Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12

observe Pan-American day with similar
exercises, thus joining the United
States in her promotion of continental
friendship and understanding.
NEW WORLD GAINS POWER.
The celebration of "Pan-American
day by the governments Of the 81
American republics seems an especially
appropriate occasion to stress the value
OF the pan American movement and to
point out the misunderstanding which
still stand In its way.
The New World Is day by day attain
ing greater influence in the political
affairs OF men IN proportion to its cul-
tural and economic growth. The other
continents look to us on this side Of
the Atlantic for solutions of some of
their major problems. 1t is venture
some TO assert that the decline of Eu-
rope has begun, but it is only natural
TO acknowledge the development of
new and powerful influence in the
Western Hemisphere which Is giving it
a privileged position in world politics.
AT present the United States is at
the climax Of her international prestige
and thus Is almost exclusively repre-
senting that influence, but not far in
the future lies the increasing particips-
tons OF the American republics south
OF the Rio Grande. Today the impor-
lance OF these republics is purely nomi-
nal, but when their economic resources
have been properly developed their CO.
operation will be indispensable in order
that the ideals of the Americas may
have weight with the rest of the world.
HAS ECONOMIC BASIS.
In this lies the real value OF pam
AmericaniSm-in paving the way for
uni1cation and for Joint leadership.
The true hegemony of the New World
seems to depend upon the success of
the pan-American scheme.
AS for the United States, If she dis
regards 1t, scorning its Importance, and
the friendship and cooperation of the
other American nations, she would have
diflculty in continuing that material
development and that progress which
are winning peacefully for her a pre-
eminent position in the world. Preju-
diceS and opposition in the countries of
the South would constantly hamper her
policies.
Moreover, aside from its high political
value, pan-Americanism has also q
great economic Importance for Uncle
Sam, affording a solid basis for pro-
noting the sale of his products and the
profitable investment of his capital
There is no secret about the worth of
pan Americanism in figures and dol
lars. It Is needless to repeat here sta
ttstics which are too well known, of
the tremendous commercial value of
inter- American relations. They are
fully described in detail in an article
by the director general of the Pan
American Union appearing elsewhere in
this issue.
LATIN NATIONS BENEFIT.
So far as the Latin American coun-
tries are concerned. they should derive
even greater benefits from pan-Amer-
icanism. In accepting 1t, they become
parties to that American hegemony
nomic betteTment. The material adj
vantages resulting from their friendly
relations with the United States, the
wealthiest nation in the world, cannot
but help their economic growth, their
industrial development and improve
their standards Of life.
Politically, the Latin American coun-
tries find in pan-Americanism a pledge
of security, a source of democratic
peace and friendship which no other
international movement can assure
them.
A fundamental misunderstanding has
until recently deprived the countries of
the New World of the benefits that a
complete success of pan-Americanism
would mean to them. A misunder-
standing nearly as old as the present
pan-American movement, and one
which, though often corrected in recent
years, still influences the opinion of a
large number of people in the Americas
of Latin origin.
WAS VIEWED WITH MISGIVING.
When Simon Bolivar, the George
washington Of the Southern Hemt-