The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-12-29
PAN AMERICAN UNION
CONTINUED from Page u

of international cooperation and mu
tual ~helpfulness amongst the republics
of the American continent which may
well serve as an example and inspira
ton to the nations of the world. Fol
a period of over thirty years the dip
lomatic representatives of the Ameri
can republics have been meeting eacl
month, presided over by the secretary
of state of the United States, to dis
cuss matters of common interest ant
oncern Through such Interchange
of thought and opinion, there has teen
created an atmosphere of mutual trust
and confidence which has served To
solve amicably and through the rea-
sonable and orderly processes of dis
cussion, a large number Of problems
which might otherwise have become
the source of international irritation.
Even more significant than the
peaceful settlement or pending inter
national problems is the spirit of mu-
tual helpfulness which has found, and
which still finds expression in the Pan
American Union. Through this organ
ization the accumulated experience or
the entire American continent is placed
at the disposal Of each and every one
of the republics. Whenever expert
service is required for the solution
of any pending domestic problem,
whether it is in matters Of education.
sanitation, irrigation, or any other
department of national activity, the
governments of the American repub-
lies are aware that they can secure
such expert service from the Pan
American Union. Through the inter
mediary of the diplomatic representa-
tives at Washington there is a con
slant exchange of information and ex'
perience. The effectiveness of this
interchange is strengthened by the
publications of the Pan American
Union, especially the Spanish, Portu-
guese, and English editions of the
monthly bulletin, supplemented by
descriptive h%andbooks of each of the
republics, and special publications re-
ldllIB W lhtl lOiCiSh
The educational section of the union,
under the able direction Of the assist.
ant director, DR.. Francisco j. Yanes,
is unremitting in its efforts to develop
closer cultural ties between the repub-
lies of this continent. Through the
activities of this section, scholarships
have been established in the United
States for students from Latin Ameri-
can countries and similarly students
from the United States are given OPP
portunities to pursue special investi,
cations in Latin America.
At stated intervals since the assem-
bling of the first Pan American con-
ference in 1889, additional conferences
have been held, each of which has con
tributed its share toward bringing
ali" rGer relations between the diff
f. IONS Of he continent.
Throusn a series Of treaties and con-
ventions agreed upon at these con-
~ferences, it has been possible to reach
an orderly solution Of problems which
might otherwise have become the sub
iect of international differences. Thus
such questions as the settlement OF
pecuIiary claims; the formulation and
~codification of International law; the
control of international law; the con
troll Of infectious and contagious dis
eases and many other matters have
been covered by conventions through
which an early procedure is estab
lished for their solution.
These general Pan American con
~ferences have been supplemented by
a series OF specialized conferences
which have also contributed their due
share toward developing Pan Ameri-
can cooperation.
European war, the secretary of the
treasury called a conference of the
ministers of finance of the American
republics to consider the financial stu
alton which had arisen by reason of
the war in Europe. This conference
met in Washington in 1915, and led
to the formation of a permanent or.
ganization known as the Inter-Ameri-
can High Commission. designed to fos-
ter closer cooperation between the
different sections of the continent.
This commission is made up of a ma
tional section organized in each coun-
try, presided over by the minister of
finance, and composed of nine eminent
financiers and ~jurists. At the close
Of the war, the second of these inter
national conferences met at Washing
ton to consider the financial situation
in which the American republics found
themselves by reason of new condi-
tons created by the termination of