Evening star., 1925-07-26
BY HENRY L. SWEINHART.

~ NE of the international or
ganizations which grew out
of the war. which was Gre
~ ated, in fact, by the necessi-
ties Of that crisis, but which
had to be given permanent character
in order to fulfill it's mission effectu-
ally, is still functioning actively today,
and Is accomplishing an important
work in the improvement OF com
mercial and economic relations among
the republics of North and South
America. Little is heard of this or
ganization, and many people are even
unaware of its existence, while others
are unacQuainted with its purposes
and it's aims.
This body Is known as the Inter.
American High Commission, and is
composed of national sections in each
of the 21 American republics. Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover is active
president of the United States section,
although Secretary Mellon is honorary
president. The former is also chair
man of the central executive commit
tee, which is the co-ordinating organ
of the activities of the bureau In
each of the other countries the secre
tary of the treasury or minister OF
finance is president of the national
section.
Safety From War Shocks.
The purpose of the organization, as
explained by DR.. G. A. Sherwel. sec
retary general of the commission, ir
discussing something of its history
and aims, was to make America safe
from war shocks. After the outbreak
of the World War, he said, 1T was
seen very clearly for the first time
that the economic solidarity of Amer
lea was something very real. what
ever might be the political conditions
on the Continent; something that
should be preserved. organized anc
studied in such a way that 1t would
not only make America safe, SO far as
possible, from painful repercussion:
like that of 1914, but would also make
II a storehouse of vital resources from
which in case of necessity aid might
be given to peoples less fortunate thar
those on this side of the Atlantic" Ir
speaking of it's work he said:
The personnel OF each section could
not by itself study thoroughly the
many problems which are presented
for the consideration of the commits
sion. Even II the members of the sec
ton be chosen from the most promi
| nent economists, bankers, financier,
and merchants Of each country, ther,
may well be occasions on which 1t may
be necessary to consult persons out
side of the section in order to obtair
authoritative opinions.
The United States section, indeed
has tried to avail itself of the advice
of a group chosen from among the
leading economists of the country
whether in actual business or upor
the faculties of universities. There
are some 200 of these advisers. They
are divided into groups of about /.
| members each, and each group 1:
| charged with studying particularly the
problems of one American country
For example, there is the Argentine
group, the Brazilian group, the Peru
| Wan group, and SO on.
Advisers Prominent
When the United States section ha,
10 study a problem affecting particu
| larly one Of the countries of Soutf
| America, it has at its call II adviser
who have prepared themselves through
| special study Of the economic, financia
| or other situation of the country con
cerned. Moreover, there are in thes,
| groups persons who, in addition tt
| having an intimate acquaintance with
| the problems of the particular country
to which they have been assigned, are
| prominent in some special field o.
learning, and are consulted whenever
! the studies of the section have to dc
with the branch of science"