Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

Ierence of Washington in 195 unis was une cпier topic Equally sustained attention has been given to transportati beginning of the commission's work. While it was appr in each of the Republics the problem of transportation p particular aspect due to local needs and national policies, that the way would be clear for a definition of a gener international cooperation.

The sense of the entire commission seemed to be th United States had the resources adequate to carry out task of rendering the Western Hemisphere independen for its carrying trade. The resolution on this point read

That, inasmuch as the United States are at this time in a posit of superior resources in meeting the need of an international mer such cooperation as the resources of each country will permit ough by the other American nations. Whether this action takes the f supplied or ships operated by their Governments or is based upon involving private capital, their cooperation should be of such a c assure the immediate and practical realization of a service im quired by the economic situation of the continent.

Argentina had never hesitated, Dr. Lobos declared, in adoption of the resolution, to supplement the insufficienc capital with an adequate outlay of national resources assure economic security and the development of com was true, and no less emphatically, of the other Republic face the same pressing problem.

*

The United States are to-day holding out to us the solution o It is but natural that they should have the right to select the formula; it is equally natural that we should refrain from fu since the United States have elected to solve this problem in or their accurate appreciation of the conditions now existing in A manifest the energy with which they will deal with the situation as to promote the prosperity of the other American nations. 'mittee on maritime transportation, in accordance with the res Fourth International Conference of American States, and bearing ent conditions, is convinced that the establishment of two stear tween New York and Valparaiso and intermediary points, on the between New York and Buenos Aires and intermediate points, on 1 is a pressing need. The committee realizes, too, that the bill pr investment of $50,000,000 by the Government of the United States receiving the approval of public opinion and of the several Governm It is a measure which in no sense precludes other Republics f proportionate assistance in solving the problem. Extr ditions call for extraordinary measures.

*

*

*

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

t cordial approval of the Brazilian Government. He furthe ed that the terms of the committee report were such as to emb practical solution, not only that embodying two Pan Amer s but also that suggested by the Chilean delegation. he passage of the act creating the United States Shipping B oles the United States Government to correct a situation that idly growing worse; and once the shipping is available, it inish the danger of constantly higher rates between South A and the United States. These rules militate seriously against ufacturers in the purchase of raw material which have long ilable to European manufacturers at lower cost, because of aper facilities for transportation. Naturally, it has been c ndingly difficult to compete with Europe in supplying I erican markets. The effort of our Government to offer a ren this serious situation will no doubt contribute largely to the vement of our commerce with Latin America.

he seventh committee dealt likewise with railway transporta e completion of the Intercontinental Railway, connecting N | South America, is now more than ever essential to the succes elopment of North and South America with the completio Panama Canal and the impetus thereby given to trade. S second international conference of 1902 the permanent Pan A n railway committee in Washington has directed the comple he surveys necessary to link up various national railroads int ercontinental system. The constructive character of this un ing, which was discussed for over 25 years, has been guaran the hearty interest of men foremost in the industrial worl rth and South America.

A resolution calls for the appointment of new engineering unit permanent committee in Washington for the purpose of ma echnical surveys and economic studies necessary to determine te, the cost of construction, volume of trade, and probable rev the lines completing the Pan American Railway." It is unli t the cost of this technical survey would be great; and this se pectfully recommends that the permanent Pan American rai nmittee be requested to estimate the cost, and that the Congre ted to appropriate the sum necessary to carry this work to con n. Only when the survey shall have been terminated can pri pital be encouraged to undertake the task of building the con links of the Pan American Railway.

We further wish to draw attention to the fifth clause in the resolution of this committee reading as follows:

That States contiguous to each other and traversed by international railroads establish mixed boards to study the rates, railroad regulations, and such customs agreements as may be required because of the international character of these lines.

The central executive council of the International High Commission will discuss this important matter with the several sections and endeavor to secure the establishment of the commissions recommended.

TOPIC XII.

The commission considered solely the general policy on telegraphic and radiographic communication, and formally approved the scientific study of these topics by the radiographic conference to be held in Washington under the joint auspices of the State and Navy Departments. All that the commission wished to examine was the commercial and legal side of these services, and the claim made by those operating them that all the reductions have been made that the volume of business will warrant at this time. Government policy on the ownership or operation of telegraph and radio telegraph companies was also open to discussion. While there has been an agreement among the American Governments that, for obvious reasons of security, the ownership of such companies should not pass from American hands, there has been a difference of opinion whether ownership should be vested exclusively in governments or permitted to remain in the hands of individuals.

The desirability of a uniform international telegraph rate for all American Republics was urged by the Argentine delegation, which pointed out the efforts made by the Argentine and other Governments to secure uniformity of domestic rates. The domestic rates of Argentina have been extended by formal conventions (with Uruguay in 1899 and Chile in 1903) to some of her neighbors whenever they participate in the transmission of messages. While this system might entail losses, it was emphasized whenever the companies of more than two countries took part in the transmission of a message such losses would not be the primary consideration if they were controlled by their Governments. Nevertheless, a consistent basis must be found for the profitable transmission of messages over great distances, and such a basis Dr. Echagüe, of Argentina, found in the "European system" established by the International Telegraph Convention of 1875; and he recommended the adoption of this system for land and water lines wherever possible.1

The United States section advised the reduction of telegraph rates and the extension of cable lines to serve regions now without service or with inadequate service; in dealing with the radiographic situation recommended safeguarding its control by the American Governments. Whether such control should mean more than regulation

1 The European system establishes a single and uniform elementary transit rate, and a single and uniform elementary terminal rate; these minimum charges, respectively 7 and 9 centimes, form the component parts of the total rate. In accordance with this system small countries-Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Luxemburg, and Roumaniaare permitted to reduce the units composing this rate, respectively, to 3 and 6 centimes; while large countries, such as Russia and Asiatic Turkey, have been allowed to impose rates as high as 24 and 30 centimes, respectively, because of obvious difficulties.

and involve actual ownership was a matter outside the scope of the section's knowledge. On the other hand, it was doubted whether the service now owned and operated by Governments for naval purposes could be profitably used for commercial traffic.

The commission incorporated the views of the Argentine and United States delegates in its recommendation, that a definite governmental policy be adopted looking to an international telegraph and cable rate convention, based on the European system. Furthermore, it is urged that wherever possible the Governments of America should control telegraphic and radio communication and refrain from granting new concessions. The chairman of the United States. delegation pointed out that conditions in the United States were so distinct from those obtaining in other countries that these recommendations could not be considered to apply to the question of telegraphic communication in the United States. So far as Central and South America are concerned, the section feels that this recommendation expresses the view held in these Republics as to correct policy and governmental responsibility for the supervision of public utilities of vital importance for the promotion of national commercial interests. It hardly foreshadows an immediate action on the part of any Government, and merely emphasizes a spirit of vigilance and active participation in all matters of public interest. The great work performed during so many years by telegraphic companies organized in the United States for the improvement of facilities between here and Central and South America, has not been overlooked by the section, nor shall we fail to bear in mind our responsibility for securing the most equitable and satisfactory treatment of all interests. Now, as ever, these companies are responsive to the real needs of commerce, and it is to be recorded with much satisfaction that since the meeting of the commission not only press rates but commercial rates have been substantially reduced.

RESOLUTIONS PROPOSED AT GENERAL SESSIONS.

A number of resolutions were brought up on the floor during the course of the conference, to which reference may be briefly made in this place. Several of these matters were requests for future action by the commission. Dr. Eduardo Jiménez de Aréchaga proposed the holding of a special conference on the uniformity of maritime law and the law of marine insurance. The commission agreed that there might be advantages in undertaking an organized effort in this direction, and the subject will be taken up by the central executive council. Similar resolutions were presented with reference to the preparation by the International High Commission of agreements on the law of telegraphic drafts and remittances, and on the formation and operation of stock companies and the issue and circulation of their obligations. All three topics come properly within the range. and scope of the commission's activities, and it is the hope of this. section that under the guidance of the central executive council the views of most of the sections on these matters will have crystallized before the second meeting of the commission.

Other resolutions were adopted which, while somewhat less directly bearing upon the work of the commission, are significant of the wide

educational influence that such an international body must inevitably have. Dr. Guillermo Subercaseaux, of the Chilean delegation, proposed a resolution on an international bibliographical review "in view of the difficulties at present encountered in obtaining works published in certain Republics of America." Such a review would contain accurate bibliographical information such as the title, place and date of publication, publisher's name, price, etc. The section learns with much pleasure of the proposed establishment of such a review under the direction of the Ateneo Nacional of Buenos Aires, in consequence of a recommendation of the historical congress held at Buenos Aires in July, 1916. To the request of the central executive council that every possible assistance be given this enterprise, the United States section responds most heartily, and hopes that the Librarian of Congress and other directors of learned institutions will cooperate with those interested in the new review, so as to make it in the fullest sense Pan American.

The Uruguayan delegation proposed the establishment of permanent expositions of the products of the United States in the leading cities of South and Central America, as well as similar institutions in the United States for the permanent exposition of the products of Latin America. All of these institutions would be under the patronage of the respective Governments. The resolution was seconded by the chairman of the United States delegation and met with the hearty approval of the commission. The section feels that a movement of this character should be encouraged by official support, for it would certainly serve to develop commercial relations between the American nations.

The chairman of the United States section presented a resolution on the study of Portuguese, Spanish, and English in all public institutions of learning throughout the continent. Realizing that leng years of patient propaganda will be required if we are to insure the practical study of these languages, this delegation felt that the commission might lend its sanction to the movement for more thorough instruction therein. The great interest that has recently developed in the United States in Spanish and Portuguese will be productive of great benefit to our commercial and financial relations, and we feel that it is incumbent upon the educational authorities to see that this interest not only shall not decline but that it shall actually increase. It was in this spirit that the recommendation was presented and adopted.

The last matter of this character with which the commission dealt was a resolution presented by his excellency the minister of finance of Uruguay on the Second Pan American Financial Conference. Dr. Cosio's resolution reads as follows:

Resolved, That it is highly advantageous that a Pan American financial conference of the character of that held in Washington in 1915 meet every two years; that the next Pan American financial conference take place in 1917 in Washington, the exact date to be agreed upon subsequently among the various Governments, upon the initiative of the central executive council of the International High Commission; that the ministers of finance of all the countries of the American Continent be urged to attend, in view of the fact that the financial questions there to be discussed constitute the most important problems of these conferences, and in view, also, of the fact that the presence of these ministers is conducive to the more effective carrying out of the resolutions adopted.

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »