New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-27
PATTERN FOR LEAGUE
Of NATIONS READY
Former American Minister Gives
His Views on Peace

Tor, last evening, for the purpose of
discussing basis for dura bic
, peace John Barrett, Director General
or the Fan American Union and for
lner United States Minister to Argen-
tina, Panama and Colombia. said:
That a great League of Nations
with headquarters in Washington al
ready exists is not sufficiently real
lied. That this League has been for
many years and is Il going concern.
doing mighty work for peace NAV
surprise the average man. but it is
absolutely true. In fact, it has so eff
fectively performed its duty it, an UNI
ostentatious way that it has received
little credit for It's far reaching
achievements For long period the
Pan American Union has successfully
helped to preserve complete peace
among the tWerty-one Am erican re-
publics. 1T is difficult to comprehend,
how, under the influence Oh it's moral
power, any two American countries
could now engage in a struggle such
as has characterized those of Europe
1t should be understood, when all
the world is discussing a future
League of Nations, that its prototype
in active working form, is already
here. II should be known that in
Washington, having its headquarters
IN one of the most beautiful public
buildings that money and skilled ar
chit2cts could construct, which has
been described as the Capitol of the
Western Hemisphere in the Capital
of the United States, is a powerful
and practical organization of all the
indeperde MT governments of the Am
cricas, devoted to the pres ervatiOn of
peace and the development of good
understanding, intercourse. commerce
and trade among tr EN- all. It should
be appreciated everywhere that on the
first Wednesday of each month there
meets in this temple of peace and
progress, all actual Council of all the
American goVernm ents, composed Of
the Secretary of State of the United
States and the diplomatic representa-
ti1cs If the other American nations,
who discuss questions and take action
which will help prevent war among
them and promote cooperation for
their common welfare.
Originally established at the first
Pan American Conference held in
Washington in 1890, continued by the
Second Conference at Mexico in 1901,
reorganized at the Third Conference
dorsed by the Fourth Conference at
Buenos Aires in 1910, the Pan Ameri-
can Union, formerly known as the In
international factor for Pan America
Republics, stands today more up-to-
date. more vigorous, more practical,
more useful than ever before as an
international facto" for an American
political peace and economic prosper
ity.
For example, and in proof of this
staten ent, it can be said that, if the
world could have looked into the
Council Chamber or Governing Board
Room of the Pan American Building
in Washington on Wednesday, No
vember 9Th, Or if it will look there on
Wednesday, December 18th, it would
have seen or will see seated around a
noble oval mahogany table, in chairs
bearing the names and coats of arms
of the constituent republics, elbow to
elbow and shoulder to shoulder, each
on an equality in debate and voting
voice, the highest plenipotentiaries
of the twenty-one American govern
ments, representing two hundred mill
lions of free democratic people.
There could have and will be seen
the Secretary of State of the United
States presiding by vote of all the
other representatives, and, on either
side of him, according to rank, the
ambassadors, ministers, and charge
de affaires of Latin America, in SOL
emn but unrestricted session, frankly,
freely, and kindly considering how to
so administer the Pan American In
ion, as their official international or
ganization, that war will forever be
rod hn through
the unselfish cooperation of the gov
ernments forming this great union.
That this council or board is a pow
erfuI agency for peace and solidarity
is demonstrated beyond question by
the fact, that first, since the Pan
American Union was organized in
1906 there has been no war between
any two or more American republics,
and second, that it's moral influence
has been undoubtedly the effective
determent or preventive of several
possible wars among them.
If it were permissible to reproduce
the discussions conducted, the speeches
made, and resolutions passed in this
Pan American Council Chamber dur
ing the past decade, all Of which [
have personally witnessed as the exec
utive officer of the Pan American
Union, all the world would agree that
here, indeed, is the prototype of the
Universal League of Nations which
shall preserve and enforce world
peace.
Although this Pan American Coun-
Gil lacks specific delegated author
ity of the constituent governments
to negotiate and enforce peace among
them. and it's practical power is linn