ragua, and Costa Rica, then through the Isthmus of Panama into
Colombia until it should meet Corps No. 2, coming northward. Corps
No. 2, under the direction of Mr. William F. Shank, was to proceed
to Quito, Ecuador, and thence survey northward to Colombia and
through that Republic and the Isthmus of Panama until it should meet
Corps No. I coming from the north. Corps No. 3, under Mr. J.
Imbrie Miller, in conjunction with Corps No. 2, was likewise to pro-
ceed to Quito and thence survey southward through Ecuador and Peru
to Lake Titicaca on the confines of Bolivia. As already stated, the
above three parties were the only ones actually despatched to the field,
but the scheme of the Committee on Surveys included three other
parties which, if funds permitted, were to be sent out at a later date.
Party No. 4 was to enter the field by way of the port of Antofagasta,
Chile, and, proceeding northeasterly, was to begin its surveys near the
city of Oruro, Bolivia, working towards La Paz, Bolivia, Puno and
Cuzco, Peru, until it should meet Party No. 3 coming southward.
Party No. 5 was expected to commence its surveys at Huanchaca,
Bolivia, and work to the neighborhood of Potosi, crossing the river
Pilcomayo, entering Brazil by way of Corumba, and extending its sur-
veys via Coxim until a connection should be made with the railroads
having communication with the capital, Rio de Janeiro. Party No. 6,
commencing its work at Potosi, Bolivia, was to follow the course of the
Pilcomayo River and proceed towards Asuncion, Paraguay, thus
making connection with the railroads of that Republic and of Uruguay.
The several parties sailed from the United States in the spring of
1891, and after remaining in the field from one and a half to two years,
returned to Washington, and several years were then devoted to the
preparation of the necessary maps, reduction of the data collected, and
the preparation of the reports of the chief engineers. Each party re-
ported the feasibility of constructing an intercontinental trunk-line,
although the ease with which such a line could be constructed would,
naturally, vary in different countries, according to the character of the
region traversed and the obstacles to be encountered. In Central
America the construction would be comparatively easy and at a mod-
erate cost. This would be true to a greater or less extent through
Colombia and into Ecuador, and through the latter Republic well into
/IDonetar^ XHniom 665
Perii; but in the southern section of Perd, where but one route was
surveyed, many difficulties were encountered, owing to the deep
chasms formed by several rivers, the direction of which being nearly
at right angles to the proposed road, maximum grades would be neces-
sary. However, there are a number of alternative routes which present
less difficulties, although requiring a longer development. In Central
America, the line from Ayutla, on the Rio Suchiate, to Rio Savegre,
in Costa Rica, would be in length about 890 miles, of which 187 are
already built. A proposed location from the Rio Savegre through the
Isthmus of Panama and Colombia to Quito, in Ecuador, would be
1663 miles. From Quito, through Ecuador and Peru, to Puno, on
Lake Titicaca, the location proposed would be 2170 miles, of which
151 miles are already built.
The Commission has already published the Minutes of the Com-
mission in both English and Spanish, a book of 132 pages with a
map; Preliminary Report of the Executive Committee, in both English
and Spanish, with five maps, dated January 31, 1893, and the Report
of the Committee on Trade and Resources, in English, Avhich documents
have already been distributed ; in addition it has printed, in both
English and Spanish, the report of Corps No. 3, and its accompanying
portfolio of maps, the report of Corps No. 2 and a portfolio of maps
accompanying the same, and has nearly finished the report of Corps
No. I and its portfolio of maps. When all these reports are finished a
condensed report of the Commission proper will be prepared, giving
a summary of the work accomplished and results attained, part of
which is now in the hands of the printer.
Monetary U?iion. — The action of the Conference on this important
question was a step backward. The law of Congress which convened
it submitted to the Conference the consideration of the advisability
of " coining a silver coin of the same weight and fineness, which
would be a legal tender in all the American nations." The Con-
ference decided to recommend the convening in Washington of another
special commission for the purpose of deciding about the coining of
one or more coins, without stating the metal of which they should be
coined, of the same weight and fineness, to be used in the nations
represented in the Conference, without stating whether they should be
a legal tender in all the countries. A majority, if not all, of the Latin-
American nations preferred the basis laid down in the convening law,
but they had to yield on this point so as to act in accordance with the
United States, whose delegates, excepting one, Mr. Estee, were de-
cidedly opposed to the coining of legal-tender silver money.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Pan-American Con-
ference to the effect that an International American Commission should
be especially convened for the purpose of considering the question of a
666 Zbc ipan^american Conference.
monetary union among themselves, President Harrison sent invitations
to the American Republics for such Commission. The Commission had
eight meetings in Washington from January 7 to April 4, 1891, I rep-
resenting Mexico, having been honored with the appointment of
presiding officer of the Commission, notwithstanding that it is the
universal rule that the president of an international conference should
be a delegate of the inviting nation.' The Minutes of this Commission
were published in English and Spanish in a book of 123 pages entitled
Minutes of the Ainericafi Inter?iatiofial Monetary Commission of i8gi.
It was of course impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion in
that Commission, as had been the case before in the Pan-American Con-
ference, and the only way to overcome the difficulty was to agree upon
a recommendation to the Government of the United States that it
should propose to all nations of the world the meeting of an Interna-
tional Monetary Conference.* This recommendation led to the meet-
ing of a monetary conference at Brussels from November 22 to
December 17, 1892, which, as is well known, did not produce any sat-
isfactory result, but rather was a setback to the idea of arriving at an
' The following is a list of the delegates to the American International Monetary
Commission :
Argentine Republic, Senor Don Miguel Tedin ; Bolivia, Senor Don Melchor
Obarrio ; Brazil, Seiior Don Salvador de Mendonfa ; Colombia, Senors Don Julio
Reiigifo and Don Climaco Calderon ; Chile, Senor Don Prudencio Lazcano ; the
United States, the Hon. N. P. Hill, the Hon. Lambert Tree, and the Hon. W. A,
Russell ; Hawaii, the Hon. H. A. P. Carter ; Hayti, the Hon. Hannibal Price ;
Honduras, the Hon. Rowan \V. Stevens ; Mexico, Senor Don Matias Romero ;
Nicaragua, Senor Don Horacio Guzman ; Uruguay, Senor Don Jose Marti ; Peru,
Senor Don Felix Cipriano C. Zegarra ; Costa Rica, Sefior Don Joaquin B. Calvo ;
Venezuela, Senor Don Estanislao Vetancourt Rendon.
^ The following is a copy of a resolution introduced by Senor Mendonja, recommend-
ing the meeting of an International Monetary Commission, reported favorably by the
committee to which it was referred, and approved by the Commission on April 3, 1891 :
Whereas, first, in the opinion of the Commission the establishment of a fixed
ratio between gold and silver, the adoption of coins of both metals and of a common
monetary unit would be of great benefit to the commerce of the world ;
Secondly, these ends could be accomplished by means of an international agree-
ment entered into by all the commercial nations of the world ; and
Thirdly, in view of the efforts recently made in this behalf it does not appear
probable that under present circumstances the desired ends can be obtained ; be it
therefore
Resolved, That this Commission bring its sessions to a close, expressing the wish
that before long another Commission may meet which shall reach an agreement that
will secure the adoption of a uniform monetary system between the nations of America,
advantageous to each and all.
M. Romero, Julio Rengifo,
Salvador de Mendon^a, Jose Marti,
Miguel Tedin, H. GuzmAn.
Washington, D. C, April j, i8gi.
Bureau of tbe Hmerican IRepublics. 667
international agreement on some proposition intended to restore silver
as a money metal by the commercial nations of the world.
The report of the Commissioners of the United States to the Brus-
sels Conference, dated at Washington February 14, 1893, together with
the Minutes of the ten meetings of the Conference, were printed, with
the President's Message to Congress of February 21, 1893, in a volume
of 384 pages.
Bureau of American Republics. — Another lasting result of the Pan-
American Conference was the establishment in the city of Washington,
supported by all the American countries, with a quota in proportion to
their population, of an American Commercial Bureau for the purpose
of disseminating commercial information among the American nations
and so to increase their mercantile relations. Although that bureau
has not done all that was expected of it, with the experience already
gained it could be hereafter a very useful institution to promote trade
between the American nations.
Mr. Curtis was at the head of the Bureau during President Harri-
son's administration. When Mr. Cleveland entered into his second
term Mr. Clinton Furbish was appointed Director, and he remained as
such all through that administration. On the inauguration of Presi-
dent McKinley, Mr. Joseph P. Smith was appointed Director, and he
greatly exerted himself to fulfil the duties of his office and make
his mark, but unfortunately he contracted a disease which, much to
the regret of all, resulted in his premature death.
The recommendation approved by the Pan-American Conference
in regard to the Bureau entrusted the direction of the same to the Sec-
retary of State of the United States; but while Mr. Olney held that
office he desired that the American republics should have more
direct participation in the control of the Bureau, and he summoned a
meeting of their representatives in Washington, who appointed a com-
mittee to propose some regulations with the view of establishing civil
service for the Bureau, and so having more stability in its employees,
avoiding the rotation of other offices in this country, the personnel of
which changes almost with every new administration. On the 4th
of June, 1896, new regulations were approved at a meeting of the
American representatives in Washington, establishing an Executive
Committee of four representatives, each of them to serve for four
years in the alphabetical order of their country, under the presidency
of the Secretary of State, to decide all matters pertaining to the
Bureau, and providing that appointments of its employees should be
made by the Secretary of State after examination by a Board of Exam-
iners, composed of five members, three appointed by the Latin-
American members of the Executive Committee and two by the
Secretary of State.
668 Zbc lPan=Bmcrican Conterencc.
The Bureau is supported by the contributions of all the American
republics who accepted the agreement apportioned /y/o rata to their
population, and with a view to diminish the respective quota the
Director of the Bureau was authorized to publish advertisements in
the Mojithly Bulletin, a source which was expected would yield some
revenue.
The Bureau of American Republics has made several publications,
to some of which I have especially referred, and the others are the
following : It edits a Monthly Bulletin, or magazine of 150 pages, con-
taining current information of interest relating to the various countries
represented by the Bureau, printed in the four languages spoken by
the American nations, and besides it has published handbooks of all
the American Republics, and also of Hawaii and Alaska; it has printed
a Newspaper Directory of Latin-America, a Commercial Directory of
most of the American Republics, and especially a general Commercial
Directory in two large volumes, and the Cotnmercial Nomenclature to
which 1 shall presently allude. All the regular publications issued by
the Bureau amount to ninety, up to March i, 1898.
There has been from time to time in the Congress of the United
States some opposition to the Bureau, but whenever the respective
committees have investigated the subject, they have decided to sup-
port the Bureau, and there is no doubt that it will stand for the ten years
agreed upon, and possibly that it will be extended for a similar period.
The Montevideo Treaties. — The part which the Montevidean treaties
played in the Conference ought not to be omitted. It is known that the
principal nations of South America met in congress in Montevideo in
1888, and recommended the conclusion of treaties on international civil
law, international commercial law, international law of penal procedure,
patents, trade-marks, copyright, extradition, etc., etc. The extended
scope and details of the provisions therein contained have prevented
some of the nations which attended that congress, and whose plenipoten-
tiaries signed the treaties, from accepting them all. The Mexican Gov-
ernment, which, at the request of the Argentine Republic, had been
studying those treaties for more than a year, had not then come to any
conclusion about them. The rules accepted in those treaties are the
same as those prevailing in the nations which follow the Roman law,
and as the United States is governed generally by the common law of
England, and subjects of municipal law in the several states do not
fall under the federal jurisdiction, it is very difficult for this country to
accept said treaties in all their details, since that would be equivalent
to changing the basis of their legislation. This explains the opposition
of the United States delegation to these treaties. Notwithstanding all
this, three of them — those relating to copyrights, trade-marks, and
patents — were accepted by the United States delegate who was a mem-
Commercial IHomenclature. 669
ber of the committee, and, finally by the delegation when the matter
was brought to a vote before the Conference.
The Conference also agreed to recommend the study by all the
American nations of the Montevideo Treaties, with a view to their
final adoption.
Commercial Nomenclature. — There is an incident which, although
not of serious consequence, shows how easy it is to misunderstand the
plainest enactment, even in case that all pains are taken to make its
object perfectly clear. I will briefly mention that incident before end-
ing this paper.
I always thought it would be very advisable for the American
nations to agree upon a common nomenclature in their tariff laws, each
of them reserving, of course, the right to tax foreign goods according to
their own views and convenience. If this idea were carried out, a cen-
tral bureau, located, for instance, in Washington, could publish from
time to time the tariffs of all American countries, in a single book
having several columns, one set apart for each country, showing the rate
of duty that each levied upon a given commodity. It would, of course,
be very difficult to agree on a common nomenclature, and that ought
to be the work of experts, one from each of the interested nations.
This could be done, accepting, for instance, the United States tariff, or
such other as might be advisable, as the basis of the work, and then
adding to it such merchandise as is quoted in the tariffs of the other
countries and not mentioned in the United States tariff. In this case,
such commodities, if not taxed in the United States, would be left
blank in the column belonging to the United States, and also in the
columns of the countries that did not levy any duty upon them. While
such tariff book containing all the data would be rather cumbersome,
as it would have to be in the four languages spoken by the American
nations, it would have the advantage of showing the exact amount of
duties levied by each one, upon every specific imported commodity.
With this object in view I introduced in the Conference on January
2, 1890, the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee
on Customs Regulations, of which I was a member:
" Resolved, That the proper committee of this Conference be requested to examine
and report about the convenience and practicability of adopting a common schedule
of foreign goods, to be used by the several nations represented in this Conference for
the purpose of collecting import duties, making invoices, bills of lading, etc., each
country having the exclusive right to fix the amount of duties to be levied on each
article, but the schedule of the articles to be common to all.
" M. Romero,
" Delegate from iVIexico.
" Washington, January 2, iSgo."
My resolution was carefully examined by the committee, and after I
explained to them its object it was written over again, to make it man-
670 XTbe pau=Bnicrican Conference.
datory and plainer, in the following terms, in which it was reported
to the Conference, and agreed upon by the same on February 10, 1890.
" Jiesolved, That the International American Conference recommends to the Gov-
ernments represented therein the adoption of a common nomenclature which shall
designate in alphabetical order in equivalent terms, in English, Spanish, Portuguese,
and French, the commodities on which import duties are levied, to be used respectively
by all the American nations for the purpose of levying customs imposts which are or may
hereafter be established, and also to be used in shipping manifests, consular invoices,
entries, clearance petitions, and other customs documents ; but not to effect in any
manner the right of each nation to levy the import duties now in force, or which may
hereafter be established.
" J. Alfonso. Charles R. Flint. M. Romero.
" H. G. Davis. Salvador de Mendon^a. CLfMACo Calder6n."
When the time to carry this motion into effect arrived, the Bureau
of American Republics, misunderstanding completely its object,
printed, while Mr. Curtis was Director of the Bureau, a list of com-
mercial terms in the four languages spoken by the American nations,
with a parallel blank column. This work was printed for the purpose
of submitting it to the respective governments for their remarks,
additions, and revisions, and when they all had been heard from, then
to give it to the public as an official work; but Mr. Curtis's successor
did not quite wait to hear such views, and the book was issued as it
finally came out, something like a vocabulary or dictionary of com-
mercial terms used in the American countries, which was published in
three volumes under the name of The Commercial Nomenclature of the
American Republics, and which, while it is a very commendable Avork
and very useful in the mercantile intercourse between the American
countries, is by no means what my motion intended or what I had in
view.
Discussion of Other Subjects by the Conference. — The Conference
took up, besides, several other subjects which, although important in
themselves, appear in a secondary light when compared with those I
have mentioned. I refer to the recommendation favoring a uniform
system of weights and measures; and those to adopt uniform and
liberal rules for the valuation of merchandise at the custom-houses; to
simplify the import and consular dues; to adopt any of the South
American conventions for sanitary purposes; to establish railways and
lines of steamers among the several nations; to negotiate extradition
treaties ; to establish an American international bank for the purpose
of carrying on the exchanges then made through London. The rec-
ommendations of the Conference bearing on those subjects were in-
serted in the different publications of the Conference, and I therefore
deem it unnecessary to say anything more about them.
Final Results of the Conference. — The most important result of the
Conference — and I mention it in the first place because all the others
jFinal IResults of tbc Conference. 671
depended on the ratification of the respective agreements by the
American governments, which generally was not given, while the one
I refer to was and is an effective one and likely to exercise great
influence for some time to come — was the mutual acquaintance
through the representatives of the different nations, which, situated
far apart and without easy and close communication among them-
selves, were almost unknown to each other. The constant intercourse
of the delegates for nearly six months, and their daily discussion of
important questions affecting the paramount interests of their re-
spective countries, was to many of them quite a surprising revelation
of the importance and progress, resources and education of the several
states represented in the Conference. There is, therefore, no mistake
in regarding as its first and best result the sentiment of mutual respect
and consideration with which each delegate was inspired for his col-
leagues and for the nations represented by them; and so far as the
United States is concerned, this result was accepted and acknowledged
not only by its delegates, but also by its government and people who
from day to day were informed of the doings of the Conference.
The second result in importance is the agreement on arbitration,
which would have been, if ratified by the various nations, a measure
of transcendent importance. This of itself would have been enough
to make the Conference highly memorable and fruitful.
The other results of the Conference, although important in them-
selves, are not so far-reaching as those that I have already mentioned.
At first sight it might appear that the results of the Conference
were disappointing; but I think it can be safely said that its success
was greater than there was any reason to expect. Almost all of
the Latin- American nations came to Washington with a fear that the
United States intended to dictate to them by means of its great
power and its material superiority, and they went back satisfied that,
so far from this being the case, this country had only sentiments of
respect and consideration for her sister-republics, and that its aim had
simply been to accomplish what was of mutual advantage to all, she
acting on the same footing as the smallest of the nations represented.
On the other hand, I believe that the Latin-American Republics
have left on the Government and the people of the United States a
more lasting and favorable impression than they had before been able
to make. The occasion afforded an opportunity to the people of the
United States to form a better idea of the civilization and the material
progress of the Latin- American countries, and of the worth and patriot-
ism of their sons; and soon afterwards it became an admitted- fact
that liberality of action, mutual regard, and a good understanding
are almost a necessity among the American nations. Remembering
that great results in behalf of mankind cannot be reached in a day, and
672 Zbc IPan=Hmcrican Gonfcrence.
much less when success depends on the action of several countries
affected by different influences and conditions, I have no doubt that
the meeting in Washington of an assembly of all the American nations
was as greatly advantageous both to the Government and the people
who promoted the meeting as to the Governments and countries who
participated in the same more for its future than for its present results.
Conclusion. — I sincerely hope that the preceding paper will be taken
as a proof of my interest in anything affecting closer social, political,
and commercial relations between the United States and her sister
American Republics, even in case that all the views which I have ex-
pressed and I hold in good faith are not accepted as sound or correct.
The documents which are included in the following Appendix, I
consider as the complement of this paper.
»
APPENDIX.
I now append the most important of the several documents
mentioned in the foregoing paper, which I consider useful to form
a complete idea of what is stated in the same, namely : i. Act of May