Evening star., 1920-11-28

~ by, accompanied by his
" staff, leaves Washington
this week for South Amer
lea he goes on a mission far more
significant than formally to return
courtesies. according to
opinion here among observers OF
Latin American affairs. He rep
resents the President, and. therefore.
the people of the United States, and
he takes with him their best wishes
for a continuation of that close
has. up to this time. been manifested
between the republics Of the north
and the south
Secretary of State unfortunately VIII
be unable to visit more than a rev
of the South American republics. But
while he limits his tour to these few
states, he is, nevertheless, visiting
South America, and his message is one
for the people of South America
When Elihu Root was Secretary OF
State, under Roosevelt, he headed
mission to South America somewhat
similar to that led by Secretary
were far-reaching in their effect upon
the consequent relations between this
republic and those of South America;
And Secretary of State Colby is going
to South America at time when the
results of his visit will be watched
keenly. not only here, but by the ma
tions abroad.
It is doubtful if there was ever
a more appropriate time for some def
mite action by this country to renew
its claim on South America as the
rfehtful field for American enter
prise.
United States and South America
grew by leaps and bounds Amer
make, while South American business
men found a ready market awaiting
their wares in this country. Europr
was fighting war that took mos
Of her time and energy. and Ameri-
cans made hay while the sun shone
Since the war Europe has come
Great Britain and italy have been
fighting hard to regain n foothold on
the South American continent and
huild up again their trade. American
business men. it is said. althoueh aid
cd by new agencies of the Depart-
ment Of Commerce and the Depart
ment Of State. have been rather back
ward in realizing the situation. Hav-
believe it is simple to hold it. and only
the developments of the next few
years will show whether they are
right in their estimate of Europe and
South America
Secretary Co1by's visit. while purelv
in character. IS seen here
as an expression by America that she
Is realizing the fast-growing fmnor-
tance in world affairs of the republics
of the south. And she wishes to pay
them due tribute.
Alvin Snyder, American consul gen.
eral for more than fourteen years in
Panama, and who also served in
Buenos Aires. Argentina. is in Wash
ington.
The United States. hnofficially, was
at the meeting in Amapala.
last week, when the presi-
dents of Honduras and Nicaragua and
the foreign minister of Costa R1ca
signed an agreement looking toward
of some Central American
problems. American representatives
present as mark of courtesy.
The agreement signed was briefed
as follows:,
1. To adhere strictly to interna-
tiona1 obligations and to employ
every effective means to prevent the
armed invasion of political refugees
across the boundaries.
2. To try to settle the pending
boundary differences as soon as pos
sib1e in a friendly manner. and until
then to maintain the status quo fixed
when they accepted the media ton of
he American State Department.
8. To recognize the necessity and
If the political union of Central
American states before the celebra-
ton Of the Tooth anniversary of in
dependence (Which takes place next
vear), and to send representatives to
he conference at San Jose. Costa
Rica, on December 1.
4. To notify the other Central
American states of this pact and to
invite them to work in unison for the
peace and union of Central America.
Abel Rodriguez Larrain. a graduate
of the University of San Marcos. at
Lima. Peru. and representative of the
colleges of Peru, will lecture Monday
It Lisner Hall. George Washington
on Relations Between
North and South American Students"
George Washington Is one of the
lrst universities of this country to
,oster relat tions with South American
and was the first uni
rersity in the country to establish
. Brazilian department. President
william Miller Collier. former min
ster to Spain, is deeply interested in
south America, and is doing much to
develop this interest among the stu
tents at George Washington.
X 4 X X
Ernest Lefevre, former president
II Panama, has been in Washington
during the last week on a visit to
ais brother. ]. e. Lefevre, secretary
,f the legation and charge d'affaireS.