Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-17
The Significance and Future
of International Conferences
!" UTURE conferences akin to that NOW
r. making history at Washington are


making history at Washington are
forecast by press correspondents as
altogether likely in the event present nego-
tiations do not dispose of the matter in hand.
'sThere is manifest effort by the American
delegates" runs a current dispatch, ito bring
about now a final decision on all questions
on the agenua but it is likewise clear that
several problems, of which that of extra-ter-
ritoriality is sample, must go to commits
sions for further investigation" More
over, "There is a feeling, tantamount to a
conviction, that this Government will join in
an economic conference in Europe not later
than next spring or summer.
Suppose, however, no loose ends Of the
armament parley were left for future up.
winding, and no special or urgent need OF
common counsel on the economic troubles
entailed by the war, still would there not be
much to discuss and much to gain for world
peace and progress through international
conferences? Would it not be well for the
nations to come together in the person of &C
credited representatives every year or so.
without waiting for issues that menace
friendly relations? Always there are pend
ing matters of common concern to the peo-
pies of the ca tn, matters of commerce, trans
portation, production and consumption or
basic commodit s., relief of human distress,
promotion of human welfare, in all of which
Governments could appropriately and effect
ually cooperate. And in such cooperation
they doubtless would develop a more init
mate understanding of one anothers inter-
ests and a kindlier regard for one another's
virtues, that would prove mightier than
treaties as an anchor for peace.
Precedent, if precedent were needful, can
be found il the Pan-American conferences
which in the decade 1906-1916 did much
deepen and enrich the spirit of neighborl1-
ness among New World republics. AS far
back as 1890 was established an information
al Bureau of American Republics, the work of
which was subsequently widened to include
the gathering and distribution of informa-
ton touching the larger commercial and
legal interests of the hemisphere, and the
carrying GU of trusts especially committed
to it by International agreement. '1n 1907
1--WE quote from the concluding volume Of
AMERICAN NATION) John Barrett succeed
ed William u. Fox as director, and three
years later the Bureau, renamed the Blu
reau of the Pan-American Union, moved
into splendid building erected on a site
furnished by the United States, with funds
supplied chiefly by Andrew Carnegie. The
Institution is supported by proportional
grants from all the Independent States in the
western emisphere, and is managed by a
governing arc composed of the diplomatic
representatives of these States in Washing
ton, with the Secretary of State of the United
States as ex-efficio chairman. In eacn
American capital is an official Pan-Ame- lean
Committee which promotes ratification of the
acts of the conferences, supplies informa-
ton for the use of the Bureau, and submits
projects for the consideration of the Bureau
and of the conferences" Largely in conse-
quence of all this Trade, international
banking, and other forms of business deal
ings were developed on new and promising
lines. Intellectual intercourse was promoted
by visits of university professors and other
scholars, by increased attendance of stu
dents from southern lands at colleges in the
United States, and by Pan-American scientific
congresses, such as were held at Santiago in
, 1908 and at Washington IN 1915
Here, then, is model for successive con-
ferences If worldwide scope, regular and
frequent counseling together of all nations
having common interests. OF such contacts
and intercharges the moral effect alone
would be exceedingly important, and in time
perhaps would wax potent enough to make
war next to impossible. 1t is largely upon
the principle of conference that nations set
tie their domestic differences; by this same
means, if persistingly employed, they could
avert most of their foreign complications.