The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-18
Fifteen Nassau Street

NOnulJJtt Oh CONIllLCICO anu Wao ddOPbou
without discussion. With discussion on one
or two other points the conference adj
journed.
There can be as little doubt about the
dignity OF the conference as about the fact
that it has not accomplished as much al
was really possible in the same period OF
time. The delegates are impressed with
their position. and have certain rights
which they do not forget for a moment
A week ago it was discovered bv Senior
Assis-Brasil, the Secretary-Gene Of the
conference. that members OF the press
had seated themselves when the conference
was not In session in the chairs Of some OF
the deleg ates. This was outrageous and
il was determined that the press should be
excluded from the conference at any time
the chair saw fit, II was doubtless the
original intention to exclude the press
altogether, but there was such a decided
opposition on the part OF a majority OF
delegates that the question has not been
pushed.
The situation created the only real furry
Of the conference. Senor Assis-Brasil at
the session of August 10 broke the news
IN the conference that the press had made
itself unwelcome. He told Of the fact
that the chairs Of the delegates had been
occupied. and insinuated, at least, that
some delegates had missed stationery
and papers. When he had proceeded
about this far the local journalists left the
pavilion in a body. That afternoon the
papers contained attacks on ASsiS-Brasll
and Chairman Nabuco. and II was decided
by nan of the local papers that they
would not again sent their representatives
10 a session of the conference. Then there
were explanations from the chairman,
who announced that IL was not the intention
to exclude the press from all Of the sesslons
of the conference. but that the chair had
merely stated it's right to have a closed and
secret session " henever il so desired. This
was because discussions of diplomatio
and political questions were coming, the
details of which it would be better for the
world not to know.
The only mistake the chairman made
was that he did not have the power to cN-
clude the press at anv time because OF the
fact that the article Of the rules and regula-
tions Of the conference excluding from the
sessions all hut delegates, their secretaries
and secretaries Of the conference and the
chief Of the Bureau of American Republics
had been stricken out by a two-thirds vote
Of the whole conference at the second
session pack in July. IL would require
another two-thirds vote TO recstablish the
regulation. Several delegates, claiming that
the Chair had absolutely no right 10 take
the action contemplated, announced their
intention Of making speeches on the subject.
This settled the matter, and the chairman
has said nothing further.
The real cause Of the trouble II believed
TO have been an interview with the Baron
Rio Branco the Ministsk Of Foreign Affairs,
which appeared In the Bnenos Ayres NGcion.
This interview became an intenational
incident. In il Baron Rio Branco was
made to saw that the countries Of Central
America. ell being weak, should consolidate.
The Central American delegates We're much
disturbed and Don Luis 7. Corea, tho Mica
raguan Minister in Washington and dele
gate Of his country TO the conference. has
tened TO Baron Rio Branco and demanded
an explanation. He was determined 10
! leave the country If the interview we're
confirmed. thinking that he was considered,
being the representative OF one Of those
weak States, unwelcome.
Baron Rio BrancO emphatically denied
the interview and ook steps TO see that the
denial was published all over the world.
sending out statements to all Brazilian
Diplomatic establishments. This satisfied
Senior Corea and he is still here,
There can he no doubt that the repre-
sentative Of the Ndcion, one RoZai had
interviewed the Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
Rozali declares he quoted the actual words
Of the Baron III Rio Rrnnco. He said this
to some Of the Brazilian delegates, who.
the honor OF their chief being impuGned,
were v~eryangrv. and IL was this. il il believed,
that caused Seniors Nabuco and Assis-
Brazil to make an effort to exclude the
press.
The Pan-American Conference holds its
sessions in the building constructed by the
Brazilian Government for itS exhibition AT
the fair was over the building was taken
apart and shipped 10 Rio where il has been
rebuilt. II ia n beautiful building sur
rounded by considerable ground. The
work accomplished toward making the
structure ready for the conference was
marvellous. II was not decided hat the
St. Louis Pavilion, 30 called at that time,
and since named Monroe Palace. should
be utilized for the conference until about
five weeks before july 81, the date hxel
for the opening session. Then came a
| wonderful exhibition Of rapid construction.
Fifteen hundred workmen we're put on the
task. II was impossible TO finish all of
the building, but all OF IL was not needed
for the conference, 80 the work was cOn-
centrated on making the outside beautiful
and finishing the interior OF the main floor,
where the conference il being held, and
the basement where there il a buffet. When
the conference convened the dome had not
been entirely completed, but il il almost
finished now
One Of the most marvellous bits OF work
was the construction of the gardens. Five
days before the conference convened the
ground surrounding had been untouched.
Piles of debris Law about. But when the
work on this detail was begun II went for
ward with startling rapidity. Grass was
needed everywhere. From the botanical
gardens thousands of sprouts, IN little tufts
OF half a dozen blades each, were procured
and planted one at a time. The grass il OF
a peculiar Quality which spreads very ran
idly. When a large plot had been carefully
laid out wet blankets we're laid over il,
These remained for three DAYS. being SUBJ
jected 10 the hose now and then, and when
they were taken up there was a good growth
of grass. To the right Of the entrance OF
the building the ground il completely covered
by shrub palms. All Of these we're planted
by hand. There are ffte~enDhundred Of them
altogether, and every one IL rented by the
Government from florists around the city
They will be returned when the conference
has adjourned.
The building is brilliantly illuminate
and the flag ~ every nation represented
flies from It's top. During the first session
Of the conference. Which WAS held in the
evening, the wnrships in the harhOr turned
their sNarchlights on the big white truct.
IRE. In tho gardens the shrubs and plants
I cover hundreds Of colored electric light,
and Mt night two illuminated fOurtnin in,
help to make the picture more beautiful.
Those in charge Of the building and
grounds are original in their ideas, snc
nothing is too great to stop them. Fol
instance, in One corner Of the grounds there
was a huge. ugly block Of cement contain.
ing storage batteries NJ the electrical com,
pnnv. H. was y problem, for the thing wal
1nsightIv. Suddenly some one thought O
the bird cage W. the park across the way
and Il was quickly decided that a large cay,
should no built over the storage bat'crien
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