Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-19

gard of the Monroe doctrine shah
occur.
About thirty years ago it began to
dawn upon many of the astute men
of this country that something should
he done to cultivate the friendship of
the southern nations; that more care
should be taken to extend courtesy
and observe the forms that pride, a
characteristics of the Latins, makes I'M
portant. 1t was aso believed that if
the Americas formed a sort of social
league, good would result in lessening
the broils in the many states to the
south.
A leader in the wise movement that
followed was James G. Blaine, Sec
rotary Of state when the plan came
to head. BY invitation twenty coun-
tries to the south sent plenipotentia-
ries to the first meeting in Wash
ington.
At that meeting, in 1SS9-9O, was
formed an international union of
American republics, twenty-one of
them, including the United States.
A peaceful league of nations, if you
please. was established - practical,
voluntary and with no pledges to CO.
cree membership.
Since that gathering there has been
no serious war between any of the
membership, and It is claimed that
this union. known as the PanAmeri-
can, has co-operated successfully in
preventing seven wars between the
| American states.
other sessions of the union have
been held. one at Mexico City in 1901,
ed by Elihu Root as the American del
egate, he being secretary of state at
| that time, The fourth meeting was at
Buenos Aires, with Henry White, now
United States peace commissioner at
Paris, attending as the delegate from
this country. The presidents of the
republics took part in person or by
proxy in all the assemblages and the
friendly intentions of all participating
were manifest.
1t has already been decided that
the fifth and most important confer
ence will meet at Santiago, Chile, soon
after the adjournment of the Paris
conference.
The great question before it will be
the enlargement of the scope and re-
sponsibilty of the Pan-American
union as their official international
organization, and of the authority of
the Supreme council. or governoring
board, in relation to the peace and
progress of the western hemisphere, to
the world league of nations, if that is
created and to Pan-American soil
darity and the Monroe doctrine.
Some of the leaders in this Ameri-
can union propose program for the
Santiago conference. if the Monroe
doctrine remains in force.
It is that the American governments
shall give the Pan-American union
or some similar body to be created
authority, not only to initiate and eff
feet mediation, adjustment, and arbi-
tration of disputes but to enforce its
conclusions without the interference
of the old world powers, unless this
American league seeks such interfer-
ence.
; Also that the American union shall
not interfere in old world affairs eX.
cept upon request by the big league
: of nations.
1t is held that such an arrangement
would care for American questions
; preserve Pan-American solidarity
make permanent the Monroe doc
) trne, and not necessarily weaken the
: world league. but have a relation
thereto somewhat similar to that o.
the legislature of a sovereign state t
national congress.