Evening star., 1931-12-13
PAN-AMERICAN THEORY
ORIGINATED BY BOLIVAR
LiberatOr Who Died lOl Years Ago
Thursday Laid Plan for
Society of States."

Bolivar dreamed OF strong and united
America which would present itself to
the world with an unexampled aspect
of majesty and grandeur" The racial
boundary that separated Latin and
Saxon peoples did not stop him. He
spoke Of the necessity of arriving at q
clear and distinct understanding re-
garding the interests of Colombia and
her allies Spanish America) in connec-
tion with those of the United States"'
His mind and soul were first in Vene-
zuela, then in Colombia, then in South
America. Finally, he dreamed Of pam
America.
His dreams were not only those of
| theoretical idealiSt He had the vision
to lay the political foundations which
would preserve the union of the Ameri-
can republics. He was the first one to
use the phrase society of nations; he
proposed the formulation of an Ameri-
can constitution binding all the coun-
tries OF the New World And ne even
went so far as to indicate that the best
form of representation for that America.
so united by ties of intimate friendship
and concord, was the establishment of
an international organization under the
name OF the assembly of plenipoten-
tlaries,' with its seat in Panama, which
would have had the task of being, in his
va "Oh No. q LII great con-
, hlcts, point of contact in common
| perils, faithful interpreter of treaties
in the event of any doubt arising and a
conciliator of all differences that might
| develop"
His plan was that of a confederation
OF American republics. in which ali of
tnem, retaining their sovereignty, would
sacrifice something of their individual
interests and political freedom to a su-
preme power, made up of their own rep
resentatlVes, which would guarantee
their security, peace and progress
through mutual cooperation.
Racial differences, political misunder-
standings, internal dissensions. and
complete ignorance of the psychology of
each other-factors which still exist to
a lesser extent in our days-prevented
the success of Bolivars pam American
scheme but in the treaty drafted by the
congress OF Panama, convoked in 1925
by the Liberator, his ideals are clearly
expressed, and may still be used for
the basis for powerful continental
union.
Four Signed Treaty. ..
I This treaty of Union, League and
Perpetual Confederation, was signed
between the republics of Colombia (in-
cluding Venezuela and Ecuador), Gen.
tral America Gncluding ali the present
Central American nations), Peru and
Mexico, which participated In the Bo-
llvarlan Congress, and was inspired and
drafted by the Liberator himself.
The Bolivarian ideals of pan-Amer-
icanism which are embodied ia that
treaty-which, by the way was only
ratified by the Colombian Congress, and
therefore never came into effect-can
thus be summarized:
/. Intimate character Of relations be-
tween the American peoples, members
OF the league, which any other conti-
mental nation might later join. Qntro-
duction to the treaty.
2. Permanence and inviolability Of a
close friendship and union with each
and every one of its parties between the
signers OF the treaty. (Article l of the
| treaty.
| 3. Defensive and, If necessary. Often
slVe common support of the sovereignty
and independence of each of the con-
federated powers Of America against all
foreign domination.
| 4. Immutability of peace and har-
mony between the confederated Amer
lean peoples, or between them and the
citizens of other nations Of the world.
| (Article 13)
5. Impossibility of declaring war
among themselves without previous con-
cll1atory Intervention by the assembly
OF plenipotentiaries. (Article I'D
Urged Conciliatory Methods.
6. Agreement to settle amicably, and
by direct means, the differences that
might exist between the countries of
the league, and, in the event of being
unable to arrive at an agreement, to
give preference to conciliatory methods
rather than to warlike ones, by bring
ing the question before the assembly Of
plenipotentiaries for decision. (Article
16)
7. Impossibility of going to war with
nations not members of the league, ex-
cept in the case of failure of the good
offices which should be requested of the
other members of the league, who
would be obliged to offer them IN order
to prevent conflict. (Article 18)f
8. Mutual guarantee of territorial in
tegrity of all the contracting parties.
(Article 22)
8. Facilities for the acquiring of
citizenship among citizens of the con-
tracing countries and alienation of the
conditions imposed upon aliens among
them there being stated here, for the
first time, the principles of recognition
OF professional titles. (Article 49,
III. Retention OF the sovereignty OF
each member of the league for It's own
determination. even in the case of for
eign relations, In SO far as the same
was not in conflict with the provisions
OF the treaty. (Article 28.)
Provided for Assembly.
And for the carrying out of all the
details of this program. the treaty pro-
vided for the establishment of the "As-
sembly of Plenipotentiaries of America"
with supreme power over the relations
OF the confederated countries
Such masterfully conceived plan of
an American League of Nations, the
first. Is still the most ambitious and the
most complete one ever drafted. Ad-
vanced political ideals which today are
changing the course of international re-
lations-such as the Societies of Ma
tions, the outlawing of war, the arbitra-
tion of disputes, the permanence of
unions-are there mentioned for the
first time
Bolivar was the first ever to speak of
pam And after Bolivar
no one has spoken so clearly, so force
fully, so intelligently
tCopyright, 1917