Evening star., 1922-08-20
BY JOHN BARRETT,

American Union.
TINE approaching visit of Secre-
tary Hughes to Brazil carries
far-reaching significance.
When he sails in a few days
from New York for Rio de Janeiro he
will go on a mission of much greater
Importance than the country realizes.
The future of Pan-American friend
ship and commerce will be strongly
Influenced by it. 1t may determine
whether the United States of America
and the United States of Brazil are
always to stand shoulder to shoulder
as friendly allies in maintaining the
permanent solidarity of the western
hemisphere for world peace and that
kind of high civilization of which
both republics are powerful expo
nents.
While the Secretary is going to RIO
avowedly on a complimentary Visit
and to represent President Harding
and the United States government
and people at the opening OF the
exposition celebrating 100 years OF
Brazilian independence as nation
of the new world, he is actually an
envoy OF tHc Hc"
which means that kind of co-opera-
ton among all the American repuo-
lies that will be for the best inter-
ests of every American republic. with
no favoritism or ascendency for any
one country.
=, Brazil in Second Place.
Today the United States of America
is the most populous. prosperous ana
powerful of all the twenty-one Amer
lean republics which constitute tne
Pan-American Union. Brazil Is tne
second most populous American re-
public. Whether it is the second most
nrosperous and powerful western ma
fion Nigh, be disputed by Argentina.
IT is not intended to argue that ques-
ton here but there is a far-reacnihs
truth in the fact that with the United
States and Brazil working tose'he'
Pan-American solidarity IS not III
danger.
Without, however, a thorough un-
Outstanding between these two misnts
governments and peoples, the "hoie
PapAmerican structure might come
,umb1ing down. In its ruins wouid
he found the wreck of vast poten-
tiality for world progress which ex-
lists in the united force IN "orio az
fairs of all the American countries
and peoples working together with
common sympathy and common pur-
pose.
The American people today are SO
-oo,niad with the disturbed condi-
,;ons of society in our own country
which has found destructive express
,ion in the coal and railway strikes.
ord .re so interested. as far as inter-
..ion.l affairs are concerned. in the
d,s,urbed economic and political con-
dition of Europe. that theF 90 no. d.
this hour realize that the ohi'e"
States is facing critical ne" era III
its relations. both political ana CONF
mercial. with Latin America
L. s, Leadership mt Stake.
The situation is so pregnant with
possibilities for good or bad tnat the
visit of Secretary Hughes to Brazil
NAV be the deciding influence In favor
or AGAINST the continued leadership
Of the limited States in Pan -Amerl-
can activities, accepted by all of its
sister American republics. This does
NOT mean a leadership of self-assumed
authority. but that kind which the
other nations gladly applaud II that
responsibility Is allotted 10 the
United States. because they them
selves want 1t to be so, and because
no other one of the American repup-
lies can accept it with the assured
approval of all the others. The Unlted
States must lead in Pan-American
activities through, first, the choice OF
a majority of the other American
countries, and, second. through its IN
herent qualities of leadership.
OF such a wise policy Secretary
Hughes today stands as the chief ex-
moment of the President, supported by
the attitude of the American govern
mont and people He is following IN
the footsteps of one of his great prede-
cessors, Elihu Root. whose visit TO
South America in 1906 did more than
anv other influence in long years to in
augurate a new era of Pan-Amerlcan
good understanding, solidarity and CO.
operation.
Roots Great Achievement.
Root went to South America. backed
by President Roosevelt, at time
when the Pan-American boat was
rocking in the backwash of the Pan
anna storm, and it was a grave Ques-
ton whether the idea OF the Pan
American Union should continue or
cease to be a powerful influence for
the cooperation of all the nations
and peoples of the western nemi-
sphere. BY his speeches In every i'm
portant South American capital, his