Evening star., 1949-12-31
Fairs Picture of World Center Fades

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agreed to participate in WASH
ington's Freedom Fair. despite an
elaborate Sesquicentennial Com
mission brochure which halls "the
great international Center" as one
of the fair features, it was learned
today.
An official working closely with
the Sesquicentennial, who declined
to be quoted directly. said foreign
diplomats here feel the commits
sion is asking their government to
pay too much for participation.
Some also said they have not been
given full information about the
fair, he added.
Edward Boykin, commission di-
rector, has said the Federal Gov
ernment will be given free space,
at cost of about 100000. for
exhibits.
The commission said foreign
participants will pay $40 a square
foot for space, and will have to
pay for electricity they use. Earlier,
it was suggested by Mr.. Boykin
that they pay $50 a square foot
the amount American industry will
be charged.
Meanwhile, the brochure, which
spoke glowingly of the "Interna-
tional Center" posed another
problem with the commission s
Executive Committee proposing
postponement of the fair for a
year. About $4,000 copies placing
the opening date at July 4, 1850,
have just come off the press.
Foreign representatives felt that
countries receiving Marshall Plan
aid from the United States might
have been criticized for spending
their American dollars here to ad-
vertise themselves. Because the
Freedom Fair was advertised as a
cultural display, the foreign lands
could not sell their wares there
The brochure was prepared by
Robert E. Fowler and Associates
a private publicity firm, with
headquarters in the Dupont Circle
Building. Mr.. Fowler, director OF
public relations and advertising OF
the commission, with headquarters
at 1400 Pennsylvania avenue NV,
said 25, 900 copies of the brochure
have been printed. He declined to
tell its cost.
James E. league, architect with
the Byrne Organization, 2607 Con-
necticut avenue NV, the COM
missions architectural and engi-
neering consultants. had a hand
in preparing the brochure.
While foreign government
sources said they had not yet re-
ceived a copy of this brochure
they were anxious to get full in
formation about the Freedom
Fair. so they can transmit this
intelligence to their home govern
ments. At least this was the case
until Sesquicentennial officials
yesterday postponed the fair to
1851.
They said they had been unable
to obtain sufficiently detailed in
formation from the commission to
send home so that their govern
ments could decide whether or
not to participate in the Fair.
The brochure has this to say
about the international Center as
a feature of the Fair:
"The great international Center
is expected to be an extremely
colorful focal point of attraction
to Freedom Fair visitors. Contain
ing approximately 10000 square
feet of exhibit area, the Center
will house the historical, cultural
and economic exhibits Of many
nations. In addition. it viii pro-
vide unique restaurant facilities
serving native foods from all over
the world. It will also contain a
large Festival Court for the stag
ing OF programs of native music
pageants and other forms of color
full entertainment expressive Of
the history, art and culture Of the
participating countries"
! The State Department, acting or
behalf of the commission, had Of.
ficially invited nearly 80 foreign
countries, including Russia ane
her satellites, to participate in tn.
Freedom Fair.
But, because of the tactics O
the commission, foreign exhibitor
were being scared away and IL
feeling was being generated, &C
cording to those in close toucl
with the situation. The foreign
officials felt a charge of Is pc
square foot would have been {
reasonable exhibit cost space, /
there was to have been an,
charge. Mr.. Fowler said the bro
chure was being sent to Senator
and REPRESENTATIVES. travel agen
cies. trade associations, leader
OF industry, Government agencie
and others. He described 1t as g,
promotion and information piec'
to tell about the Freedom Fair
what it does and where 1t will be-
He said it is aimed primarily a
potential buyers OF exhibit spac'
at the Fair. He declared thl
brochure job was handled on .
competitive bid basis"