Evening star., 1926-04-04

can Union has performed a great serv-
ice which has. many times over. JuStl-
ed it's existence. And were ii not Tor
the cooperation Of the newspapers In
the various countries affected by the
treaties. both in making their terms
generally understood and in lnduenC-
ing popular opinion. 1t would he III
ficult for the union to perform this
task.
OF wider scope. though possibly Of
slightly less Importance. are the ac-
tivities designed to secure closer com
mercial and financial relations he
tween the countries Of North and
South America. The union. ever
since its establishment. has served as
great center Of information for prl-
vate citizens as well as for govern
mentS II diSpenses data regarding
commercial and financial opportunities
and conditions: it is equipped with
we'll organized commercial, financial
and statistical sections, and furnishes
information that is as complete as 1t
is accurate. To further its activities
along this line the union each month
publishes a special "Commerce. In
dustry and Finance series.
In line with its activities To promote
public health and hygiene. the Pan
American Union maintains a sanitary
bureau the services of which are
placed at the disposal of health Of
fcers throughout the two continents,
and which serves as a clearing house
of information relative to All matters
affecting public health and hygiene.
This bureau publishes monthly bull
letin intended for all health officials,
and. in addition. the union publishes
monthly a popular series for the pub
lie on public hygiene and child well
Fa int tn
cate the public to the necessities and
requirements of sanitation.
The fourth great activity of the
union is designed to encourage and
assist in the agricultural development
of the various countries. This is done
chiefly through an agricultural series.
in which the most recent develop
ments in agriculture are set forth for
the farIpers This series aims chiefly
to place at the disposa of the farmers
of the Latin American countries de
velopmentS which have been made in
the United Statees and European
countries. and the most recent findings
along experimental and scientific
lines.
In all four of these fields the influ-
enCe of the press is of consequence.
But in the fifth field of the unions
activities it is almost paramount. This
field is to promote closer cultural ties
between the nations. For this pur-
pose the Pan-American Union is
equipped with an educational section
which keeps in close touch with edu-
equipped with an educational section,
of the continents This section en-
courageS the interchange of students
and professors between institutions in
the various countries, and keeps on
hand. for the benefit of students, in
formation regarding courses of study,
entrance requirements and the cost of
living in the country in which the
student may desire to pursue his stu
dies A special educational" series
of the bulletin of the union places at
the disposal of the governments and
citizens the most recent Developments
in education. The union also has
been active in encouraging the inclu-
sion of the history and progress of
the various nations in schools of the
other countries.
X
RUT this work affects at most only
a comparatively few people. OF
primary importance in the work of
the union along cultural lines is the
press. This work, of course, Is done
indirectly, but IL is nevertheless of
great importance. The union. by
keeping in touch with the greater
newspapers of South and Central
America, is the first to bring about
the dissemination in those countries
of new ideas which have had their
origin in the United States. In the
same manner the press bureau gives
to the newspapers of this country
information of the latest advances
made in Latin America.
The coming congress of journalists
Is the supreme example of what the
union has done along this line. Re
alizing the great amount of good
which could result from such a con-
ference, the directors long ago set
about laying preliminary plans for
it. They sounded leaders in the field
in this country and in Latin Amer
lea, and they found the sentiment
strong in favor of holding ii. They
then began to make more definite
plans. and the result was the call
ing the Of congress. 1t is the
greatest single gathering of it's kind
ever to have been planned and held
In this hemisphere, and probably is
the greatest of its kind ever held
anywhere in the world.