Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-04
MR., CARNEC|E'S
NEW YEAR GIFT
Presents a Building for Bureau
of American Republics
AT A COST OF $4,000
His Letter to Secretary of State
Root.
PRESIDENT HAS THANKED HIM
Statement by Mr.. Root of the Exact
Condition of Site and Money
for It's Purchase.
His Letter to Secretary of State
Root.
PRESIDENT HAS THANKED HIM

Andrew Carnegie has informed President
Roosevelt of his intention to give S150CO0
for the erection of fine new building for
the bureau of American republics, and the
details of the gift have been made public
by Secretary Root.
The gift is said to have been the outcome
of a letter the President wrote to Andrew
Carnegie speaking of the Importance of the
bureau in the relations of the United States
with the various South American countries.
Mr.. Carnegie responded in characteristic
style.
Mr.. Carnegie was at the White House a
short time this morning, but did not see
the President. He talked with Secretary
Loeb
Mr. Carnegie was also at the State De-
partment today for several hours. He
was in lengthy conversation with Secre-
tary Root, who is chairman or me ooaru
Of governors of the bureau. Secretary
Root informally thanked him for his g1rt
and indicated that he would at once send
him a formal letter of acceptance. Pres1-
dent Roosevelt already has written MT.
Carnegie expressing his deep apprecia-
ton and acceptance of the donation.
Secretary Roots Statement.
Secretary Root authorized the following
statement on the subject:
American republics resolved upon the pur-
chase of site to erect new building for
the use of the bureau which is now occu-
pying rented building at the corner of
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and jackson place
The amount fixed upon to be expended was
$4,000. This amount was allotted TO the
different republics in proportion to their
population. being the same proportion in
which they paid the expenses of the bureau.
Fifteen republics other than the United
States announced their readiness to pay
their proportion and some of them sent the
money. so that there has been for several
years some twenty or thirty thousand dol
lars in the treasury OF the United States
to be expended for the building.
Mr.. Hay wrote to the President stating
these facts and the President sent mes
sage to Congress asking for an appropria-
ton for our share. which would have been
about 81 900. The appropriation passed
the Senate but did not pass the House. The
matter then rested until the last session
When Secretary Root was preparing for the
Rio conference he found this state of at
fairs-this message of the President to Con-
gress which had not been acted upon-and
he asked the committees to go on and make
the appropriation. AS 1t seemed to MIN
that the basis of S125.O0O was inadequate
to the work which he hoped the bureau
would do, and as he hoped to secure add
tional money from outside sources he got
them to make the appropriation of $780,
600. 1t is put in the form for the purchase
of land and the entire contribution OF the
United States toward the new building for
the bureau of American republics. payabfe
to the order of the Secretary of State.
80 that we have the contributions OF the
other American republics on the basis or
the original allotment; then we have the
apprOpriation by Congress of S2ODU0O, and
now we have Mr.. Carnegie's gift of $4,000
The idea is to have the building notable
example of Latin-Ameriean architecture
and to have in it places which may be the
headquarters of each Lahn-Amerlcan ma
ton or groups of nations as they may ar
range it. There are to be in it also reading
rooms in which the leading Latin-American
newspapers and magazines will be found
and such quarters for the library, Whlch
has already reached something over $4,000
volumes that the library be readily
consulted and to have it place that will
be meeting place for all the Latina meri-
cans who come to the United States
Mr.. Carnegie's Letter.
NEW YORK, January l, 1907.
The following letter explains itself:
Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of State and ex-
officio chairman of the governing board
of the bureau of South American repub-
lies, Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir-I am greatly pleased that you
and your colleagues of the South American
republics have done me the honor to sug
gest that I might furnish suitable home
republics.
The approval of your application by the
governing board of the international bureau
and President Roosevelt's hearty express
sion of satisfaction are most gratifying.
You very kindly mention my membership
of the first Pan-American conference, and
advocacy of the Pan-American railway
the gaps of which are being slowly filled.
The Importance of this enterprise impresses
itself more and more upon me, and 1 hope
to see it accomplished
/ am happy, therefore, in stating that it
will be one of the pleasures of my life to
furnish to the union of all the republics of
this hemisphere the necessary funds $3.50,
COO. from time to time, may be needed
for the construction of an International
home in Washington.
The cooperation of our own republic is
seen in the appropriation of funds by Con-
gress for the purchase of the site. and in
the agreement between the republics for
the maintenance Of the bureau, We have ad-
ditional evidence of cooperation, SO that
the forthcoming American temple of peace
will be the joint work of all of the repub-
lies. Every generation should see them
drawing closer together
It is a cheering thought that all these
are for the first time to be represented at
the forthcoming Hague conference. Hence
forth they are members of that body,
whose aim is the settlement of interna-
tional disputes by that .high court of ma
tons or other similar tribunal.
l beg to express to each and all of them
my heart felt thanks for being permitted
to make such a New Year gift as this. I
have never felt more keenly than 1 do
this New Year morning how much more
blessed 1t is to give than to receive, and
consider myself highly honored by being
considered worthy to provide the forthcom-
ing union home. where the accredited rep
resentatives of all the republics are to
meet and I trust, to biI-d together their
respective nations in the bonds of un-
broken peace. Very truly yours,
ANDREW CARNEGIE.