Evening star., 1923-02-11

HuSheS TO SOuIn AlneTlCa III
conjunction with the opening
OF the fifth pan American con-
cress in Santiago reXt month is view
cd here as one of the most importnt
steps of those contemplated in car
rying out President Hardings policy
of removing causes for friction and
uniting the republics of the western
hemisphere in II new bond OF SYM
pathy aud understanding. Provided
the European situation presents no
further complications 10 prevent Mr..
Hughes absence from Washington. he
plans to attend the opening of the
Santiago conference and to visit
Peru. Uruguay. Argentina. Brazil and
Panama.
1t is doubtful If there has ever been
time when the American republics
were in closer accord. The end of
the Central American conference here
last week and the submission to arbi-
tration Of the Chilean Peruvian con-
troversy have removed the major
causes for friction between all OF the
american states-with the ono eN-
ccption of the difficulties which pie
the United States and Mexico.
strikes Responsive Chord.
Cndoubtedly the -Ameriosn pol
Icy of the United States has struck a
responsive chord in the hearts and
minds of her southern sisters. But
beneath the surface there are NUT
terings which crop out from time to
time in outspoken protests against
tho "imperialistic policy CONNER
cially and politically, of the United
States. Part Of il is due to misreprc-
eontation Of this countrys motives.
In part il comes from an adverse
sentiment which exists Throughout an
Of Latin America toward intcrpreta
tions Of the Monroe doctrine. Much
of il may he traced to The jealousy
ami suspicion with which every
smaller and weaker power regards
tho actions of Il larger or stronger
nation. And the propaganda OF rival
interests is constantly at work
II would be as foolish TO regard
these anti-tmerican sentiments as
real menace to pan-Amer,cah rr'a
tiouS as ii would hr to believe that
Secretary Hughes. by b"ief visit,
can remove them. But at the same
time there arc many who believe Sec
retary Hughes. through personal con-
tact with the leaders of Latin Amer
:.
leaders in new administrations, can
accomplish moro at one time than
could othcrvise he brought about by
the interchange of reams upon reanS
Of piatitudinouS messages oil lrlend-
ship and amity.
Latin American Sentiment.
Something of the Importance with
which the Latin American countries
regard the proposed visit of Secre-
tary Hughes was indicated at the
meeting of the governing board of
the Pan-American Union last week.
when the Brazilian ambassador, ad-
dressing Mr.. Hughes, declared: "A
few months ago you made a trip
TO my country. Then you had two
high special missions, which we Will
always remember very gratefully.
One was to represent this country
and to bring congratuiatlons from
the United States to my government
and to the people of Brazil on the
occasion Of the centennial anniver-
sary of our Independence. The other
was to return the visit OF Dom
Pedro II to this country some years
ago. You had then two credentials
signed by the President of the United
States. Now you go on another very
high mission. with special creden-
tial which has no signature, but
which. I think. is as important. per
hans more important, than the others.
This is a credential of the people OF
tho United States, accreditinS you
as an ambassador of the friendship
Of this country to the sister republics
of South and Central America. to
tell those nations how desirous this
country is to cooperate with them
in seeing what can be done to make
ibis continent the continent of the
future"
Hughes in reply at every oppor-
tunity to emphasize the Importance
Of that cooperation which does not
detract from the severe gnty and in
dependence of any Latin American
state but, on the other hand, enables
All the republics in the western hem
iSphere to move forward toward the
acco ompli ishment Of their ideals. hand
in hand in gratifying progress, cul-
ture and material. The conference
at Santiago is one of great promise.
IL is an opportunity which ought to
be fully appreciated by all the peo-
pies of the Americas.
Secretary Roots Visit.
Those who remember the visit of
Secretary of State Root, when he at
tended the opening of the third Pan
American Congress in Rio dc Janeiro
in 1906, forecast a like result from
Mr.. Hughes visit. AIT. Roots trip in
cluded Uruguay. Argentina. Chile,
Peru. Panama and Colombia. His
our created a profound impression
throughout Latin America. His
speeches gave birth to a new under
standing of this country's policy to-
ward the &'epublicS of the western
hemisphere which lives to this day
There has been nothing since that
time which accomplished quite as
much toward emphasizing the spirit
Fx,.n .T-l,; t,1,
this country in her dealings with the
pan-American nations.
On the other hand. neither Mr.. Knox
nor Mr.. McAdoo in their visits to
South America left any distinct i'm
pressiou Former Secretary of State
Colby went TO South America to re-