Evening star., 1940-04-16
American Solidarity
Provides Freedom
AHaven, Says Duggan
Forum Speaker Tells
Of Cooperative Gains
To Guard Civilization

DIVISION OF American fepuOLCS,
Department of State. spoke on re-
lations between this country and the
South American republics for the
last so years in an address last
night in the Radio Forum, arranged
by The Star. The address was
f, broadcast over a national hook
up Of the National Broadcasting
Co. and was heard locally over
Station WMAL.
The text Of the address follows:
Fifty years. ago the young repub-
hcs of our Western World established
a physical and spiritual center to
symbolic the unity of the Amer
icas. That landmark in history was
the institution which we all know
as the Pan-American Union. Little
did its founders imagine that they
were establishing what is today
the oldest and most successful as
sociation of sovereign governments
which exists in the world. 1t Is
to this association that we pay
honor today.
A Vision of Bolivar.
The conception of covenant
among the nations of the New
World is as old as their independ-
ence. That intrepid and gallant
soldier and statesman, Simon Boil
var. who brought freedom to so
many countries, had vision OF the
Americas working together to pro-
mote their common civilization
under guarantees of peace. The
dream of Bolivar was not immedi-
ately realized. The conference at
Panama in 1926, called at his in
spiration, failed to establish an as
sociation of nations. But it did
provide a goal. 1t was a happy
accident of history that the greatest
demonstration of the unity of the
Americas should have taken place
last year in the same city at which
the first American meeting
took place over a hundred years
ago. feel sure Bolivar would
have agreed that his dream was
approaching realization because
never was the solidarity of the New
World more strong or dynamite;
never was there a greater determi-
nation to work together for the
attainment of mutual ideals, to
protect the New World from the
ravages of war in the Old. I cannot
think of any more fitting tribute
to that profound thinker than the
homage paid him by the delegates
who gathered in the Pickering
candleight in the same room where
the first r-American conference
was held. Here in silence and in
reverence representatives from every
country paid honor to this man who
had the vision of cooperative and
peaceful relationship which today
characterizes the Americas.
The attainment of the goal Of
Bolivar has been slow process OF
careful building. Gradual progress
rather than overnight change has
been our way. I think this was both
natural and desirable AS young
countries, we were all faced with
immense responsibilities-the neces-
sity of hammering out Of experience
the forms of government best fitted
to individual needs, the task OF
putting new fields under the plow,
of opening new mines to production
and of creating new industries. Our
energies were fully occupied in over
coming pressing internal problems.
There was little time to consider the
basis of relations with one another.
Increasing political stability and
expanding commerce brought
quickening awareness Of the exist
ence of other countries. This was
followed by perception that many
interests were common to all and
that these interests might best be
furthered through joint action. Out
of this recognition of community
of interests and Of joint RESPONSE
bilities came the establishment SO
years ago of the American
Union.
Fulfills Added Tasks.
Today the Pan-American Union
Is performing a vital and indispens-
able role. From the Office of limited
functions in commerce which it was
in 1889, it has grown in stature and
Importance to be the center of mani
fold activities of mutual interest
to all of us. Each year, as it dem
onstrates its ability to perform the
tasks already assigned to it, it is
given new tasks. Indeed, there Is
scarcely any limit to the worth
while and useful assistance it can
render with advantage to our Amer
;1,s%1,
I should like to contrast briefly
the situation of so years ago with
that of today in several respects.
At the first Inter-American Con-
ference in 1890, education, literature,
the arts and the sciences were not
even discussed; nor at succeeding
conferences, except in certain mar
row commercial aspects, until after
the World War. This is an interest
ing commentary on the early en-
phasis in nter-American relations.
The several countries were ready to
enter into international agreements
that would aid the exchange OF
peace and the maintenance OF peace.
But apparently they did not consider
It as important to encourage knoWl-
edge and understanding among each
other.
It is undeniable that commerce
has the inevitable result OF widening
general knowledge But it is also
undeniable that our scant knowl-
edge of the countries south of us
is a result of what has been pre-
dominant commercial interest in
them. Our businessmen have been
too occupied in their own affairs to
appreciate the cultural and spir-
itual values of the other American
republics. Too frequently they have
fallen into the lamentable, error Of
Judging a country by its physical
conveniences, or lack of them.
They have arrived at the country
of their new home with fixed and
preconceived ideas that because the
local way of life is different it is not
30 good. They have often made no