The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-11
Times Dispatch Bureau.
Munsey Building,
washington. d. @, Ma


building In tho United states will be
laid with imposing ceremonies in this
city Tomorrow afternoon. The build
ing is to serve rs the headquarters OF
the international Bureau of American
Republics. 1t Will alsb serve as the
international headquarters In one ma
tional capital OF twenty one nations OF
America. Tho cost of the structure
Will approximate Sf.000.000 of which
sum NJ. Andrew Carnegie has contri-
buted s,50,co0. The balance was APP
propriated by the twenty-one nations
interested in the building.
The elaborateness of the program
for the ceremonies tomorrow after
noon indicates the Importance of the
event Addresses will be delivered by
the President of the United States. by
Hon. Elihu Root, Secretary of State of
the United states: Senior Joaquin Ma
busco the Ambassador OF Brazil. who
is the dean OF the Latin American Dip
lomatic corps in Washington, and who
presided at the third Pan-Amerlcan
conference held In Rio Janeiro in 1906,
and Mr.. Carnegie, who in addition to
having donated s750.o0O for this new
home of the institution, was dele
gate to the first Pan American con
ference which was held in Washing
ton in tSSo-90. and al which was or
ganized the international bureau
His Eminence James Cardinal Glib
bons head of the Catholic Church IN
the United states. will deliver the IN
vocation. and the bcnedictlon will be
pronounced by Bishop Cranston, Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, who Is
the dean of the Protestant clergy of
tho District of Columbia.
Mr. John Barrett director of the
Bureau of American Republics. Will
preside. The program will. be inter
spersed by appropriate Pan American
music provided by the famous Marine
Band. which has been directed by the
Secretary of the Navy to participate
In the exercises.
Origin of the Isurcau.
The origin of the. international
Bureau of American Republics is in
terestng. When the first Pan-Amer-
lean conference was held here the
delegates were the recipients of much
attention from our government and
were guests at many brilliant social
affairs, at which Cabinet officers and
other officials were hosts. AT dinner
one evening distinguished justice of
the Supreme Court was seated be-
tween representatives of two South
American republics. The justice no.
ticed that each of his neighbors spoke
excellent English, Turning to the gen
tleman on his right, he asked:
What language is spoken III your
country"
Spanish was the somewhat sur
prised reply.
And what il. your country?" asked
the Justice, turning to his other
neighbour.
Spanish" was the still more sur
prised reply.
The incident was repeated to many
of the delegates. as illustrating the re-
lnarkable lack of information on the
part OF citizens of the United States
concerning the peoples to the south of
us. IT is said that this incident. more
than any one thing. was responsible
for the movement which resulted in
The establishment of the Bureau of
American Republics in this city. which
should serve as headquarters for the
dissemination of information concern
ing all the countries of North and
South America, with the exception of
Canada. which is not represented in
the bureau.
TO Promote Closer Relations.
The original object, as stated. was
that of making the American republics
better acquainted with each other and
of exchanging information about their
respective resources and trade. II
never. however, had the complete sup
or of her sister nations, until Hon.
Elihu Root Secretary of state of the
United States. made his memorable
visit in 1906 to South America.
The third Pan-American Conference,
assembled at Rio 1aneiro. Brazil. in
1906, which he attended. passed strong
resolutions in favor of the reorgan-
cation OF the bureau and outlined a
plan to make it a world-recognized
it,,ti n, f.,, 1,r, ir,, So hot
commerce and comfy.
The bureau is strictly an interna-
tional and independent organization
subordinate to no department of the
Un!tedI states government, and main
tainGh Jay. tie the joint contributions
based on population, of the twenty
one American governments. Its af-
fairs are under the administration of a
chief officer called director, who is
elected by tine governing board of the
bureau. consisting OF the diplomatic
representatives in Washington of the
Letin-Amerlcan governments presided
over py the Secretary of State of the
United States. The present director
is John Barrett. former United States
Minister to Colombia, Panama. Argen-
tina and Siam The secretary Of the
bureau Is DR.. Francisco j, Yanes an
eminent Latin American scholar. Since
the nav administration took charge OF
it's affairs. the correspondence OF the
bureau has quadrupled, while the de-
nand for its printed publications has
tripled.
It's practical use is demonstrated by
the fact that during the last twelve
months 1t has developed business that
has added at least s25,000,000 to the
value of Pan-American foreign com
merce. It's present object, In short, Is
hct only to advance commerce and
trade. but to strengthen comfy and
friendship among all the republics Of
the Western Hemisphere.
An Imposing Structure.
This imposing international building
Will stand on one of the most attrac-
tive aud commanding sites of ground
in the national capital, commonly
known as the Van Ness Tract, which
covers five acres or about two hcc-
tarcs. facing the presidential grounds,
or White Lot, on the east. and Potomac
Park on the south, al the corner OF
Seventeenth and b Streets, This site
is only two blocks below the Corcoran
Art Gallery, next to the new buildiu,;
of the Daughters Of the American RE-
Nolution, and within short distance
OF the Washington Monument
The dimensions of tho huil5io,, ,,;,,