAS BEEN no WAR BETWEEN
ANY TWO AMERICAN REPUBLICS,
and the moral influence of this union
has probably prevented during that
period six wars between different
American countries.
One most impressive fact in re
gard to the Pan American Union
should be in the mind Of every peace
delegate to the coming Versailles con-
ference There assemblies on the first
Wednesday Of every month in the
governing board room Of the Pan
American building, a council of all
the American republics, in the form
of the Secretary of State OF the Unit
ed States. who is chairman ex-officlo,
and the ambassadors and ministers OF
theh Latin American republics &C
credited to Washington. They sit
around great oval table in a most
dignified environment; THEY SlT
ELBOW TO ELBOW AND SHOULD
Err TO SHOULDER, the representa-
tive of each government on an equal
ity with the representatives of all the
others. There is no predorinencc or
domination Of any one government or
representative. The Secretary OF
State. as the representative Of the
, United States. has no authority that
the others do not possess, except that
of acting as presiding officer, which
he holds by the cocnsent of all the
| other governments. Each representa-
tive sits in chair carrying the nanls
and the coat Of arms Of his, country
There is perfect freedom of Mcussion
and always an unhampered exchange
Of views.
They take up not only the Pau
| American Union as an International
peace, friendship, intercourse and
! commerce among the American re
publics, but issues involving the rela
lions of the republics.
| They frame the program for the
| various Pan American conferences
and theyindorse or lisapprove Of var
ious projects involving practical Pan
! Americcanism, the best definition OF
! which is "the cooperation OF all the
| American republics for their common
good" D.. .
They appoint sub-committees' OF
ambassadors and ministers to consid'
er such questions, for example. as
the neutrality of the republics in war
! and various problems Of peace, com
merce and trade. =.
It has been remarked by many
statesmen and students of in>erna'
! tional affairs that if there had exist
ed in Europe before the world war
broke out a Pan American union
that is an all-European union similar
to the Pan American Union in Wash
ington and common council room
and table ravinga regular monthly OF
other frequent date of meeting. THIS
FEARFUL STRUGGLE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. or at least
delayed until special council OF the
nations concerned had settled their
difficulties.
Although the international agree