military and naval forces and material necessary to defend the national rights and liberties of the American people against forcible foreign aggression. The Trustees of the Endowment do not constitute an association for the expression of opinions. They are charged with the administration of a fund and the expenditure of its income in such a way as in their judgment seems best calculated to promote the cause of international peace. In the performance of that duty, the Endowment has done all it could to aid in increasing the effectiveness of a great number and variety of efforts to promote good understanding and good feeling between the peoples of different countries, and to spread among the people of the United States and other countries a correct knowledge of international duties and rights and of the principles of international intercourse, upon which alone peace can be maintained; but never for a moment have the Trustees assented to the false and pernicious doctrine that peace can be promoted by the failure of a great nation to maintain its just and substantial rights. Mutual respect for international rights is the essential basis of durable peace, and the nation which does not insist upon that respect fails in its duty not only to its own liberty, but to the peace of the world. Appointment of the Assistant Treasurer Owing to the absence of the Treasurer for some months from a point convenient to the headquarters of the Endowment at Washington, it was found advisable to appoint an Assistant Treasurer to perform the duties and exercise all the powers of the Treasurer. Pursuant to Article VI, Section 2, of the ByLaws, the Executive Committee on January 4, 1917, appointed to this position Mr. Andrew J. Montague, a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Executive Committee, who has since entered upon the performance of his duties. The Committee, in compliance with Article X, Section 2, of the By-Laws, has caused the accounts of the Association to be audited by a skilled accountant, whose report will be laid before the Board. The Board will be called upon at its present meeting to fill two vacancies in the Executive Committee, arising because of the expiration of the terms of Messrs. Nicholas Murray Butler and Austen G. Fox, and to elect in regular course the President, Vice-President, and Finance Committee. At the last annual meeting of the Board, a resolution was adopted referring to the Executive Committee, for consideration and report, the question of changing the name of the Endowment to read "Carnegie Endowment for International Justice." The Committee has considered this question and reports that it is inexpedient to change the name of the Endowment at this time. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: Secretarial Duties In his preceding annual reports, the Secretary has described the gradual evolution of the headquarters office, corresponding in degree to the increase in the work, and improving in methods and efficiency as the character of this work has developed and the training of the clerical force increased. In his last report,' the Secretary took occasion to demonstrate by a summary of the work performed in the headquarters during the two preceding years that last year there was a considerable increase in the work of his office over that of the year before. He does not consider it necessary again to make such a demonstration this year, beyond the statement that there has been no diminution in the work of the office during the year which has just closed. It is now the fact that the same number of clerks are able to handle the largely increased work of the office, and no provision for an increase in the number of clerks is included in the estimates submitted. The Secretary has maintained a general supervision over the administration of the affairs of the Endowment. Since the last meeting of the Trustees he has arranged the business for seven meetings of the Executive Committee and prepared the minutes of these meetings for the permanent records of the Endowment. He has conducted the correspondence, kept proper records and accounts of the Endowment's receipts and disbursements, and counter-signed all checks and drafts for the payment of money. The accounts of the Association have been audited by accountants appointed by the President of the Endowment and their report, which will be submitted to the Board at its annual meeting, will show the care and efficiency with which the financial end of the Endowment's work has been attended to. The Secretary has, in addition, continued to act as the Special Adviser to the Department of State, and as the Chairman of the Joint State and Navy Neutrality Board. The Endowment has continued its courtesy to the Government in permitting the office of the Neutrality Board to be maintained in the headquarters building.2 1 Year Book for 1916, p. 25. 2 Since this report was submitted, the Neutrality Board has been disbanded, by the Sec Distribution of Publications The Endowment has become a great publishing and distributing center; and some details of the distribution during the past year may be of interest. Of the nine publications of the Division of Intercourse and Education, there have been distributed during the year 2,998 copies, in response to requests. It is interesting to note that 1,569 copies of Dr. Eliot's Some Roads towards Peace have been sent out during the year, although it was published in 1914. The several editions of this report have totaled 25,369 copies. The demand for Mr. Robert Bacon's Reports of his South American trip, both in the English and Spanish editions, has continued without diminution. The editions of Numbers 2 and 5 have long since been exhausted. Of the publications of the Division of International Law, there have been distributed during the year 24,179 copies, including 13,389 copies of the pamphlet series. The Year Book for 1915 has gone to 11,485 addresses, and the edition is now practically exhausted. The total number of pieces distributed, including books and pamphlets, was 40,279. The printed list of the publications of the Endowment, referred to in the last report of the Secretary, has proved a valuable aid in the intelligent distribution of these publications, and has been several times reprinted. It affords an effective method of answering the many letters of inquiry as to the work of the Endowment and the character of its publications. This list accompanies this report (see page 205). The regular mailing lists of the Secretary's office now totaling about 25,000 addresses, are increasing so rapidly that it has become necessary to make a careful revision, and inquiries by postal card correspondence are now in progress to that end. retary of State, in the following letter: MY DEAR DOCTOR SCOTT: Department OF STATE, In view of the declaration of the existence of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government made by Congress on April 6th last, it appears unnecessary to continue the Joint State and Navy Neutrality Board for the consideration of questions arising out of the European war while the United States was a neutral. I therefore suggest that the Board be disbanded, and that a copy of this letter be sent to each of the members thereof for his information. Allow me to add that, in my estimation, the work of the Board as an advisory body has been of the highest order, and that, while it has not always been expedient to follow the recommendations of the Board, its well-considered opinions have been of very great assistance to the Department in formulating the policies which it has announced and pursued during the period of American neutrality. I desire, therefore, to express to the Board my deep appreciation of the splendid service rendered and the unstinted time and labor given by each member to his Government during one of the most critical periods of the history of the United States. With my warm regards and sincere good wishes, DOCTOR JAMES BROWN SCOTT, Chairman, Very sincerely yours, (Signed) ROBERT LANSING. Joint State and Navy Neutrality Board. |