Evening star., 1928-01-24
The Pan.American Union.

1he Pdn.Amerlcan UNION.
Some Of the proposals laid before the
Havana Conference for a reorganization
Of the Pan-American Union may be in
tended as gestures against Its "domina-
ton" by the United States-a domina-
ton outwardly recorded by the location
OF the union in Washington; the fact
that its home is the gift of Andrew
Carnegie: that the chairman of the
governing board has always been the
American Secretary Of State, and that
its director generals have always been
citizens Of the United States. But such
gestures are not to be taken too Sc
riously as indications of any widespread
dissatisfaction on the part of the re-
publics which constitute the union.
They are no more radical than many
other proposals for dealing with the
Pan-American Union laid before pre-
ceding conferences and now forgotten.
and they are actuated more by a de-
sire for publicly centering attention
upon some national points Of view than
upon real desire TO change the exist
ing organization Of the union.
Mexico, for instance, asks that the
post OF chairman of the governing board
rotate In alphabetical order among the
members. TO be held for a year at a
time. As the chairman is merely a
presiding officer, with no real authority
that the board as q whole does not
possess, the proposal is intended chiefly
as q hint that the board is dominated
by the American Secretary Of State and
that this domination should cease. Mex
leo also proposes that the director gen.
eral. who has always been citizen of
the United States. be elected annually.
Secretary Hughes has already pointed
70 the unwisdom OF thus attempting
frequently to change occupants OF an
administrative ONCE. who become IA
milisr with their many duties only
through experience in handling them.
Argentina injects the tariff dispute
under the guise Of wishing to enlarge
the unions field OF activity. It has
been expected that Argentina, which
harbors a deep resentment Of the Amer
ican tariffs on beef and grain, would
raise this issue. But nothing viii come
Of IL. II the conference launches into
o discussion Of the tariff 1t will nnd, as
its members, OF course. know, that
AAa - aAt
higher but are placed upon more COM
modities than the tariffs imposed by
the United States. Argentina's pro-
posal, and the proposal from Salvador.
70 establish juridical bases of the union.
would inject politics into the field OF the
union, and this Is already opposed by
Mexico and by many other members.
who see In II a sure method Of destroy
ing the unions value In its chosen Geld.
The last previous Pan-American Con-
ference tntrusted 10 the Pan-American
Onion the drawing UP OF a convention
70 place the organization OF the union
On permanent basis. Heretofore the
union has been continued by resolu-
tion1 Of the various Pan-Amer.can Con-
ferencex. This convention now before
the Havana Conference places On q def
mite status the union a. now organized.
Since its origin as the Commercial Bu-
Teau Of the American Republics" by res
olution OF the nrst Pan-American Con-
ference held here IN 1890. the Pan
American Union has been regularly re-
organized. The changes have been de-
signed 10 enlarge lis field OF useful ac-
tivity. 10 place determination Of its pol
scy fully In the hands Of its governing
board and TO assure representation
thereon at all times Of all the Latin
American republics. The American Bee
Tetary OF State has always been chair
man Of the governing board, but there
10 no regulation or law OF the union
requiring his choice. Since 1923 he has
been elected annually TO that position.
partly because Of tradition and partly
because Of his high rank on board
otherwise composed Of Ambassadors.
Ministers and special representatives.
While the siz or seven director gen.
erals have been citizens Of the cnited
states. their selection in the last twenty
AK years has been left 70 the govern
ing board, which has been at liberty
n chOose them from Latin America. II
has become Customary. however. tina,
the director general be- q citizen u the
United States and the assistant director
general q Latin American. II lies with
IN the powers Of the present. governing
board 10 change this arrangement ~
any time. without further authorization
from the Havana Conference.
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