Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-21
ROOSEVELT AIDS
AMERICAS PEACE
Move to Join Institute of
Geography and History
Is Praised.

President RooSevelt's recommended
ton yesterday that Congress favor
ably consider United States men,
bership in the Pan-American Insti-
tute of Geography and History. with
an annual contribution of $4,000 for
our share in the Institutes expenses,
today was considered in many circles
TO be an important step forward in
furthering cultural and peace rela-
lions between this country and the
pan-American nation.
In Washington. diplomats of the
Central and South American coun-
tries have looked forward to United
States entry into the institute, which
would collect, coordinate and dis
seminate valuable geographical and
historical data to ali its members,
since its organization during the
Sixth International Conference of
American States in Havana, Cuba, in
1923. While the primary function Of
this institute would be of great i'm
portance to explorers. road builders,
historians. transportation and COM
also looked to it as an agency which
would further friendly relations.
Invited to Meet Here.
In special message to Congress,
accompanied by statement from
Secretary of State Hull, the Presi-
dent urged that an invitation be
sent to the institute, which has
Mexico City as its headquarters, 10
hold its next general assembly in
Washington and that another $4,000
be appropriated to pay the expenses
of the conference while here.
Il commend to the favorable con-
sideration of the Congress-" Mr..
Roosevelt wrote, go that legiS-
lation may be enacted providing for
an annual appropriation of $4,000
for the payment of the share of this
Government in the expenses of the
Pan-American Institute of Geography
and History and requesting the
President to invite the Pan-American
Institute of Geography and History
to hold its second general assembly
in the United States in 1885. and
providing an appropriation of $4,000
for the expenses of such meeting"
Already the institute has completed
typographical map of Honduras,
the first authentic work of its kind.
Close on the heels of this. the inSti-
tute plans to survey the entire
length of the proposed Pan-American
highway, which. if built of concrete
from the United States border to
IL ~$11 ~
$3.50, 100000.
Members Noted Specialists.
Members Of the institute are noted
specialists in the field of geography
and history, with Dr. Wallace M. At
wood of Clark University, Mass, as
its president, elected in the 1882
conference in Rio de Janeiro. when
the organization first planned its
next conference, to be held in the
United States.
Dues of each country were figured
on the basis Of 5000 for less than
100000 inhabitants. The United
States, therefore, would have to pay
$4,000 each year for this material
good will"
Mapping of the entire Western
Hemisphere is one of the principal
undertakings Of the institute. The
American Geographic Society of New
York several years ago had to COL
lect and compare maps from each
Of the pan-American nations in order
to construct map of the world on
the scale of 1:1,000,000. This map,
which has been under way for many
years. would be materially assisted,
the institute believes, if each country
contributes its share toward its
construction. Many other geograph-
ical and historical problems remain
to be solved in the future. United
States agencies, educational institu-
tons and interested scholars will be
greatly assisted in these problems.
Hull Issues Statement.
Secretary Hull, in his statement to
Congress, told of the erection of a
handsome building in Mexico City
to house the institution. OF United
States support and membership, he
said:
Mexico, as we'll as other members
of the Pan-American Union, would
view with great qualification the sup
port of the institute by the United
States"
The conference in Washington,
scheduled for some time this Fall.
is expected to last two weeks and
will be attended by diplomats. edu-
Gators, scientists, historians and vari-
Gus other leaders of all the pan
American countries. The President
feels that the United States should
show its interest in this forward
march in education by paying the
expenses of the experts called to-
gether to map a program of activities
for the future maintenance of peace