Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
VALUE OF VIRGINIA FORUM
in WORLD PROBLEMS SEEN
Annual University Round Table Gives
Opportunity for Airing Both Sides
of Important Questions.

been reporting the discussions, lee
lures and open-forums which 1t in
cluded. Although with cast not quite
IS prominent as that of last year, the
Latin American department had an
equally interesting program Of subjects
for discussion.
The topics Of the round-table confer
ence on Cur Latin American Rela-
tons" alsn numbered six this year
FIRST in the list was THE Economic,
Political ard Social Significance of
Recent Revolutions in Latin America.
The officers Of tire institute we're wise
In selecting this subject. No other prob
lef Of pau-Americanism seems of so
much 1mroI rance eS clear under
standing by American public opinion of
the revolutionary changes which have
taken place in the last twelve months in
Latin America. Heretofore, the aver
age American has had the name OF
Spanish America associated In his mind
with the traditional type Of selfish, use
less revolt for purely personal pur-
poses which for many years was. char
acterlstic OF those countries. The re-
cent revolutions. however. are part Of
movement entirely different.
They are not like the old-fashtpned
coup detat in their causes. develop
nents and outcome. They are based on
different principles. individual liberty,
government honesty and national re-
construction, not on merely personalistic
ambitions. They were carried out in
peaceful way. paradoxically as 1t seems,
imposed more by the power Of public
opinion itself than by the force Of bay
onets. Finally. they resulted in the es-
tablishment OF liberal and democratic
institutions, not in just q new form OF
despotism, with q new boss"
U. S. Investments Studied.
The significance of the growing in
vestment Of capital by the United
States in Latin America was the sub
ject of the second round table confer
Winkler and DR.. w. w. Cumberland,
prominent New York financiers. d.
rected this discussion, and aimed to ex-
plain the changes in political and social
relations that the tremendous increase
Of United States capital in the South
ern republics Is bringing about. This
Is another aspect Of pan-Americanism
very seldom dealt with by the daily
press. Newspaper correspondents are
very generous in quoting figures and
statistics relating to such investments,
but rarely bother to ascertain the con-
sequences other than economic that
they may have In international rela-
tionS.
The third and fourth topics of dis
cussion had to do with closer devel-
opment of cultural relations between
the United States and the Latin Amer
lean nations. Never will too much be
said to impress upon people the value
Of cultural links in promoting inter-
national good will and friendships. For
the last three years I have been con-
stantly expressing regret in these col
umns for the lack Of cultural relations
among Saxon and Latin Americans,
and advocating cultural ties as the best
panacea to cure misunderstanding
both political and economic. which,
after all, have their real roots in pSy-
Geological differences.
The fifth round table conference.
dealing with the settlement Of inter-
national disputes on the South Ameri
can continent, with special reference to
the pan-American arbitration conven-
ton, now pending in the United States
Senate, acquired unexpected timeliness
with the new crisis between Bolivia and
Paraguay over their territorial feud in
the Chaco region. The same day in
which the discussions of the institute
on this matter were scheduled to be
held, Bolivia and Paraguay were re-
pSrCeQ 10 De at the prlnh OF lSTuptlnS
their diplomatic relations.
Pan-Americanism Discussed.
The open forum on inter-American
relations closed with the discussion on
THE Constructive Elements Of a Pan
American Policy" In this last topic
three outstanding opponents Of three
different points of view put forth their
arguments with vigor. They were Gen.
Palmer E. Pierce Of New York, men,
Der of the Committee on inter-Amer-
lean Relations, which is maintained by
the leading industrial and financial
concerns having interests in Latin
America; Senior Luis Feliu Hurtado,
consul general of Chile, and DR.. Ray
mond Leslie Buell. of the Foreign Policy
Association.
The facility with which these three
representatives of such different in
terests agreed on the really constructive
elements of a pan-American policy
serves to illustrate how simple 1t is to
bring varying views to a common con-
clusion by open, frank discussion OF
principles and facts.
(Copyright. 1919