The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Brazil Plans Exposition
to Celebrate 100 Years of
Freedom From Portugal

TARTING on September there
~ viii be held in Rio de Janeiro.
capital of Brazil. an exposition
and festivals to celebrate 100 years Of
independence from Portugal 1t was
in September of the. year 1922 that
Dom Pedro l., second Emperor OF Bra
zil. defied the Portuguese Cortes and
declared Brazil free and self-govern-
ing, completing the act with the words
of Patrick Henry, "Indepencia Q
morte."
The exposition, ceremonial and gen.
eral festivities promise to be the most
elaborate ever witnessed. All the de-
vices and formule that have succeeded
In international fairs of the past will
be used and improved upon. Virtually
every nation of Importance has sig
nif1ed it's intention of participating and
at least four--Great Britain. France,
Portugal and the United States-will
erect "palacios" Of permanent char
acter. Brazil itself has no less than
fifteen buildings in process OF con-
struction, not including the magnifi-
cent Monroe Palace which adjoins the
exposition grounds and which it is
planned to utilize for postal telegraph
and press purposes.
c Congress Appropriated Million
For Our Show in Rio de Janeiro
Before going into detail it would
perhaps be advisable to answer cer-
tain questions regarding the celebra-
ton. particularly that phase con-
cerned with the United States partici-
patton, which must naturally arise
In the minds Of intelligent Americans
1t is generally known, for example.
that Congress has appropriated a
million dollars to cover the expense
of participation. How will this money
be spent? is legitimate question and
one which will be asked before others.
which hit closer to the roots of things,
questions such as: Why is so much
being expended? and Will q million
dollars be enough?
The largest item on the bill to be
paid for by the appropriation will un-
doubtedly be one for $3S0.000. the esti-
mated cost of the American edifice
which is being put up now on the ex-
position gounds. This building will
constitute a valuable investment for
during the exposition it will be used
to house the exhibits of the different
governmental departments, whereas
when the celebration has come to an
end it will enter ON the more sober
ture' long needed by American AM
bassadors to Brazil
A commission of five, headed by
Col. David c. Collier, the big man of
the San Diego exposition. has been
appointed by Congress to superintend
all details of American participation.
Col. Collier is in Rio now looking the
ground over and will shortly return.
laden, no doubt, with ideas and sug-
gestions for making the American en-
try the feature Of the colossal fair.
Including the Commissioner General
three members Of the commission are
on salary. which makes another item.
Our Industrial Progress
To Be Effectively Shown
Exhibits which will have the power
to instruct visitors and the native
population of our progress in indus
trial and cultural directions will be
provided by the Government. but the
cost of their transportation and erec-
tion-labor in Rio is now at a pre-
mium-will have to be borne by the
original million. These exhibits will be
set up inside the embassy building.
but il true American methods are pur-
sued Col. Collier will stage outside
features which, while dignified, will at
the same time be sensational enough
to arouse interest and draw crowds.
There is certain to be an honorary
delegation TO Brazil. which may even
include the President himself. but
which in any case is sure to number
few Cabinet members and Senators.
II has practically been decided to con-
vey this delegation by warship to Bra
lillian waters.
To an American who has never ven
tured outside the United States and
whose interest in South America is
slight. II it exists at ALL the projects
just enumerated no doubt sound I'm
pressive. but to men who do business
in Brazil year i'm and year out the
prospect is far from satisfactory. Il
is asserted that the million dollars is
far from adequate. In that il will all
be accounted for long before any pro-
vision for the merchants and manu-
facturers OF the United States has
been made. Originally the Brazilian
Government planned to erect build
ings where the individual producers of
the different nations could advertise
their wares. but these buildings were
taken up almost Immediately by ma
tive business men. 1t has remained
for private capital to undertake the
erection OF n building wherein Ameri-
can business men for a modest rental
can set UP exhibits and distribute ad-
vertising literature.
Yet 1t Is Feared
Appropriation Is Inadequate
Further proof OF the inadequacy Of
the Congressional appropriation is
contained in the fact that the Ameri-
can Chamber Of Commerce in Brazil
is now soliciting funds from the gem
eral public to pay for a monument
symbolical of the long friendship be-
tween the two countries which they
think appropriate to present to Brazil
on the occasion of it's hundredth birth