The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-19
EXPOS|T|ONS PROVE
GREAT EXPENSE TO
NATIONS OF WORLD
European Powers Decide to
Participate Only at
Three-Year In
teryals

New York, Jnuary 1S.-A semi-eontrac-
tual agreement among 16 European ma
tiaons not to participate officially in inter-
national expositions except at three year
intervals beginning In October, 1912. was
reported by representatives of these gov
ernments at n meeting in Berlin October
S-14, 1912, according to information made
public here tonight which has reached
the American committee to celebrate the
hundredth anniversary of peace among
English speaking nations. The American
government was represented unoffieially
at this meeting and did not become one
of the signatory nations.
A copy of the document of agreement
the original is in the hands of the French
government-has been placed in the
hands of the state department by John
A. Stewart, chairman of the executive
committee of the American peace COM
mittee. The understanding known in Eu-
rope as the Berlin agreement is the sole
basis for the recent reputed anti-Amer-
lean contract apparently manifesting it
self in refusal to give official reeogni-
tion to the Panama Pacific exposition
CT san ldHCiSCOs dItOluiliS u tft opifiioli
of the American peace committee. The
copy forwarded by Mr.. Stewart is said
here to be the first that has reached the
state department. Its contents. Mr.. Stew
art said, will be made public here to-
morrow morning.
Mr.. Stewart made the announcement re-
garding the Berlin agreement at dinner
given tonight by Jacob II. Schiff in honor
of the Earl of Klntore.
Alton B. Parker on behalf of the Amer
ican committee stated that Great Britain
is to be represented unofficially at the
San Francisco fair. The Anglo American
exposition. which at London this spring
precedes the centennial peace celebration
will be transplanted to the Pa
cific coast. Judge Parker said he had
been assured by the Earl of Kintore that
the British exhibit would equal any ever
made by British business men at any
exposition.
A meeting of British citizens, which
have the Anglo-Amercan exposition in
charge will be attended by Mr.. Stewart
who will sail from New York Wednesday.
Mr.. Stewart will place before the COM
mittee a plan by which the British gov
ernment can be represented at San Fran
cisco without violating the terms of the
agreement.
Inc nations signing the agreement IN
clude Germany, Austria, Hungary,
France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy and
Spain,' Mr.. Stewart said tonight 1t
seems, however, that there We're no terms
which binds under penalty these sigma
tory nations, which would prevent any
from making such an event as the Pana-
ma-Pacific exposition an exception.
Mr.. Stewart said the Panama fair cam
not come under the agreement for the
hot It'll a.,
officially the first of 1915, it In fact, will
not open until later. and since 1t con-
tinues one year, will extend beyond the
period. October "a, 1915, fixed by the Ber-
lin agreement
Mr.. Stewart said the Berlin agreement
In general terms gives as a reason for
the desire to curtail official participation
in expositions the increasing number of
such expositions and the burden of ex-
pense.