The Governing Board of the Pan-American Union at its January meeting considered a comprehensive report on the relations of the Union and other Pan-American organizations, as well as relations with the League of Nations, as suggested by the Colombian Government. Regarding both questions the decision emphasized that, while the cooperation already established in technical fields should be extended, any political relations would mean a radical change in the basis principle behind the Union. It should be noted that during the summer the League sent a mission to visit the Latin American members of the League to obtain by personal contact the views of government and administrative officials on League matters, and especially on its technical activities in social, financial and economic questions. (Eleven Latin American states will remain as members of the League after the withdrawal of Venezuela and Chile.) The Governing Board, with reference to admitting observers of organizations or of non-American states to the international conferences of American states, decided that no reason exists for establishing a category of official observers, since the sessions at recent conferences have been public.
On March 9 the Board approved recommendations relative to the Pan-American Highway, for creating a commission of technical experts, a finance committee, and a permanent public office designated by each country which would make available information on the highway's status. At a special meeting on July 21 the Board adopted a resolution proclaiming that public opinion in the Americas demands an end of war. In its session of June 1 it adopted the program for the Eighth International Conference of American States at Lima. It also recommended that the Eighth American Scientific Congress be held in Washington in 1940 as part of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Pan-American Union. The Board has asked the states of the Union what sums they will contribute for the erection of the Columbus Memorial Lighthouse, to be built in the Dominican Republic by 1942, the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of America.
Inter-American Travel Congress.
The travel division of the Union for promoting all possible travel in the Americas has arranged the first Inter-American Travel Congress, to be held in April 1939, in connection with the Golden Gate International Exposition. From the discussions by representatives of the American states will doubtless result much aid and publicity from governments and private agencies so that the travel promotion facilities of the Union by sea, railroad, air and highway, will be greatly developed and used. The Union has especial interest in the cultural aspects of tourist travel.
Inter-American Bibliographical and Library Association.
The first convention of the Inter-American Bibliographical and Library Association, which met in Washington February 18-19, considered inter-American library matters, archives and bibliographies. The group of one hundred and seventy-five delegates adopted resolutions for collaboration with institutions of teaching and research in the social sciences in Latin America, a union catalogue for coordinating various cooperative agencies, encouragement of copyright protection, endorsement of the Inter-American Book Exchange, and the desirability of establishing a bibliographical journal. It also recommended use of the library of the Pan-American Union as a clearing house to facilitate inter-library loans of materials on the Americas.
Teaching of Latin-American Literature.
An international conference on the Teaching of Latin American Literature met at Mexico City August 15-22, attended by many professors, critics and writers of Latin America, the United States and Spain. Discussions centered around problems of teaching, exchange of teachers and lecturers, creation of new courses, establishment of specialized libraries, and publication of reference books. Special attention was given to making Brazilian literature accessible to Spanish-speaking Americans by publishing translations of Brazilian works and encouraging the study of Portuguese. The division of intellectual cooperation of the Pan-American Union reported twice as many college courses on Latin American literature in the United States as five years ago.
Sanitary Conference.
On September 4-14 the Tenth Pan-American Sanitary Conference met at Bogotá to discuss a varied program of general conditions and particular diseases, especially yellow fever, venereal diseases and malaria, as well as social insurance and mother and child welfare. Thirty delegates, including women for the first time, represented all the states except Paraguay.
Congress of Municipalities.
The first Pan-American Congress of Municipalities opened in Havana November 14 with attendance from twenty-one countries. It considered such topics in municipal administration and organization as ownership of public utilities, public works, transportation, public health and safety, and intermunicipal cooperation. A permanent Pan-American Union of Municipalities with meetings at least every ten years was proposed. Its value for an interchange of experience on the betterment of living conditions in cities is the main objective for its organization. Another first meeting was that of the Latin American Insurance Congress in Santiago, Chile, on November 28. Its object included coordination of insurance procedure as well as further strengthening of the ties among the Latin American countries.
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