Evening star., 1932-04-10
PAN-AMERICA DAY TO FIND
INCREASE In GOOD WILL
Latin Nations Sentiment of Distrust
Against U. S. Giving Way to More
Sympathetic Understanding.

| LeTnal peace ana ITleIuSl4p "lAiSh Ho
other international movement can as
| sure them.
A fundamental misunderstanding has
until recently deprived the countries OF
| the new world of the benefits which
! complete success of PAM -Americanlsm
would mean to them. A mlSunder-
standing nearly as old as the present
, pan-American movement. And one
which, though considerably corrected in
recent years, still influences the opin-
ion of a large number Of people IN the
Americas of Latin origin.
When Simon Bolivar, the George
Washington of the Southern Hemi-
sphere, spoke for the first time in 1926
of the n-American ideal, no one In
Latin America thought OF mysterious
designs. of evil intentions, of imperial
istic ambitions hidden behind the name
of pan-Americanism. Nobody thought,
then, of any of the nations on this
continent using the pan-American
scheme for furthering their own in
terests to the detriment of others.
Years later. however, when the
statesmen of this country rescued the
pam American idea from oblivion and
undertook to carry it out and make it
a reality, the lack of understanding of
the purposes of Uncle Sam resulted in
a sentiment of fear and suspicion on
the part of the Latin republics. Thus,
at the very outset, ever since Secretary
of State Blaine proposed the first Conti-
mental Congress. pan-American moves
were regarded by the Latin Americans
with certain amount of misgivings.
They were afraid of the enormous
disproportion in potential resources and
economic strength between the colossus
of no NOrtID ard tho still IrYonroo i1od
republics of the South. They could not
understand the enthusiasm of the Unit
ed States for pan-A -Americanism, except
on the supposition that it veiled designs
on her part for obtaining political
domination, or at least financial con-
troll, over the rest of the continent. This
was the origin of the Yankee imperial
ism" legend, one which has greatly i'm
paired Uncle Sans prestige in Latin
America. and in the spreading of which
propaganda of jealous parties is said
to have played an important role.
This misunderstanding, a consequence
of the mutual lack of knowledge which
has been characteristic of inter- -Ameri-
can relations, has been augmented by
political mistakes of this country in the
Caribbean region, by the distortion and
misuse of the Monroe Doctrine, and by
certain complications Of a financial
nature for which few unscrupulous
gentlemen of Wall Street should be
held responsible.
In late years, it is true, a great
change has bee- brought about in this
regard, and the Latin Americans seem
to be awakening at last to a fairer in
depreciation of Uncle Sans aims, but
there still remain in the path OF
friendly relations many brambles to be
cleared away.
Six Conferences Held.
Six continental conferences have
been held since the Pan-American
Union was founded on April IA, $780,
The first five were of a decidedly po-
litlcal character and therefore did not
stress sufficiently the Importance of ex-
planning misapprehensions and differ
ences, both psychological and economic,
which lay at the root of all Inisunder-
standings. The Importance of these
problems, however, was realized by the
sixth conference, gathered in Havana in
1928, which, side-stepping controversial
issues, devoted most of its time to the
preparation OF series of special all
Flnerican conferences on technical,
material and intellectual subjects.
Such conferences, dealing with high
ways, railroads, commerce, agriculture,
public health, sanitation, child well
fare women's rights, scientific prob
lems customs regulations, educational
national law and arbitration in the
American continent, have been taking
place, from time to time, in the last
four years. Endeavoring to solve prac-
tical problems of inter American rela-
tions and to promote greater mutual
knowledge among the peoples Of Saxon
and Latin origin, their contribution to
the American cause will certainly
be Of larger advantage than the end
less, irritating discussion of political
differences which had marked these
gatherings in the past.
Particularly those conferences deal
ing with educational and cultural mat
ters should be frankly encouraged
They can afford the only real basis
for an actual understanding, for they
endeavor to remove that mutual lack
of knowledge which is the chief source
OF all misinterpretation and antago-
nism. Peoples who do not know each
other cannot understand each other.
1t is the same with nations as with
individuals; a mere superficial &C
quaintance cannot form the basis of a
deep and sincere friendship. Intimate
knowledge and, above all, spiritual
communion of ideals, is necessary for
true friendship.
The success of pan-Americanism-I
must say it once again. and what bet
ter opportunity to say it than the
commemoration of Pan-American day?
depends primarily upon the better
cultural knowledge of each other that
peoples of different points Of view and
different psychology may have. This
commerce Of the things of the mind
is a substantial element in promoting
international good will In it. states
men of both Americas will find the
only path to an-Americanism, a re-
gional organization of human society
in a continent where history has not
LETT hatreds. bitterness and old ami