REPORT OF the; secretary GENERAL, 83 



ings to be fused in the common patrimony of America; and at the same 

 time that we go over this inventory of our program we shall be preparing 

 the work of the future, effacing the obstacles that geographic and psycho- 

 logic distances may place in the way of a more intimate collaboration of 

 the peoples and men of our continent. 



Pan Americanism is to be — if we wish it — something above the com- 

 munity of races which seek to merge in history, either by diplomatic 

 agreements or by the fortunes of war. Pan Americanism will be this, 

 because it means more than ethnic relationship; it means a conscious 

 solidarity inspired in mutual trust and developed through fairness. 



President Wilson, in his message of December 7, has spoken historic 

 words, which will explain to the world the meaning of this factor that 

 gathers new energy during the tragic hours through which humanity is 

 now passing. America assumes a lofty mission of humanitarianism and 

 civilization, and its efforts will be the more fruitful now and in the future 

 as we bend all our energies to the destruction of that which keeps us apart 

 and to the fostering of that which binds us together. These are the ideals 

 which Paraguay represents in the Second Pan American Scientific Congress. 



PERU: ISAAC ALZAMORA, OF THE PERUVIAN DELEGATION. 



Your Excellencies, Chairman of the Congress, Vice President, and Secretary 

 of State, Ladies and Gentlemen: 



The delegation of Peru to this congress of scientists is deeply grateful 

 for the welcome of their excellencies the President of the United States, 

 the Vice President, and the Secretary of State, and feels honored in pre- 

 senting to the Government and to the scientific institutions of this great 

 country, here so well represented, the sincere wishes of the scientific insti- 

 tutions of Peru for the accomplishment of the noble purposes which have 

 been held in view in organizing this Second Pan American Scientific 

 Congress. 



Although the scientific institutions of Peru are far from having reached 

 a stage of development and vigor such as has been attained by those of 

 this Republic, they experience no other sentiment in reference to the 

 latter than that of deep interest and admiration for their progress, and 

 they subscribe to the present gathering in so far as their limited resources 

 permit with sincere enthusiasm and persistent faith. 



Congresses such as this can create a special American science capable of 

 judging and of resolving theoretically, with the austere criterion of learn- 

 ing, the situations and problems which arise in the various nations of 

 the continent. In this manner they would be a powerful factor not only 



