33 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 



scious of a new birth, must, with the men of business, commerce, and 

 finance, observe things from a larger viewpoint, from the vantage of a 

 new internationalism. A larger comity of commerce and culture will 

 ensue from this through the natural increase of the same in the participat- 

 ing republics. Actuated, perhaps, at first by egoistic motives, the sense 

 of mutual service in international relations will spur these countries on to 

 offer some day to a larger unit, perhaps a unit that may comprise all the 

 nations of the world, the lessons that they will now learn as members of 

 the young and novel Pan American group. 



If this be true, too great emphasis can not be put upon the importance 

 of the Pan American conferences that are taking place this year; and 

 particularly upon the Second Pan American Scientific Congress that will 

 convene in Washington, the capital of the United States, beginning 

 December 27, 191 5, and concluding its sessions on January 8, 191 6. 

 Through the splendid cooperation of the Latin American countries the 

 Second Pan American Scientific Congress, to be held under the auspices 

 of the United States Government through the Department of State, bids 

 fair to be not only thus far the greatest Pan American congress but the 

 most important international scientific gathering ever held in the United 

 States. The first congress of this name was held in Santiago, Chile, in 

 1908. It had its origin in earlier Latin American scientific congresses; 

 and at the time of the Santiago Congress was enlarged through the 

 generous action of the Latin American countries to include the United 

 States. This congress was well attended by visiting delegates from the 

 United States. On its adjournment, entirely unsolicited on the part of 

 the latter, Washington was designated as the place of meeting of the 

 second congress. 



This congress should have, at this time, a singular appeal to the Pan 

 American Republics; it does have to the United States through the honor 

 conferred in designating Washington as the place of meeting. As men- 

 tioned above, the present European war has brought the Western Hemi- 

 sphere suddenly face to face with grave economic problems that invite 

 the serious attention of scientists and experts in the various fields of 

 applied science. The Scientific Congress will concern itself with the con- 

 structive discussion of these as well as with contributions in the domain 

 of pure science, wherein great advance has been made since the last 

 congress in Santiago. Science is comprehensively defined by the con- 

 gress and includes under nine heads such main subjects as: Anthropology; 

 astronomy, meteorology, and seismology; agriculture and natural re- 

 sources; education; engineering; international and public law; mining, 



