Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

Of considerable concern in Geneva DUR
ing the last few months. Something
had to bedone to revive the enthusiasm
of the Latin Americans and their faith
in the League, and Sir Eric pledged
himself to do 1t.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
As an ambassador of good will Sit
Eric Drummond has accomplished his
mission. He was welcomed with the
most exquisite reflnementS of tradi-
tional Latin American hospitality. He
heard everywhere phrases of laudatory
encouragement and concentrations fol-
the Leagues work. He received bou-
quets of flowers and shining decora-
tons. But outside this of1cial display
OF good will it still remains to be seer
II the real purpose Of Sir Ertc'S trip has
been achieved.
It will not be an easy task, it seems
to give back to the Latin Americans
to some of them, at leaSt-their lost
confidence In the League. The expert
ences of certain Latin American repub-
lies in their relations with the League
have not been so fortunate as they were
expected to be. Soon after 1t was es-
tablished some of them adopted an at
titude of aloofnesS, and the most in.
egations. Although the majority Of
them later on returned to take part In
the Leagues Assemblies, there still pre-
walls certain amount of doubt in Latin
American countries as to the efficiency
and good Judgment of the European
statesmen, masters of the League, in in
terpreting Latin American affairs.
At any rate, the visit of Sir Eric
Drummonds closely following the grant
ing of three benches to Latin American
countries in the World Court, reveals
quite clearly one thing-that the di-
rectorS of the League have realized the
importance of Latin American co-opera-
ton in solving the problems of the
world.
Undoubtedly the open, energetic at
titude that the Latin American repre-
sentativeS adopted in the last session OF
the League, creating a unified regional
bloc, which demanded, and forced, a
larger participation of those countries
in the World Court, had something to
do with such realization. To attract
nothing like speaking up!
PAN-AAIERICAN IDEALS.
Under the auspices of the Uruguayan
government the First Interamerican
Congress of Universities will be held in
Montevideo during the early part OF
March. The purpose of the congress is
announced as that of seeking a greater
understanding among students of North
Central and South America and a uni
f1cation OF educational policies in the
New World
This congress- closely following that
Of rectorS and university deans in Ha-
vana and the establishment of COM
mttteeS of international intellectual CO.
operation in the republics of our con-
tinent, gives new assurance that the
value OF intellectual factors Is at last
being realized.
Representatives from Saxon and
Latin American universities will con-
vene in the Uruguayan capital and dis
cuSS freely, with the freedom that only
unofficial gatherings can have, the rea-
sons Tor misunderstanding and barriers
of psychological nature that have SO
far DISTRACTED the progress of better in
tellectual relations between peoples of q
different origin and of different points
of view.
It is encouraging to witness these eff
forts to develop one aspect of pam
Americanism which has almost been
forgotten IN the past. OF the three
agencies upon which the success of the
pam American movement depends, none
has been so neglected as the intelleo-
tual phase. The two others-the politi-
cal and economic factors-have gained
much ground in the last few years.
The strengthening of official and dip
lomatic relations between the United
States and each of the Latin American
republics has progressed notably. Ell
forts have been made to avoid the reefs
which heretofore have DISTRACTED, or
which still hinder, the establishment of
really closer friendship, and everything
has been done to win the good will Of
the governments south Of the Rio
Grande.
THE ECONOMIC PHASE.
As to the second phase, it is needless
to repeat here statistics Of the extraor-
binary increase In the commercial rela-
tons between. this country and those Of
Spanish America. During the last 10
years the totals of exports and imports
have doubled and the interest OF BUSH
ness men in promoting trade with the
Latin Americans has increased hun
dredfold. The capital of United States
firms operating in Latin America
amounts now to nearly $4,000, 00O, 900.
Nevertheless, no matter how close the
economic links, nor how many the
goodwill missions between the coun-
tries Of the Americas, the work of pam
Americanism could never have been
complete so long as the intellectual
factor was not considered. For at the
bottom of all political controversies or