The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20
By EDWARD MARSHALL.

r o q league OF nations practicable?
Certainly 1t is. What proof is
- there? PLENTY, in the fact that
for many yea rs a league of nations
has been oper ative with headquarters
In NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with COM
plste and extraordinary success,
spreading friendship, increasing I'M
derstanding. developing trade. prevent
ing wars, making armament OF its
members one against the other an I'M
necessary thimg--an absolute absurd
fly. What IL, this league? The Pan
American Tn Ion.
In all the world, at this time. exists
no International organization so sig
nifcant 1t made hem tsphere a soli-
darity. for iIthough Canada is not a
member. OF this organization every
other nation OF the two Americas is
Its existence. An interesting and sig
nihcant point in connection with this
league of nations Is that it is not a
threat against but presfrvativc of the
Monroe Doctrine; indeed that funda-
mental policy of the United States
properly mas be said ito be its very
life.
had an hour with John Barrett. the
moving spirit. the executive head OF
this all American institution which
might have been studied with much
Profit by tile disputants at the Paris
conference.
A Going Concern.
"The Pari-American Union actually
Is a practical international organiza-
ton or league of nations, a going
concern" said he. Its membership
Is large enough to prove to all reason
able minds that tho league theory is
workable Iva real life If applied intelli-
gently. for there are twenty-one mem
bers in the big family which never
fights and scarcely even disagrees not
outstanding considerable racial d.
vergence and every reason for COM
mercial Ilalry as lueen as any in the
world
This league OF nations was organ
lied thirty years ago by the Pan
American Congress held in Washing
ton. d. c.. in 1S99-90, under the leader
ship Of Jiimes G.. Blaine, then Ameri-
can Secretary OF State. Many wars
between the contracting members had
occurred previous TO that date. Not
one has, occurred since although six
definitely have been prevented by its
moral inl luence, and some think eight
have bee avoided. The operation Of
the leagihe has been so satisfactory
that it has been perpetuated three
times by its members and sugges-
ton now to drop 1t would be regarded
as insanky by all concerned.
What is tantamount to the supreme
council suggested for the universal
league EXISTS in the executive body of
this union, which is called the gov
erning BOARD 1T is composed OF the
eecretary of Staff OF the United States,
who is chairman ex officio, and the
high diplomatic Representatives to the
United States rof the other twenty
Americ,ln republics.
This arrangement Is convenient and
inexpensive, making meetings easily
possible at frequent intervals. These
regularity occuP once every month at
the beautiful Pan-American Union
Building at Washington. except during
the four hot months OF the summer.
and sp hcial meetings can he called II
necessity for them arises.
IAN questions which involve posi-
bilities of friction are threshed out at
these meetings and with every meet
Ing the understanding. coming nearer
perfection, makes the probabilities
smaller OF any serious complications In
the future. In many instances some
DEFINITE action is required OF the ma
honal representatives thus assembling,
and Recommendations from them to
their GoveInments are frequent and
beIpful
at In Thea actual belief of most OF the
members Of this council that the union,
acting, TO all practical intents and
purposes as a peace league. has made
war impossible between the nations OF
tn Americas, although its powers