REPORT Olf THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 1 35 



America. We have to-night as our guest a distinguished statesman, 

 who has conducted with success the foreign affairs of his Government, 

 I have the honor to introduce to you, gentlemen, the minister of foreign 

 affairs of Costa Rica. 



ADDRESS OF THE COSTA RICAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN 



AFFAIRS. 



Sr, Don Julio Acosta, minister for foreign affairs of Cost Rica and 

 representing that Republic on special mission, spoke in Spanish, the 

 following being a free translation of his remarks: 



This banquet marks a solemn hour in the history of the Americas, 

 occurring as it does at the close of one of the most important scientific 

 congresses, whose sessions have just terminated, that has ever been 

 held by the free nations of the Western Hemisphere. The results can 

 not be long in becoming evident, because this policy of true American 

 solidarity has for a number of years entered deeply into our hearts, and 

 each day we feel more and more impelled to lend it our undivided sup- 

 port and to consider it a lofty ideal to which we should devote the energy 

 of our lives. 



The strengthening of the bonds of amity and interest is being slowly 

 but surely realized. This congress has already greatly advanced in this 

 direction, but much is still left to be done. The congress urges not only 

 encouragement in the economic development of the Latin American 

 RepubUcs, but also the immediate diffusion of education among the 

 masses in order to prepare us properly for the new program which present 

 world events will impose upon us as a law of progress and social well- 

 being. 



I think that this distinguished group of the delegates of the Americas 

 which has assembled in Washington will have understood, from what I 

 have observed, that a knowledge of the English language in the Latin 

 American RepubUcs and of Spanish and Portuguese in the United States 

 will be the most powerful lever in the establishment of a perfect under- 

 standing among the nations of the Americas. By acquiring these lan- 

 guages we will be enabled to read the minds of the different races who 

 inhabit this hemisphere and attain that complete unity of aspiration 

 which will come as a consequence of a perfect harmony and a stronger 

 confidence in the destiny of the Americas. A most favorable impression 

 has been made upon me whenever a distinguished lady or an intelligent 

 girl residing in Washington has spoken to me in the language of my 

 country. 



