Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-15
FOR AN EXHIBIT AT PARIS Mckinley Urges Congress to
 Make an Appropriation.
EARLY ACTION NECESSARY
In Order that the United States Might Be fit- tingy Represented at This Great h.
 ternatonal Exposition.

Washington, April 14.-The president today sent the following message to con gress asking it to make suitable provis- ions for the representation of the United States at the Paris exposition:
 To the Senate and House of Representa-
 tives of the United States:
 I transmit herewith to the congress of the United States a report of the sscrz- tary of state representing the approprla- tion necessary for early action in order that the governm mt of rhe United States may be enabled to accept the invitation of the French republic to participate in the universal exposition to be held in Paris in 1900
 The recommendations of this report have my most sincere approval and I urge upon the congress that they make such provision for this great interna- tional enterprise as will fittingly respond to the widely testified wish and expecta- tions of our inventors and producers that th@y may have adequate opportunity again, as in the past, to fortify the inn portant positions they have won in the worlds competitive fields of discovery and industry. Nor ar= the traditional friendships of the United States and France and the mutual advantages to accrue from their enlarged commercial intercourses less important factors than the individual inter4st to be fostered by renewed participation in the great French exposition and especially when it is re- numbered that the projected display is prepared on completeness and display far beyond any European exhibitions that have marked the close of the c sn- tury
 It is proper that should emphasize the need Of early action for if the present session passes without suitable provis- ions being made the postponement of the matter for nearly Q year longer could but operate greatly to the disadvantage of th= United States in view of the elaborate preparations already being made by other governments and of the danger that further delay may result in an in- adequate allotment of space to this coun- try as well as an incomplete organization of the American exhibit.
 (Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
 Secretary Sherman in his report urges that if the United States is to be fittingly represensd st5ps should be taken to in- sure such representation by making the necessary appropriation. He says:
 "The purpose of the government of the Frsrch republic is now to make the forth coming exposition the fmosit notable of the century in order to fittingly round the history of an era in which such na- tional dispays have filled a most import ant part by bringing the nations togsthsr in the intersSis of commerce and friend- ship. Recalling not only the prominent part taken by the United States in such enterprises. heretofore in foreign coun- i.rlss. but also the cordial interest shown by the French nation and people in our own Columbian exposition at Chicago. it is desirable and indeed imperative that provision now be made commensurate, not alone with tha records of the pas, but the unparalleled scale upon which France proposes to conduct this new ex position, the secretary recommends an appropriation of $350,000.