Evening star., 1932-12-04
BOLIVAR GROWS GREATER.
AS GENERATIONS PASS ON
lO2d Anniversary of Liberator's Death
Finds Entire Continent Devoted to
Ideals of His Life.

and, with the pride of a creator, called
himself a Colombian. Then he gave
freedom to Peru and Bolivia, and be-
came the leader In the liberation Of 0
whole Continent.
And when this Continent was free,
Bolivar dreamed of a strong and
united America which would present
! itself to the world with an uneXampled
aspect of majesty and grandeur" The
racial boundary that separated Latin
and Saxon people did not stop him He
spoke of the necessity of arriving at
a clear and distinct understanding re-
| garding the interests of Colombia and
| her allies Spanish America) in con-
nection with those of the United
States
His mind and soul were first in vene-
Zuela, then in Colombia, then in South
| America. Finally, he dreamed of Pan
/ America
| His dreams were not only those of q
theoretical idealist He had the vision
| TO lay the political foundations which
would preserve the union of the Ameri-
can republics
| His plan was that of Confederation
of American republics, in which all Of
them, retaining their sovereignty, would
| sacrifice something of their individual
| interests and political freedom to a su-
/
representatives, which would guarantee
their security, peace and progress
| through mutual cooperation.
| Treaties Expressed Ideals.
Racial differences, political misun-
derstandings, internal dissensions. and
a complete Ignorance of the psychology
of each other-factors which still exist
to lesser extent in our days-prevent-
ed the success of Bolivar's Pan-Ameri-
can scheme. But in the treaty drafted
by the Congress of Panama, convoked
in 1926 by the Liberator, his ideals are
clearly expressed, and may still be used
for the basis Of a powerful continental
union.
This treaty of Union. League and
Perpetual Confederation" was signed
by the republics Of Colombia 0nclud-
ing Venezuela and Ecuador, Central
America dncluding all The present
Central American nations, Peru and
Mexico, and was inspired and drafted
by the Liberator himself
The Bolivian ideals of Pan-Ameri-
canism which are embodied in that
treaty-which, by the way, was only
ratified by the Colombian Congress, and
therefore never came into effect-can
| thus be summarized:
l. Intimate character Of relations
between the American peoples-mem-
bers of the league, which any other
continental nation might later join.
Introduction to the Treaty)
| 2. Permanence and involability Of O
close friendship and union with each
and every one of its parties between
the signers Of the treaty. (Article Of
the treaty.
3. Defensive and, If necessary, Of
fensive common support of the SOW
ereignty and independence Of each Of
the confederated powers of America
against all foreign domination.
Harmony Held fmmutable.
4. Immutability of peace and har-
mony between the confederated Ameri-
can peoples, or between them and the
citizens of other nations of the world.
(Article 13)
S. Impossibility of declaring war
among themselves without previous
conciliatory intervention by the AS
sembly Of Plenipotentiaries. (Arti-
Gle 17)
6. Agreement to settle amicably and
by direct means the differences that
might exist between the countries Of
the league, and, in the event of being
| unable to arrive at an agreement, to
give preference to conciliatory methods
rather than to warlike ones by bring
ing the question before the Assembly
Of Plenipotentiaries for decision. (Arti.
Gle 16.)
7. Impossibility of going to war with
nations not members of the league,
except in the case of failure of the
good offices which should be requested
of the other members of the league,
who would be obliged to offer them in
order to prevent conflict. (Article 1s)
8. Mutual guarantee of territorial in
tegrity of all the contracting parties.
(Article 22)
Provided for Assembly.
9. Facilities for the acquiring Of
citizenship among citizens Of the con-
tracing countries, and alienation of
the conditions imposed upon aliens
among them. (Article 28)
And for the carrying out Of all the
details of this program, the treaty pro-
vided for the establishment of the
Assembly of Plenipotentiaries Of
America" with supreme power over
the relations of the confederated coun-
tries.
Such a masterfully conceived plan
Of an American League of Nations, the
first one, is still the most ambitious
and the most complete one ever draft
ed. Advanced political ideals which
today are changing the course of in
ternational relations-such as the So
cieties of Nations, the outlawing Of
war, the arbitration of disputes, the
| permanence of unions-are there paen-
toned for the first time.
Bolivar was the first ever to speak
of Pan-Americanism. And after Boil
var. no one has spoken so clearly, 50
forcefully, so intelligently.
| His was Pan-Ahnericanism Of facts,
political and obligatory, not a mere
theoretical one, of promises apd "rsA-
concentrations
| Copyright. 1887