Evening star., 1919-04-20
AMERICAN REPUBLICS
4: ALREADY IN A LEAGUE
Director General Barrett Proposes That
Powers of Pan-American Union
Shall Be Enlarged.

tinue and enlarge it's scope at three
successive conferences; namely. the
second at Mexico in 1901. opened by
President Porfirio Diaz; the third at
Elihu Root. then Secretary Of State
of the United States: the fourth at
Buenos Aires in 1910. when Henry
White, now United States peace COM
the United States delegation.
Fourth. The fifth pan-American
conference will meet at Santiago.
Chile. as already agreed upon by the
American. governments, within a rea-
sonable time after the adjournment OF
the peace conference at Paris. The
great question before it will be the
enlargement of the scope and respon-
sibility of the Pan-American Union as
their official international organiza-
ton, and of the authority of the su-
preme council. or governing board. in
relation to the peace and progress OF
the western hemisphere. to the world
league of nations, IL that is created.
and to pan-American solidarity and
the Monroe doctrine.
Supreme Council Here.
Fifth. This American league has a
supreme council of the American gov
ernments and peoples in the form of
it's governing board composed of the
Secretary of State of the United
States, who is chairman ex-ofhcio. and
the Latin American diplomatic repre-
sentatives in Washington which
holds regular monthly meetings in a
Noble council chamber in the Pan
American building to consider and
take action on questions and matters
involving the preservation Of pam
American peace and friendship and
the promotion of pan-American com
merce and intercourse, but whose
present and actual authority as to the
settlement of disputes between the
voluntary and not authorized by in
ternational agreement.
Sixth. 1t has in complete working or
der great practical peace plant and
organization not only in the form Of a
beautiful building. representing an in
erected through the munificence Of An
drew Carnegie and the gifts of the
American governments. but in a trained
and skilled staff Of experts in interna-
tional affairs, with sections of cor
commerce. information,
statistics, education. publicity and an
up-to-date international library Of so, 900
volumes. and other practical features.
for the maintenance of which the United
States and the other governments con-
tribute annually SIZE, 200.
A Promoter of Trade.
Seventh. AS convincing evidence of
the efficiency of this American league in
peace and commerce through
educating the peoples Of every Ameil-
can republic concerning those of each
and all the others, 1T is a matter Of rec
ord that. during the administration of
descriptive pamphlets. bulletins and re-
ports on pan-American subjects. printed
iE English, Spanish. Portuguense and
Frenchs have been c>refully circulated
q mong the American repuL and the
annual value of pan-American COM
merce has been increased from $3.50. .eoo,- |
900 to $f:750, ,000. 900, or nearly 800 per
cent; in other words, while fifteen years
ago the United States was far behind
all the European countries in pam
greater commerce with the Latin !
American countries than had all the |
rest of the world put together! Recipro-
cal commerce. friendship and peace are J
they promote and protect |
each other. Why not continue and give |
such results? +!
Increased Powers Proposed.
Eighth. In the light of the above alb !
solute facts, the question arises: II |
the approval by the United States Sen
ate of the world league plan, as finally |
submitted, shall depend upon definite |
reservations covering the settlement of |
purely American questions and the
Monroe doctrine, will it not be possible
and practical that, at the next pam
conference to be held at San
tiago, Chile. the American governments
shall give this supreme council Of the
Pan-American Union, or some similar |
body to be created. authority, not only |
to initiate and effect mediation, adjudi-
cation and arbitration Of disputes, but 1
to enforce its conclusions, without the
interference Of the old world powers.
unless this American league seeks such
interference. and again. without its in
reference In old world disputes unless
requested or justified? Such an ar
would care for American
preserve pan-American solid
arity, make permanent the Monroe doc
trine. and not necessarily weaken the
world league. but have a relation there.
to somewhat similar to that of the leg
islature of sovereign state to a ma
tional congress,