New-York tribune., 1920-09-12
For Business Mem

pared, not for mere youths without
business success or experience as
foundation, but for business men and
women-those men and women who
already have found their place in
commerce or finance, and who thus
are qualified to receive the intensive
training of "Plattsburg for For
eign Trade" The student body,
therefore, is to be drawn largely
from the membership of chambers
OF commerce, boards Of trade and
other business organizations, from
concerns already entering or desir-
ing to enter foreign trade, and from
educational institutions desiring to
establish foreign trade training as
part Of their regular course Of in
struction.
Tho Pan-American College of
Commerce, which has for president
of it's advisory council John Barrett,
retiring director general of the Pan
American Union, and for its execu-
tive director DR.. Clarence J. Owens,
director general of the Southern
Commercial Congress, has also the
heartiest and most practical support
of the government of Panama and
the cooperating interest of several
other Latin-Amer.can republics.
Besides all of which, DR.. Owens,
to whom belongs the honor of having
initiated the plan, sees in the results
of the college not only great and
greater trade relations among all the
Americas, but an actual league of
Western nations founded not upon
written treaties, but upon SYM
pathetic understanding, genuine
friendship and common ideals"
For Entire Western World
= Senior Don J. E. Lefevre, Charge
d'Afaires of the Panama Legation
in Washington, says that personally
and on behalf of his government he
regards the establishment of the
new college as of tremendous portent
to the whole Western world.
Give years ago." said Senor
Lefevre, in discussing the plans and
prospects of the college, William
G. McAdoo, then Secretary Of the
Treasury, called a conference in
Washington to consider closer trade
relations between the two halves of
the Western Hemisphere. No def
mite plan was determined upon at
that or at later conference on the
subject, and in the meantime the
United States and most Of the Latin
American republics had become in
volved in the war and everything be-
came secondary to winning the war,
and winning it quickly. :,
"Meanwhile, President Belisario
Porras, formerly Minister from
Panama to the United States, had
again become President of Pana-
ma. During his residence in Wash
lngton he had followed with ire
mendous interest the work of DR..
owens, who, among other great con-
structive achievements, had organ
lied and headed the economic COM
mission of 11S prominent Americans
who studied the rural credit systems
OF the several European countries.
president Porras asked him to
undertake an economic survey Of
the Republic Of Panama, which DR.
Owens generously consented to do.
Before leaving for Panama, DR..
Owens called at the Legation of
Panama and laid before me the
plans for the Pan-American College
Of Commerce. Thug DR.. Owens
initiated the plan for the foreign
business training school, and the
'Plattsburg for Foreign Trade was
born.
Granted Government Support
AFTER DR.. Owens, as economic
commissioner Of Panama, had be.
gun the survey of the republic, he
presented the plan for the PAN
American College of Commerce TO
President Porras, who with his quick
vision instantly grasped the tre-
nendous scope and future Of such
an undertaking. A special meeting
OF bis Cabinet was called, and with.
out exception the Cabinet members
were 40 enthusiastic 40 the Chief
Exscasive. e/result was chat a
decree was issued guarantesing
.asssy ssprsae and assistance, PRO.
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