Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-02
The Pan-Amer1can Congress

II
Congress at no distant date draws at
tention to the growth Of goodwill dur
ing the last decade or so among the nations
of the western hemisphere. 1t was in 1880
that there was established at Washington an
international Bureau of American Republics,
whose functions multiplied in the course OF
years. until they came to be of wide variety
and Importance, and at length were embodled
in the Pan-American Union by which the Blu
reau was superseded. This union, the mead
quarters of which are at washington IN a
magnificent building erected with funds given
by the late Andrew Carnegie, is maintained
by appropriations from the divers American
Governments and is directed by board made
up of the diplomatic representatives OF those
Governments at Washington, the Secretary OIL
State of the United States being ex-off1c1o
chairman. Moreover, in each American capt.
tai there is Pan-American committee whose
duties are ''to promote ratification of the acts
of the conferences, to supply information for
the use of the Bureau of the Union, and to
submit projects for the consideration of the
Bureau and of the conferences" Thus there
are continuing an organized means OF commu-
nication and co-working among the republics
of the hemisphere in matters of common in
terest to them, whether commercial, indus
trial, scientific, or political.
The results have been of much Importance
In the past and are likely to ne more so in
the quickening of friendly relations between
Latin America and the United States Not
only have mercantile and banking connec-
tions grown apace, but also, as "a historian of
the subject sets forth, Intellectual inter-
course has been promoted by visits of Uni
yersity professors and other scholars, by in
creased attendance fOf students from Latin
American lands at colleges and universities
In the United States, and by Pan-American
scientific congresses, such as were held at
Santiago in 1908 /and at Washington in
1915" In the development of educational
ties, which bid fair to become continually
more numerous, Emory University Is in posi-
ton to attract many students from South
America and to acquire therin far-reaching
influence.
The next Pan-American Congress, which
probably will be held at Santiago Chile, will
fin, the field of all these relations, social and
diplomatic as well as economic, uncommonly
inviting, The Latin American nations are at
peace with one another and are on good terms
With the United States. Old controversies in
ful way to settlement. Mexico after years
OF red turmoil which menaced the peace of
the continent, as we'll as sorely wasting her
own resources, is turned at last toward con-
cord and construction. The Importance of
this is rightly appraised blythe Review of Re-
views when it remarks: "The position of Mex
leo in the Western hemisphere is not as i'm
pOrtant as that of Russia in the European
system; but an ill-behaved neighbor can al
ways make. disturbance, and the return of
Mexico to sense of international duty and
responsibility is almost as much to be de-
sired as a similar return on the part 4of Rus
STA" Relations between the United States
and its southern neighbors were freed of an
OLD and ugly splotch by the ratification of
the treaty giving Colombia satisfaction for
certain unhappy episodes of the Panama re-
volt of 1903. AS long as that issue remained
unsettled complete harmony between this
country and the southern group of republics
was unattainable. But the requiting of Co.
lombia, together with the Washington Gov
ernments forbearance toward distraught
Mexico despite repeated provocation to angry
ACTON, should remove the last cloud of sus-
picion and distrust.
Thus the forthcoming Pan-American Con.
gres should prove to be, of all so far, the
happlest in spirit and1On many respects, the
Welghtlest In result. Coming at peculiarly
critical juncture of world affairs. it will EN-.
phaslze the natural unity of American inter.
ests and ideals, and thereby contribute tn
tnat wider and vastly needful work of unity
ing the deeper interests of all the nations of
the earth. -