UC-NRLF ?>0S9 ' "^^/ 'K V-r-:-:^ ^f^-' >:>';:r&?sr>, :•/ ■| If v^ ■ P> ■ ;■- ^v. m-'H- f 't ^• ■4'L-- :i- ■si* 64th Congress ) /Document Jst Session \ bbNAib | No. 437 THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE LUNCHEON GIVEN BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE OF CHILE, AT THE UNION CLUB IN SANTIAGO, CHILE, ON APRIL 18, 1916, IN HONOR OF HON. W. G. McADOO, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED STATES SECTION OF THE INTER- NATIONAL HIGH COMMISSION BY HON. W. G. MCADOO SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY PRESENTED BY MR. FLETCHER May 9, 1916.— Ordered to be printed WASHINGTON GOVERNMEN. PRINTING OFFICE 1916 THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE. ADDRESS BY HON. W. G. McADOO, Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Minister, Excellencies, and Gentlemen: Permit me to propose, on behalf of the delegation of the United States, the health of the President of the Republic of Chile and the prosperity and increasing greatness of the Chilean Nation. (The toast was drunk standing.) Mr. Minister [addressing the Mmister of Finance], I am deeply- touched by your very generous words. When I hear such senti- ments, especially when they are commingled v/ith praise of myself, I wish witii all my soul that I deserved them. For my colleagues and myself words are insufficient, even though those words were a com- bination of all the languages of the world, to express to you ade- quately our sentiments of esteem and appreciation of the people of Chile, and especially of our colleagues oi the Chilean section of the International High Commission over which you so ably presided, and our constant gratitude for your generous and cordial welcome into this great land of yours. We are most happy to be here. The joy of our stay is modified only by the brevity of its duration. We wish, mdeed, that we could remain longer to see more of your people, to fraternize more inti- mately with them, and to learn more of the resources of your great country. What we have seen has convinced us of the tremendous possibilities of its future development. We are satisfied that it is only a question of time when your Nation and our Nation will be drawn together even more closely than in the past, and that by recip- rocal action we shall be able to contribute, in some measure at least, to the development of your resources, as we know that you will be able to contribute to our progress and to our civilization. In the work we have done at Bucnoi Aires the Chilean delegation played a most important part. The ability of your representatives contributed greatly to the wise conclusions we reached tliere. Those conclusions, Mr. Minister, if they can be translated into action, will, in my judgment, have a profound effect upon the relations of the two American Continents. It isn't enough to have a vision; any man can have a dream; but a vision is worth while only if it is translated into reality. The statesman with a vision but without the power of action is a visionary statesman; but the statesman with a vision and the power of action is a serviceable statesman. Therefore, it is necessary, gentlemen, that we who are striving for the realization of the vision which originated with the great Bolivar in the early part of the nineteenth century should translate that vision into reality; 4 Tin: KEPUBLIC OF CHILE. tha. wo should make ofl'cctivo the dream of the statesmen of two coiitiuents by briiif^inti; the Americas ch)ser together and making tliem a unified pe()j)h' in the common purjiose and determination to serve not only themselves l)ut mankind throughout the world. Unless we can do that, all that wc are striving for will be only meas- urably beneficial. I say measurably because unless wc attain the ])erfection of our endeavor we can not serve humanity in the highest degree. Now, what is tlie purpose of Pan Americanism, and what is it that we are striving for? We are striving to bring about, through unity of purpose and action by homogeneous and independent States throughout the Americas, that solidarity and common accord with each other which will enable us, so far as the world is concerned, to present a united front when it is necessary to act unitedly for the best interests of mankind. That is what we are attempting to accomplish. I know, of course, that that is a difficult task — an enormously difficult task — but because it is difficult it is the more worth while, and because it is difficult it is all the more inspiring. .\nd when I speak of difficult tasks, I know that there is a responsive thrill in the breast of every Chilean, becau';e the Chilean j)eo])le arc accust(mied to difficult tasks. Nature put before you a country which could only be conquered liy the virile and courageous character of the men who liave settled here, and you liave proven yourselves ca])able, by the progress you have made in this great country of yours, of achieving anything to wiiich you set your hands. [A j-)]ilause.l That is the reason why as between the Cliilean people and tlic people of my own country — and I think I may claim shnilar virtues for them without seeming to praise immodestly — that is the reason why our p(M)ple and the Chilean people have been so much in sympathy with each other: that is the reason why we feel in accord by natural in- stinct and common jnirpose. This s^nnpathy does not have to be generated; it exists already. [Applause.] All we liave to do is to give it fair play and full ojieration. We have hoj)ed that b}^ coming to Soutli America and meeting you face to face and conferring with you iii the intimate fashion that pre- vailed at Buenos .\ires we could reach not only sound conclusions, but that we could stimulate that interest in great purposes which would make us realise them all the sooner. I hope that every man wiio was in that conference returns to his home with the full determi- nation and purpose to make effective the results of that conference. TiH> only way we can do it is to have the commission of each country rei)resented then^ continue as a permanent body to urge upon the dif- ferent Governments the necessity of translating into action the con- clusions of the conference. By that sort of (h^termined effort we can get results. For more than 100 years wc have talked about tlK'se things, and for the last 30 years we have endiodicd these things in resolutions, but resolutions will not of themselves accomplish much. They must be followed up with concrete and detennined effort, and once wo have applied ourselves in that spirit I know that' we can realize our aims. (Jcntlcmen, I feel, as we view the tremendous ralamity which has befallen 10uro])e, that the civilization of the world has l)een relegated to chaos. I5ecaus(^ of that very chaos and the horrible suffering it THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE. O has brought upon mankind there is a cravin.2; in every humaii breast that some solution for permanent peace shall conie out of this great struggle. I can not help feeling that responsibility for the peace of the vrorld in the futm-e rests upon the Western Hemisphere. I believe that if ^ve can bring about this Pan American ideal we can make each nation feel that as to its own possessions it is secure against aggression; that as between ourselves we are safe with each other, that we can trust each other, that we can confide in each other; that our efforts will not be wasted in arming against each other and that our strength will not be expended in fighting each other; then we shall be able to devote our best energies to the peaceful conquests of a high civilization. When we can preserve the equilibrium of civilization ^ye shall have attained an ideal of immeasurable benefit to humanity. With a united America we would not have to use force, because we could tip the scales through our own weight in favor of peace throughout the civilized world. We could say to nations which intend to war with each other that if you war with each other wo shall not support you in any fashion, but, on the contrary, we shall withdraw all the sup- port of which we are capable. By use of the economic power of united America we could prevent any nation from going to war, and couUl make an end of the crime of'kiUing human beings to settle needless controversies. Gentlemen, on yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting your Military Academy in company of ' your distinguished Secretary of War and other distinguished members of your'Cabinet. I know of nothing I have enjoved so much in a long 'time as the discipline and military bearing manifested by the young men in the service of Chile. One of the things which impressed me" most was the spirit of those young men. It is not numbers or wealth or vastness of territory that make a nation great; it is the people of a country that make a nation great. [Applause.] And no people can be great unless they have a spirit, and that spirit must be the intense spirit of nationahty, the spirit of that matcMess patriot of my owir country — Nathan Hale — who, when condemned to an undeserved death as a spy, said." I regret that I have only one life to give for my country." That is the spirit, gentlemen, which I believe animates the Chilean people; that is the spirit which those young men yesterday gave so much in evidence. And now, my friends, we must leave you. We wish we could stay longer. We have enjoyed your hospitahty more than I can express. I have been asked several times if I was tired because you have enter- tained us so much. Chilean hospitahty does not tire; Chilean hospi- tahty invigorates; it is a tonic both in quality and quantity; it is good for the health and splendid as an inspiration. We hope that you will all come to our country some day and let us have the oppor- tunity of making you feel, Mr. Minister, the warmth and depth of our affection and the genuineness of our appreciation of you and your great country. [Prolonged applause.] o Maters ^ ^ svracu^e, l^- < ;-i#''- . "n /-■' /-^ fe- 4^.:sV. f&" t uN rv.--. :r%r:P ^^ -^ .1 -<;r > "vs: :fef^^^^^^- ■: ^-f Sfc^^^V-^ V ^"l t- ^ f yf ^^'^'' '■"v' f^^^ •\^ .F^. ^- f i ■ ..< .'-^^f^ L^;*\ ^.* k, ^.r-nf^- *, A. -' .^; L/^ :-i- #- --^a ^v