Evening star., 1941-03-16
Argentine Scholar Compares
North and South Americans
Dr.. Martinez Puz
Cites Reciprocal
Ignorance
BY MANUEL VEGA.

tngulshed Argentine 1urlSconSult
and professor of the renowned Uni
versity of Cordoba, is visiting in
Washington.
At Cordoba he teaches general
American history, philosophy of
law and comparative civil law. He
Is an authority on these subjects;
a scholar who has devoted his life
to the teaching and practice of law.
For the last Is years he has been
judge of the Supreme Court of
Cordoba. He still is director of the
institute of American studies of the
same university, president of the
Alumni Board of the National
Academy of History and doctor
"honoris causa" of the Universities
of Lima and Rio de Janeiro. DR..
Martinez Paz is the worthy head Of
a large family; he has IL children
and 10 grandchildren. He plans on
staying two months in the United
States visiting the various univer-
sites. He is especially interested in
the region of the Old Dominion,
where the university tradition first
fiourished. Aside from his direct
observations of cultural life, the
Argentine professor intends to hold
conferences in Washington and
Philadelphia. He will speak, in the
aforementioned city, on "The Bases
of Reform of the Argentine Civil
Code" and at the Pan-American
Union on The Influence of North
American Ideas on the Political
Organization of the Argentine
Refers to Native City.
Possessing an attractive person.
ality and a wide general culture,
DR.. Martinez Paz spoke with easy
grace and elegance on the problems
propounded. Interrogations were
answered quickly and with quiet
complacency.
The Argentine jurist prefaced his
remarks with a deeply moving
reference to his native city-his
beloved Cordoba.
Twelve hours by train from
Buenos Aires, in the very heart of
the Argentine" he said, lies Cor
doba, the old city of tradition with
its unique university environs, IN an
atmosphere conclusive to meditation
and study. The university-founded
in 1614-is one of the Oldest in South
America.
I'm by-gone, distant days, Chilean
students crossed the Cordillera OF
the Andes to enter it's cloisters -.
The air itself Of Cordoba is an in
vitation to introspective excursion
ing'-summarized DR.. Martinez Paz.
Sees Reciprocal Ignorance.
Later we brought up the increas-
ingly cordial relations, daily being
improved, between the United States
and the countries to the south. DR..
Martinez Paz stressed the same
generous thoughts so much insisted
on today, but he further expressed
with complete frankness his own
point of view.
Lets get down to facts. Despite
all the fine words, there is reci-
procal ignorance on the part Of the
people of the United States and
those of South America. I've been
able to see it. and verify it, in the
few days I've been here in Washing
ton. The real situation of the
United States and its animating
spirit are not known in South
America. Not only are we poorly
informed in this respective go
still further. We suspect-lack
confidence even-in one another
with everything to hand for
mutual and necessary understand
ing. 1t seems to me that the ever
increasing intellectual (culturaD
exchange is rapidly dissolving many
MISUNDERSTANDING. High time, too!
The little embassies seem to be able
to accomplish more in this direc-
ton than the large, strictly diplo-
matte ones. But there is one very
grave obstacle" DR.. Martinez Paz
said, "the difference of language
oftentimeS an insurmountable bar
Yier y"
Sees Need for Movement.
~Apropos of all this, what would
be your suggestions?" DR.. Martinez
Paz was asked.
"As a jurist," he answered, "I
believe it is necessary to stir up
an intelligent reciprocal movement
on the part of the juridical institu-
tions of North and South America.
In our Spanish American countries,
we are, judicially, under the influ-
ence of Europe, France especially,
and view the formulas of English
Common law as remote, absolutely
forelgn-to our mentality-to our
customs. We are convinced that in
the judicial field there exists, like
two worlds apart, the Island and
the Continent This prejudice,
moreover, separates us even though
when getting down to rock bottom
the legislation of the peoples of
North and South America has prin-
ciples of great similarity. 1t would
be well to bring them into the light
show what is not common to both
countries, and also show what can
bring us full-heartedly together"
II believe" DR.. Martinez Paz
added, "the first step in this direc-
ton has been taken. We have on
hand the necessary and valuable
material. The American Law Insti-
tute has published II volumes on
'The Restatement of the Law" This
work represents, in my opinion. the
beginning of the unifcation of the
laws in the United States. A trans
lation (annotated, perhaps of this
most important work, would be with
out doubt the instrument adequate
for arriving at in time at the cul-