The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-21

CONFERENCE URGED
BY PAN-AMERICANS
Plan for Commercial Meeting
In June Arouses Keen
Interest.
BIG RESULTS EXPECTED
"PrOvides Platform of Ex-
change for information"
Says Director-General.
BIG RESULTS EXPECTED

Special to the Latin American Section
Of THE SUN.
WASHINGTON. April 21.-Following
q conference which Director-Generai
John Barrett of the Pan-American
Union held Saturday afternoon, April
-. with a group of officials and
INDIVIDUALS interested in the plans
OF the Pan-American Union for holding
an INFORMAL Pan-Americau commercial
conference In Washington in the first
week OF June. the director-general
MADE the following statement:
This proposed conference should
awaken the keen interest OF everybody
concerned with Pan-American relations.
Inc fact that 1t Is to be held under the
auspices OF the governing board OF the
Pan-American Union, composed of the
secretary or State Of the United States
ana the Latin American diplomatic rep
Iesentatives In Washington. gives 1t an
International character and Importance
which mean much for It's success. Al
enough the conference is 10 be strictly
unomcial and informal In the sense that
u 10 not called by formal Governmental
action. but Is an informal step of the
governing board to bring together for
Tree and unofficial discussion all those
interested. the personal cooperation Of
the Secretary OF State and the Latin
charges daffaires will give It a charac-
Ter 1t could not otherwise have.
AS proving the popularity OF the plan
u can be said That although the first an
nouncement Yves made only in the pa
pers OF Thursday morning, April TO-
great numbers of letters, kilograms and
telephone inquiries have already come
70 me expressing earnest approval of
inc conference and requesting invita-
tons to It and volunteering cooperation
ana assistance. II this immediate dis
play OF Interest is any barometer of
general public feeling the conference
VIII have very large representative
attendance from all parts of the United
States and many of the Latin American
countries. There seems to be a general
feeling that the conference Is now most
timely and appropriate and that more
good Will result from 1t than anything
OF the kind which has been held in many
years.
"one great point In it's favor Is that
1t will provide a platform for the free
exchange of information and opinions
between North Americans and Latin
Americans, bringing out the standpoint
ana viewpoint of Central and South
America as well as of the United States
on all the problems of Pan-American
commerce and trade development 1t
viii mean Just as much to the countries
and business interests OF Latin America
- 1t will to those OF the United States.
TN the near future hope to be able
- announce the exact days of the con-
ference and a general outline Of its pro-
Gramme, but In the meantime I will be
grateful for suggestions from all per-
sons, Official and unofficial. who may be
interested in the success Of the confer
ence. I shall also be glad to arrange to
have invitations extended to those re-
sponsible organizations. firms and per-
sons who are really DESTROYS OF attend
ing II or obtaining the benefits of its
papers and discussions"