134 FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 



continent. Two circumstances have greatly contributed to bring this 

 question into the foreground of public attention: The opening of the 

 Panama Canal and the outbreak of the European War. While the canal 

 was being built but few persons realized its wonderful possibilities. 

 Almost simultaneously with the opening of the canal there came the out- 

 break of the European conflict, with its attendant suspension of many 

 lines of communication. 



In this state of things nothing was more natural than that the program 

 of the Second Pan American Scientific Congress, broad enough in its 

 scope to comprise matters of everyday interest, should include a sub- 

 section devoted exclusively to the discussion of this vital topic. The 

 committee in charge of Section IX, however, realized that the solution 

 of this problem would involve certain national and even local issues. 

 In keeping, therefore, with the high scientific character of the work to be 

 undertaken by the Congress, the committee planned a program for this 

 subsection which would lead to a thorough discussion of the fundamental 

 principles involved. 



Provision was made for dealing with the subject of transportation 

 from the standpoint of present-day problems, covering, for example, 

 topics such as the regulation of public utilities, future railway develop- 

 ment, the "safety-first" movement, and the program of the Section 

 even included such recent themes as air-gliding boats for river naviga- 

 tion and the aeroplane as a means of communication. 



Closely and logically related to this matter of transportation comes 

 that network of relations designated by the general term of "com- 

 merce." Here again the nations of the world, neutral as well as bellig- 

 erent, were suddenly called upon to readjust their business relations in 

 the presence of totally new conditions. A true conception of the real 

 conditions obtaining in each of the countries was necessary before any 

 helpful cooperation could be effected. It was consequently proposed 

 that the effects of the war upon the commerce of each Republic be closely 

 studied by financial and commercial experts, aided by observations from 

 eminent authorities on international trade. Through such an inter- 

 change of opinion a forward step was taken toward agreement upon the 

 fundamental principles that must determine the maintenance and expan- 

 sion of inter-American trade. 



The transition from commerce to finance was an easy and natural 

 one, for no survey of international trade is complete without a study 

 of the intricate problems of banking, international exchange, and credit 

 facilities. Since a distinguishing feature of the work of this Congress 



