Evening star., 1946-12-06
PAN America Mourns.
Death Of Dr.. Rowe,
Killed Crossing Street

lNtuVN 0OSShh
President Truman joined mem
ber nations OF the Pan American
Union today In mourning the
death OF DR.. Leo S. Rowe, director
general Of the union, who was
killed last night In a traffic acct
dent. DIR. Rowe, a 75-year-old
bachelor, had headed the union
for 26 years.
The President sent message ex-
pressing his grief TO DR.. Antonio
Rocha of Colombia, chairman Of the
governing board OF the union.
The Presidents message said:
II am shocked and saddened by
the tragic and unexpected passing
of DR.. Rowe. In his death the
cause OF pan-Americanism loses an
earnest and able champion.
"AlI OF the active years OF his
long and singularly useful life were
devoted to Latin American affairs.
Director general of the Pan Ameri-
can Union for more than quarter
of century, he brought to the dis
charge Of his duties in that office
a wealth Of experience gained
through his earlier labors.
Faithful. able, efficient, always
kind and courteous in his relations,
he will be greatly missed and widely
mourned."
DR.. William Manger, counselor OF
the union, said DR.. Rowe had re-
quested that his body be cremated
and that no funeral services be held.
However, the Governing Board of
the union met today to make plans
for public memorial service. DR..
Rocha read eulogy to DR.. Rowe
at the boards meeting.
Meanwhile. coroner's inquest
was to be held at noon at the Dis
trict Morgue. DR.. Rowe was killed
instantly at 6:25 pm. yesterday. when
struck by an automobile while cross
ing the street in the 5000 block OF
Massachusetts, avenue NV, to at
tend reception at the Bolivian
Embassy.
Held Many Honors.
AS head of the ofiicial interna-
tional organization Of the Fl repub-
lies of the Western Hemisphere,
DIR. Rowe had attended virtually
every inter-American gathering
throughout the two continents, had
Travelled widely, mingling not only
with high officials but with thou
sands of plain citizens. He had
been lnonored by universities and by
countries which had conferred upon
him some Of their most coveted de-
grees and medals.
DR.. Rowe was said to have been
one of the greatest influences in
carrying out the purposes OF the
Pan American Union.
Its official aims are declared to be
developing closer cooperation be-
tween the nations Of America, the
fostering of inter- COM
snerce, the strengthening of intel
lectual and cultural ties, and the
interchange of information on all
problems affecting the welfare OF
the nations Of this continent"
Statement by Acheson.
Acting Secretary of State Acheson
today issued the following statement
concerning DR.. Rowe: 7 am very
shocked by the tragic death Of DR..
Rowe. His work with the Pan
American Union is well known
throughout the Western Hemfs-
phere. DR.. Rowe will be missed by
his many friends in the United
States and the absence Of his wis
dom and sympathetic understanding
Of Pan American problems will be a
great loss to the world at large"
The director general was serving
as head of the Pan American Union
under a reorganization plan set up
at an Inter American Conference at
Mexico City in 1945. His current
term of offjce was to run for 10 years,
terminating in 1855, when new di-
rector general was to be chosen by
the governing board of the Pan
American Union from some country
other than the United States.
With the death Of DR.. Rowe, the
acting head of the union becomes
Pedro de Alba, formerly Of Mexico,
who has been assistant director gen.
eral.
May Not Have Heard Car.
DR.. Rowe was killed instantly by
the automobile which struck him.
according to DR.. Robert Moore of
Emergency Hospital. Police inves-
tigators said the car was south
bound. It was a light sedan, driven
by Corpl. Elmer I. Klayon, %, of
the Boiling Field motor pool. who
had been on an official trip. In the
same car was Marine Pvt. Alton
Plourde. stationed at the Bethesda
Naval Hospital.
The driver told police he was
travelling at about Is miles an hour
and that he did not see DR.. Rowe
until after the car had hit him.
DR.. Rowe was hard OF hearing.
his friends pointed out, and may not
have heard the approaching car.
Thes Bolivian Embassy reception,
to which DR.. Rowe was going, was in
honor of Guillermo Gutierrez, presi-
dent of the Bolivian Development
Corp. When word of the death of
DR.. Rowe was heard, the guests left
and the party was not held.
Bolivian Ambassador Richardo
Martinez Vargas appeared broken
up over the accident and described
it as terrible tragedy"
Niece Is Notified.
DR.. Manger, who was notified
shortly after the accident, took
charge of arrangements. He said he
had notified DR.. Rowe's only rela-
tive, niece, Mrs. Curtis ter Kuile,
of White Stone Landing, Long Is
land, New York
Born in Iowa September II, 1871,
and educated both in this country
and in Germany. DR.. Rowe was
known as a citizen of the Americas.
He devoted virtually his full time
to the improvement and strength
ening of relations between the
American Republics.
The trail which ied from Iowa Tn