Evening star., 1931-06-21
BY GAsTON NERvAL


~ AN-AAfERCIAlVIsM seems k
- have q friend in Summer. i
Is during the sunny season thai
4 parties Of ambitious young men
Studenta and professors o.
Americans universities, SAIL from the
ports of Uncle Sam bound for Latir
in visiting some Of the Southern capi.
tails and getting acquainted with theil
people.
These Summer excursions Of Aneri-
can students to the nttle-known repub-
lies on the other side Of the Rio Grande
have increased particularly In the last
few years. And those who understand
the value Of personal contacts and cll-
tural relationships for promoting inter-
national good will appreciate in all oi
It's significance the benefits Of such
excursions.
The full significance Of these In
tellectural< excursions Is not altogether
appreciated by people in general, who
often hear of large parties of Ameri-
can tourists OF business men visiting
the Southern republics In search Of
adventure, picturesque scenery, natural
beauties or merely the enjoyment af-
forded by some gay old Spanish Gus
toms. But these are only incidents
| in a business or q pleasure life, with no
| other consequences than those strictly
! economic or material.
Create Social Bonds.
On the other hand, the visits OF
American students and professors to
Latin America-which bring them in
contact with the learned classes OF
those countries-have a spiritual sig
nificance, for they create social and
Intellectual union. And this, in turn
constitutes the sole channel through
which mutual knowledge and a better
understanding may gan strength.
The weakest point in the Pan-Ameri-
can cause has always been the lack of
sympathetic understanding and mutual
knowledge among the peoples OF Saxon
descent and those of Latin America.
To this lack the MISUNDERSTANDING and
errors which have heretofore hindered
closer relations between them may be
attributed. The ignorance which exists
IN the north as to the manner Of living
| and mode of thought of the Latin
Americans Is just as great, or even
greater, than that of the latter as to
( United States. There Is absolute ig-
norance on each side. which prevents
an understanding of the purposes,
thoughts and efforts of the other.
Peoples who do not know each other
cannot understand each other It Is
the same with nations as with individ-
uals; a mere superficial acquaintance
cannot form the basis of solid, sincere
/ friendship. Intimate knowledge and,
above all, a spiritual communion OF
| ideas are necessary for true friendship.
And now, in the Americas, there Is ig-
norance not only Of higher things, but
OF mere geography.
Such ignorance Is partly justified. At
present there does not exist any intel
lectual interchange between the Ameri-
cans Of Latin and of Saxon origin; that
Is, any permanent current Of inter-
change sufficient to convey to those Of
one race knowledge of the conditions
Of life and modes Of thought Of the
other.
There are, of course, scattering trav-
elers, tourists, adventurers, traders,
business men, and even few scholars,
going back and forth, but these form
such small group that they are the
exception rather than the rule.
Student Contact Needed.
And this is precisely what Is needed;
a great many people-highly educated
| people-from the north going to the
south to study and learn at first hand
the manners and customs Of the Latin
nations; to learn Spanish and truly to
know the Spanish Americans, their
problems and their aspirations. And,
also, a great many people from the
south coming to the north to learn
English, to study the opinions and prin-
ciples Of the Saxon Americans in order
to attain an understanding of their
ideals and the realization that it Is not
alone business or commercial interests
which impel them to seek the friend
/ ship of the Latins.