Evening star., 1919-04-20
- BY JOHN BARRETT.
Director General of the Pan-American
.s-l Union.

Director General of the Pan-American
-s. Union.
II WISH to call particular attention
to the accompanying memoran-
dunn regarding actual facts (not
- generally appreciated) of the
past record and present activities as
well as the future possibilities of the
existing and working American
league of nations. because:
L. It's facts and suggestions have
been submitted to. studied and ac-
knowledged by the President and the
United States representatives at the
peace conference.
?. Its provisions should work out
successfully and practically under the
new article of the proposed constitu
tion of the league of nations relating
to the Monroe doctrine.
g. Over a majority of the United
States senators and representatives
without regard to party, have ex-
IL essed special interest in its facts.
many have approved its proposals and
none so far have opposed it,
4. In an informal referendum, held by
a respor-.h,c I.atin-American agency in
New Nc-h, OF approximately 300 repre-
sentative men in both North and South
America. asked 20 pass an opinion upon
it's reccmn enda tons. it has been almost
unanimously approved. /,
Summary of Memorandum.
The original memorandum was sub
mitted by me TO President Wilson and
the United States delegates at the
peace conference as a practical solu-
ton of the present problem of the re-
Iationship of the proposed league OF
nations to American questions and
the Monroe doctrine l have ex-
pressed the same sentiments in var1-
Gus addresses in different parts OF the
country, with the result that there
nave been so many requests for an ex-
act outline of these suggestions that
I have prepared the following unof-
fetal statement, including summary
of the original memorandum:
Speaking unofficially. without in
any degree committing the governing
board of the Pan-American Union or
commenting pro or con on the general
pan and principle of a world league
of nations, I base what 1 have pre-
pared, first. on historical facts not
generally appreciated regarding the
actual work and record of the Pam
American Union as powerful ana
practical American league of nations;
second. on views officially expressed
and recorded not only of the leading
statesmen and diplomatic representa-
tiycS of Latin America, but OF such
distinguished North Americans as
lanes G. Blaine, Grover Cleveland.
Richard Olney, William Mckinley.
Thondnra RnnOavQlt An
drew Carnegie. William H. Taft. Phil
ander Knox, Cardinal Gibbons, Charles
E Hughes, Henry Cabot Lodge.
Champ Clark, William j. Bryan. Rob-
ert Lansing and President Wilson
himself. as shown definitely in his
address of January 6. 1916. before the
second American scientific con-
gress and, third, on my own expert
ence and observation, not only as
United States minister for many years
in Latin America, but as executive Of
ficer for thirteen years of this exist
ing American league of nations. The
original memorandum, submitted last
December to the President. is Sum
married. as follows:
A Working Peace League.
First. The twenty-one American
republics-the United States and the
twenty Latin American countries
have, in the international union of
American republics. officially known
as the Pan-American Union, a prac-
teal, peace-preserving and success
fully working, although limited and
voluntary. American league of ma
tions.
Second Since it was originally or
sanized at the first PAN American con-
ference held at Washington in 1SS9-S0,
attended by plenipotentiaries OF all
the American governments and pre-
sided over by James G. Blaine. then
Secretary of State of the United
States. there has been no serious ac-
tual war between any two or more
American republics and it's moral in
fuence has undoubtedly been the main
actor in preventing six, and possibly
eight or more, wars among them
Third The American republics be-
lieve so thoroughly in the efficiency
and usefulness of this league that
they have unanimously voted to con-