132 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAIv. 



that in a very short time it will result in a bond and feeling of sympathy 

 that we have never experienced. 



It is not without emotion that as chairman of the United States dele- 

 gation I say a word of farewell to those representatives of the Latin 

 American Republics who have for these many days labored with us as 

 comrades and friends in forwarding the work of the Pan American Con- 

 gress. By your efifort and loyalty to the purposes of the congress we 

 have high hopes that an increased interest in the arts and sciences which 

 lie at the foundation of modem civilization will be created and that the 

 cause of humanity will be promoted not only in Pan America but through- 

 out the world. 



We felicitate ourselves that we in this Western World are outside the 

 bloody arena of the internecine war that is devastating Europe to-day. 

 Yet we can not escape from under the shadow it casts over the world. 

 Not only are our material interests gravely affected by the unprecedented 

 violence and extent of the struggle, but our moral nature is shocked by 

 the disregard of those restraints which civilization and humanity were 

 supposed to have placed on the war lust of belligerent nations. 



It is for us of the Pan American States to see that our judgments are 

 not confused by this anarchy of war. We have not contributed directly 

 or remotely to the causes which have brought it about. It is our right 

 and duty as States to be neutral and to maintain and defend our neu- 

 trality. I do not, of course, mean neutrality of public opinion — there 

 can be no such thing as moral neutrality — the free and intelligent peo- 

 ples of these Americas can not be expected to sit as silent and indifferent 

 spectators in the world's great amphitheater and view the enactment 

 of the bloodiest drama in all history and not raise their voice in protest 

 against its unspeakable and causeless horrors. We must do something 

 to vindicate the thought and purpose of the peace-loving Pan American 

 people to resist the great tide of lawlessness and savagery that seems 

 now to threaten to engulf the world by upholding the standards of civil- 

 ization, peace, and humanity. Unembarrassed as we are by dynastic 

 ambitions and breathing an air free from the baleful poison of militar- 

 ism, we may, in God's providence, be enabled to serve the cause of hu- 

 manity by our example and to spread a gospel not of hate but of friend- 

 liness and good will to all the nations of the world. Not with unintel- 

 ligent complacency, but with all reverence and humility, may we not 

 so stand together in this great world crisis and maintain those great 

 principles of justice and humanity which can not be effaced from the 

 hearts of men. 



