Evening star., 1922-12-10
By JOHN BARRETT.
Former Director General of the Pan
American Union.

Il
to be a second President Monroe ::
In other words. are the years oi
1922 and 1923 to mark as great progress
in pan-Americanism as did the years oi
Its actual birth in 1922 and 1923:
Henry Clay was our first great pam
American Secretary Of State with a rear
pan-American vision. James Niohroo
was our first President to make all the
world recognize that the United states
had distinct and forceful pan-Amer-
lean policy. The original conditions OF
those DAYS are now entirely changed
and the question arises: Is pan-Amer-
ica awaiting or does it need the an
nouncement today of a new continentai
policy of solidarity upon the part OF
the United States" Is there oeins
formulated a new Harding or Hughes
pan-American doctrine that shall sup
plement and possibly become SUD-
stitute for the Monroe doctrine as the
active need of the latter may pass OIL
the international stage in the new era
Of world progress?
Remote of Future Policy.
The momentous opening session OF
the conference on Central American al
fairs In the Pan-American building last
Monday might be interpreted that way
Certainly Secretary Hughes In his re-
markable Introductory address struck
big keynote Of future policy. Not that
it does not apply to present poilcS
and has not applied to past policy
but the Secretary seemed to have
peculiar look of vision in his eyes and
a sound of prophecy in his voice when
he looked over that notable assembly.
America, but Of all the world, and made
a declaration that should always be en-
blazoned in shining letters throughout
the history of pan-Americanism.
Secretary Hughes said the big thing
that Central America and. in fact, all
Latin America wanted to hear. and
he said it with emphasis. He said
it with a knowledge OF the past
and of the present and foresight
of the future. He said something
that today is being discussed by
every newspaper and in every par
lament or congress from Havana
and Mexico City south to Buenos
Aires and Santiago. He meant what
he said. Everybody who heard him
Latin American diplomats, Euro
pean diplomats. Asiatic diplomats
and the rank and file of pan-Ameri-
cans present-knew that he meant it
by the CLINT in his eye. the tone of
his voice and the carriage of his
person. Only 300 picked persons
formed the audience in the beautiful
Hall Of the Americas of the palatial
Pan-American building, but he spoke
through them not only to the two
hundred millions of pan-Americans
from Canada to Chile. but to the
billions of all the world. OF course.
pan-America was chiefly interested.
The rest of the world also was in
terested. because pan-America may
yet be the saving factor in world
civilization and the solidarity of the
western hemisphere may be the in
fiuence that will lead in the rebuild
ing of the world and of international
society.
States American Attitude.
Before we go further let US recall
this one big utterance of Secretary
Hughes, which was the outstanding
feature of the opening session of the
conference on Central American af-
fairs. 1t was included in one long
sentence. followed by a cumulative
short one. 1t was the master ex-
preston of a master statesman, in
hU tva
said:
The government of the United
States has no ambition to crafty at
your expense. no policy which runs
counter to your national aspirations
and no purpose save to promote the
interests of peace and to assist you,
in such manner as you may welcome.
to solve your problems to your own
proper advantage. The interest of
The United States is found in the
peace of this hemisphere and in the
conservation of your interests"
/ have searched the records Of his
tory and read nearly every address
and expression of opinion by Ameri-
can statesmen on our pan-American
relations from the time of President
Monroe and Henry Clay to the pres
ent, and I ind nothing better than
this statement as an Interpretation Of
the real attitude of the American peo-
pie toward not only Central America.
but toward all Latin America. Pos
sibly 1t might be said to embody by
extension the attitude Of the Ameri-
can people toward all the world. If
there still fingers anywhere in Latin
America a feeling that the United
States government considers the Mon
roe doctrine as a club to hold over
Latin America, this broad, statesman
like and sympathetic declaration of
Secretary Hughes should completely
remove it, for there is no question that
American people. The United States
government and its people still stand
as strongly as over for the vital prin-
.ciple Of the Monroe doctrine, In SO
far as 1t involves tho extension Of
old world sovereignty to the new
world. and in that respect every Latin
American government and Latin
American must have the same feeling,
SuAcieat for Success.
If nothing else were to be accom-
plished by this Central American con-
ference than to have given Secretary
Hughes a platform to make this
declaration. it could be described as
having had a successful meeting