The Sixth Pan American Conference

Report Outline
Latin American Criticism of United States
Development of Pan American Conference System
Pan American Conferences 1889–1923
The Sixth Pan American Conference, Havana. 1928
The Pan American Unionθ
Pan American Juridical Questions
Problems of Communication
Intellectual Cooperation
Economic Problems
Social Problems

The Sixth International Conference of the American Republics will meet at Havana, January 16, 1928. The fact that President Coolidge will attend the opening session has endowed the conference with special significance, and the selection of men of particular distinction to represent the nations of Latin America, as well as the United States, has promoted the belief in all American countries that it may mark a turning point in Pan American relations. During recent years there has been evident in Latin America a growing criticism of the policies of the United States toward other American republics. The United States has been the target for special criticism in Latin America with regard to its Mexican policy, its attitude toward the internal politics of Nicaragua, the failure of the Tacna-Arica settlement and the pending treaty with Panama.

The first five Pan American conferences confined themselves largely to the consideration of problems of a non-political nature, with the result that many matters of major importance to the countries concerned have never been touched upon in these gatherings. In past conferences the United States has almost invariably steered away from matters of a political nature, on the theory that the meetings would be of principal value in promoting better trade relations, and has held to the idea that such complicated questions as those presented by the Monroe Doctrine were to be settled by the United States alone, rather than in consultation with the other American republics.

Possibilities of the Havana Conference

The agenda of the Havana conference closely resembles those of previous Pan American conferences in most respects, but it is impossible to tell what may actually be discussed, for there are many loopholes for the introduction of vital political problems. The acute situation in Nicaragua, which has been the' cause of so much complaint throughout Latin America, is partially offset by the great improvement in relations between Mexico and the United States since the appointment of Dwight W. Morrow as American ambassador to that country. The fact that President Coolidge chose one of his closest friends and a man of Morrow's prominence to represent the United States at Mexico City has been a source of satisfaction to Latin America as a whole, and from the day of the new ambassador's arrival a marked tendency toward conciliation and coöperation has been evident on the part of the Calles government. The appointment of former Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to represent the President in dealing with the Nicaraguan situation also caused much favorable comment at the time it was made. The recent flight of Lindbergh to Mexico and thence over Central America has further greatly improved the feeling of goodwill which it is hoped will be developed and strengthened at the forthcoming Havana conference.