Evening star., 1935-04-07
BY GASTON NERVAL.
1 LII sincere advocates Of PAN
\ Americanism, of genuine and

A LII sincere advocates Of PAN
~ AmericaniSm, Of genuine and
~ effective pan n-Americanism,
n will rejoice in the news that
several of the Southern and
Central American governments have
indorsed the program Of the Bolivarian
League Of International Action.
Established for the purpose Of dis
seminating the lofty ideals of interna-
tionalism and of continental union
which Simon Bolivar preached more
that century ago, the league decided
recently to undertake more direct
and active action than similar organi-
cations have pursued to this day In
stead of confining itself to occasional
displays of oratory and social func-
tionS, abundant in highly sounding
phrases but sterile in achievements,
the league resolved to take its mes
sage directly to the masses of Latin
America, where it was most needed
and where it could be most effective.
Other Bolivarian societies had so far
relied entirely on sporadic govern
ment-sponsored meetings which only
high functionaries, diplomats and in
tellectuals attended. Most of these
persons, naturally, were already IA
miliar with the Bolivarian ideals, and,
even though they went home with
their beliefs and enthusiasm strength
ened, little of them transcribed to the
masses Of the people. Except in the
six properly Bolivarian nations-Vene-
zuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama,
Peru and Bolivia-where a popular
cult Of the Liberator exists. In the
majority of the Latin American re-
publ1cs the masses are scarcely ac-
quainted with the personality and the
history Of Simon Bolivar, nothing to
say of his political and international
ideas. And even in the six Bolivarian
countries the masses are concerned
only with the military glories of
Bolivar. They know and remember,
and they honor, Bolivar the warrior,
the liberator, the man who gave them
independence. But they hardly know
anything of Bolivar the statesman, the
man of vision who, even as he was
founding the new sovereignties, was
already thinking of the ways and
means by which their future strength
and prosperity could be assured
through their mutual aid.
Advocate of Union.
Bolivar may not have been the first
to speak of continental union in the
New World, but, as we have SO often
stressed in these columns, he GER
tainly was the one who spoke Of it
most constantly and most effectively.
He is the one who actually worked
for 1t, with all the vast influence at
his command. He is the one who in
spired the individual treaties Of al
lance between several Of the Latin
American states which preceded the
collective attempt at Panama in 1926.
He is the one who conceived, planned
and carried out the historic Congress
of Panama, where his genial dream of
a united America was put to test. He
Is the one who first laid down Spe-
cific plans for the organization of q
federation of American republics.
Bolivar was the spiritual father" of
PAN His flight of
thought knew no limits. He first con-
ceived the liberation of his native
country, Venezuela. He widened its
frontiers and, giving it a new name,
caused that Of Colombia to be writ
ten into the annals of history. After
ward he formed Gran Colombia"
with the territory which constitutes
today the republics Of Venezuela, Co
lombia, Panama, Ecuador and, with
the pride Of creator, called himself
a Colombian. Then he gave freedom
to Peru and Upper Peru, now Bolivia,
and became the leader in the liberia
tion of a whole continent. When,
finally, that continent was free, Boil
var dreamed of strong and united
America which would present itself
to the world with an unexampled
aspect "of majesty and greatness"
Bolivar's plan was that Of confed-
eration Of American republics, in
which all Of them, retaining their in
ternal sovereignty, would sacrifice
something of their external freedom
Ito.A SupeegnA poWen. mada 10 o6 their