Evening star., 1941-04-14
Pan-American Day
Assumes Greater
Significance
Events in Europe Held
To Strengthen BoIivor's
ldeol for Unity
BY MANUEL VEGA.

This year celebration of Pan
American Day will resound through
out the hemisphere with special
significance. This day already has
been incorporated into the history
of the South American countries
with much the same meaning and
Importance as The Dia de la Raza
columbus Day., celebrated an
nually in South America October u.
But this year the European. situa-
ton, continually more and more
disturbing, strengthens the belief in
the urgent need for the union con-
ceived by Bolivar a century and a
quarter ago, during the struggle for
independence. And this union of
the countries of South America must
be brought about-let us speak
frankly - without impairing the
friendship and protection offered by
the United States. Surely the pre-
dominating thought in the minds of
political leaders, economists, writers,
In fact every one living under the
aegis of the liberty of the Americas
and enjoying the respect of his fell
1oWmen, cannot be otherwise at this
time.
Dates From 1880.
The Observance of Pan-AmeriCan
Day dates from May, 1880, when at
a meeting of the Secretary of State
of the United States and the AM
bassadors and Ministers of the other
American republics in Washington,
the Ambassador from Brazil pro-
posed that a date be chosen ''as a
commemorative symbol of the sov-
ereignty of the American nations
one continental community" Since
that year the idea has become a
reality, an idea which is closest to
the hearts of South Americans dur
ing this critical and tragic period
In the worlds history.
April II also is the anniversary of
the first International Conference
of American States, held in Wash
ington in 1890. One of the most
valuable contributions of that con-
ference was the creation of the
Commercial Bureau of the American
Republics.
With the passing of time this
commercial bureau has become the
Pan-American Union of today. over
which the Secretary of State of the
United States preSideS, traditionally
elected by the unanimous consent
of the official representatives of
the other American republics. The
moment any one from those lands
crosses the threshold of that mag
nificent building, he feels that he
Is being welcomed into the atmos-
phere of his own country. He truly
feels at home.
A Stimulating Center.
The Pan-American Union, so we'll
directed by DR.. Rowe, is not a
League of Nations. nor is it another
impressive agency of the United
States Government; it is simply
the Washington home of all South
America, maintained by all the
governments of the continent. 1t
is a stimulating center of friend
ships, of well-organized exchanges,
of education. South American
voices are heard in its halls from
time to time, giving educational
lectures; pictures and statues of
South Americans appear in every
corner to delight and instruct visi-
tors. The institution strives not
only to stimulate and increase re-
lationships between the United
States and her sister republics to
the South, but also-and important
and timely work it is-to develop
them between the South American
countries themselves. A two-fold
task is being accomplished there
with real devotion.
April IA, 1941, will be recorded in
the annals of literature, of cultural
relations between the Americans as
well as political Three South
American writers-Ciro Algeria of
Peru, Enrique Gil Gilbert Of Ecua-
dor, Cecilio J. Carneiro of Brazil
and in addition Miguel Angel
MenendeZ of MeXico-winners of
the Latin American Prize Novel
Contest, will be awarded their re-
spective prizes in New York on that
day and feted by their colleagues
in the North. 1t will be very sig
nificant ceremony in that it will
bring together-if we may be per-
mitted to use the representatives.
from all parts Of the hemisphere
faithfully recorded by the men who
wieled their pens to serve their
ideals with absolute freedom.
a. Q n NAF