Evening star., 1922-12-10
PLAN TO KEEP PEACE
in CENTRAL AMERICA
Conference Now i'm Session Here Likely
to Have Far-Reaching
Consequences.

WHICH SuOulu Ue 1OllOWeQ Dy d reel.
procal and confirming expression of
sentiment by the leading men Of all
the American countries.
Generally speaking, the people of
the United States and of Latin Ameri-
ca are today so deeply concerned with
the situation in Europe that they may
not attach the Importance they should
to this gathering of the representa-
tives of five small countries Of the
western hemisphere in company with
representatives of the United States.
There Is nothing sensational about
this meeting. and yet 1t has in 1t the
germs Of a mighty continental move
ment. 1t Is a big step by small coun-
tries along the road of pan-American
solidarity. And pan-American solidar-
ity means the harmonious co-opera-
tion of twenty-one republics and 200.-
100000 of human beings for the best
good of the western hemisphere, and
hence of all the world.
1t is almost a coincident and a most
interesting fact that in approximately
100 years after the declaration Of the
anniversary will be celebrated in De-
cember, 1923, this conference on Gen.
trail American affairs should be held
in Washington. to be followed by the
great international conference Of
American states-commonly known
as the fifth pan-American conference
at Santiago. Chile. in March. 1923.
Prelude to Big Gathering.
In sense this conference in Wash
ington is a lesser or sectional try-out
for the big international conference
at Santiago in March. What wins out
here ought to win out there. What
ever IS success at this gathering
should be a success there. If small
group of pan-American countries can
get together on a common basis of
enduring peace. on Limitation Of
armament. on settlement by arbitra-
tion of international differences that
cannot be adjusted by ordinary diplo-
specific peaceful cooperation for
their common good. all of the Ameri-
can nations ought to be able to do
this on a corresponding scale. In
other words. if one-fourth of the re-
publics of the Americas can unite for
their common welfare. all the others,
together with this one-fourth, should
be able to do it on even a more eff
fective ,and lasting program and
scale.
Everything in the agenda of this
Central American conference. while
being primarily local to the five Cen
trail American republics and the
United States. applies in a greater or
less degree to all America and, to a
certain extent. to all the world The
example that this conference may set
should be felt not only in the new
world. but throughout the old world.
To Make Treaties Elective.
The first proposition before the
conference Is that of 1.-The negotiation
of treaty or treaties to make effec-
tive those provisions of the treaties
signed at Washington December 20,
1907, which experience has shown to
be effective in maintaining friendly
relations and cooperation among the
Central American states" Well do
1 remember that first Central Ameri- |
can conference, for it was my privil-
ege then to be the executive head of
the Pan-American Union and to be,
for its organization. Its opening ses-
sion will never forget, when Elihu |
Root. then Secretary of State, made |
an address of international signifi-
canoe and carrying almost the Same |
sentimaP as those expressed by
Secretai8 Hughes. What Mr.. Root !
then said was favorably discussed
over pan-America and to some ex-
tent in Europe and Asia.
The United States was represented
by W. !. Buchanan, one Of the great |
est constructive pan-Americans in |
our history and a former minister to |
Robert Bacon. then as
sistant secretary Of state, also played |
an important part. There was sig |
nal difference, however. between the
first conference and this second one. |
in that Mexico was represented by |
its ambassador. Enrique Creel. for at
concerned with the Central American |
problem. In a degree it is pity that |
Mexico Is not represented at this
gathering, because she, moro than any
other country on the western hemi- |
sphere, has an intimate political. geo.
graphical and commercial relation |
ship to Central America, but 1t is |
futile to discuss this point because Of |
existing international relations. The |
big point is that the conference was |
a great success. It saved Central |
America from impending interna-
tional armed conflicts and brought
about a new era of Central American
international friendship and coop
Grafton. 1t established the Central
American court Of justice, for which
Andrew Carnegie built peace palace |
sired was not achieved. the general
purpose was accomplished and there
has been since then no serious con-
fict between any of the Central
American countries. Now they meet
again to make, as all pan-Americans !
hope, the peace and friendly co-opera-
tion of Central American nations and
peoples perpetual.
Big Moral influence.
II this conference succeeds in this
respect it will have a big moral in
fuence on the great pan-American
conference to be held at Santiago
next March. 1t will mean that bloc