A similar list of books written in Spanish or Portuguese by South and Central American authors is being prepared. These books will be translated and published in English for circulation mainly in the United States. Among those in contemplation are: Alberdi, Juan Bautista Ameghino, Florentino d'Escragnolle Taunay, Visconde Alfredo Palma, Ricardo Ribeiro, João Rodó, José Enrique Sarmiento, Domingo F. Luz del Día en América Innocencia Las Tradiciones Peruanas El Mirador de Próspero These series of books translated into Spanish and into English will be known as the Inter-America Library. In the Year Book of the Endowment for 1916 (p. 68) reference was made to a North American Library to be sent to the Museo Social Argentino as a gift from the Endowment. About 9,000 bound volumes together with a large number of pamphlets and several hundred maps were shipped from New York in May, 1916. In the shipment was included a card file cabinet containing a card index and a complete set of furniture for the library including bookcases, map racks, cabinet table, desk and chairs. There was further a collection of framed engravings of men prominent in the political and intellectual history of the United States whose names were especially well known in South America. These included:-John Adams, James G. Blaine, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay, Samuel L. Clemens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington Irving, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Marshall, James Monroe, Edgar Allen Poe, William Hickling Prescott, Elihu Root, George Washington, Daniel Webster and Walt Whitman. Dr. Peter H. Goldsmith, director of the Pan American division acted as the representative of the Endowment at the formal presentation of the library which took place July 3, 1916, at Buenos Aires. An engrossed and framed tablet in English and Spanish accompanied the North American Library and now hangs on the wall of one of the rooms occupied by the library. It reads as follows: "This North American Library, designed to serve in the Capital of our great sister Republic as a symbol of good will and as a permanent interpretation of the thought, feelings and activities of the people of the United States is cordially bestowed and legally transferred to the Museo Social Argentino of Buenos Aires by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace pursuant to a resolution of the Executive Committee of its trustees adopted at a meeting held on the seventh day of October, one thousand, nine hundred and fifteen, in the city of New York. JAMES BROWN SCOTT, Secretary." ELIHU ROOT, President. The President of the Museo Social Argentino made formal acknowledgment in the following letter: Dr. James Brown Scott, BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 9, 1916. Secretary, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D. C. In due time we received the collection of books and the furniture which now constitute the North America Library of the Museo Social Argentino. Mr. Peter H. Goldsmith, Director of the Pan-American Division of the Association, directed the arrangement of the library and presided at its official presentation. As soon as this was done, I cabled Dr. Murray Butler the sincere gratitude of the Museo Social Argentino, in order that he might convey the same to the Carnegie Endowment. This expression of gratitude ought to have been conveyed in writing in compliance with a special resolution of the Superior Council, over which I have the honor to preside, but it was decided to await the opportunity of Mr. Goldsmith's return and to ask him to carry this message personally to you. In compliance with the resolution adopted by the Superior Council, I believe it my duty to express, through you, to the Trustees of the Endowment, that no more generous, delicate and effective procedure than that put into practice by them, could have been followed, to contribute to a better reciprocal understanding of our respective countries, and to create cordial relations on the part of the Argentine people toward the great North American Republic and its worthy citizens. From this point of view, the Museo Social Argentino believes that since the memorable visit of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, there has occurred no event of equal importance to the presentation of this North American Library, having in view the fact that its beneficent effects will last for many years, and result in greater efforts for the enlargement of the library. The directing members and professors of our universities and other colleges, the press of the country, the authorities, including His Excellency the President of the Republic, and the general public, have followed with profound interest all the different aspects of your gift and have expressed, enthusiastically and sincerely, their appreciation of it; this event, the moral value of which is much superior to the pecuniary value of the donation, has been recognized as of international importance throughout South America. Mr. Goldsmith had the opportunity to appreciate personally the views herein expressed; and his personal attributes, his tact and his zeal in the discharge of his mission, were an important factor in the attainment of the gratifying results. I sincerely believe that the Endowment could not have selected a more amiable and efficient messenger for the expression of its sentiments, the interpretation of its ideals, the presentation and delivery of its donation and the establishment of new and better relations between the Argentine Republic and its citizens and that worthy Institution and the American people. The Superior Council of the Museo Social Argentino decided to express personally, and particularly to Dr. Goldsmith, this feeling by conferring upon him the title of Corresponding Member of the Institution. Before closing I wish to state to the Directors of the Carnegie Endowment, that it is the firm purpose of the Museo Social Argentino to do all in its power to give a greater impulse to the work of culture and friendship which this North American Library is called upon to fulfil, endeavoring to make it the nucleus of a real home, where the Argentine people as well as the Americans residing in this country can better learn to know each other. At the same time I wish to state that the Superior Council of the Museo Social Argentino is resolved to continue serving, with the same interest as before, a closer rapprochement between our respective countries. Will the General Secretary convey our thanks to the Trustees of the Endowment and accept the expression of my highest consideration? EMILIO FRERS, President. TOMÁS AMADEO, Secretary. The Secretary of the Endowment replied: Dr. Emilio Frers, President, Museo Social Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina. My Dear Sir: December 6, 1916. I am in receipt by the hand of Mr. Goldsmith of your letter of September 9, 1916, in which you express in behalf of yourself and the Superior Council of the Argentine Social Museum the grateful thanks of the organization for the North American Library, recently presented and installed in your library. The very cordial language in which you indicate the gratification and appreciation of the Superior Council and emphasize the value of this library. as an instrumentality to increase the cordial relations between our two countries will be accepted by the Trustees of the Endowment as ample evidence of the wisdom of the Executive Committee in deciding to make this presentation of a carefully selected library representing the development of North American literature, history and political ideas. It was a practical expression of the friendship which the people of the United States earnestly feel towards the people of your magnificent country and all the republics of South and Central America. Thanking you for the cordial and eloquent words in which you convey a reciprocal friendship, and with the hope that the beneficent results you anticipate from the establishment of this North American Library in your beautiful capital will be attained, I remain, my dear sir, Your obedient servant, JAMES BROWN SCOTT, Secretary. Dr. Goldsmith took advantage of the opportunity afforded by his visit to Buenos Aires to visit a number of the other South American republics. In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay he renewed acquaintance with some of the delegates who had attended the Second Pan American Scientific Congress at Washington, D. C. He was cordially received and lavishly entertained everywhere. He also visited a number of schools and colleges, and made a large collection of samples of school children's work, including essays, maps, toys and other handiwork. To this collection he added a large number of South American books and a collection of South American industrial products. All this interesting material is being prepared for use in connection with illustrated lectures to be delivered in educational institutions of the United States. In his report, dated November 25, 1916, Dr. Goldsmith writes: It would be impossible for people to be more genuinely attentive, cordial and helpful than those were whom I encountered during the trip. Everywhere our diplomatic and consular representatives showed the utmost courtesy and friendliness. It is a pleasant manifestation of the appreciation of the guests of the Endowment at the recent scientific congress that they should have manifested everywhere a keen desire to express this appreciation and to extend courtesies and assistance. I have collected the publications which they produced after returning to their several countries, in which they manifest their appreciation and their attitude toward the United States. These publications, the opinions expressed to me personally, and the enthusiasm for everything North American on the part of the Endowment's former guests, is evidence that the action of the Endowment in extending the invitations was wise. Financial. The allotments paid to or through the American Association for International Conciliation during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1916, amounted to a total of $133,321.47, divided as follows: Work of the Association in the United States, in cluding administration and publication.. .$26,300. Pan American Division ... 10,000. Extra expense for enlarged documents containing offi cial papers 26,824.93 Expense of preparing financial report, April 3, 1907, to The Annual Report of the Director of the American Peace Society covers the year ended April 30, 1916. The society is composed of 34 constituent branch societies and three affiliated societies. The largest of these are: Massachusetts Peace Society.. Chicago Peace Society..... Pennsylvania Arbitration Peace Society. 1811 members 579 members 555 members 502 members The Advocate of Peace, published monthly, is the organ of the American Peace Society. It has been increased in size from 24 to 32 pages. Besides the usual sample copies, the total number mailed on May 1, 1916, was 9,600. The number of paid subscriptions was increased by 103 during the year. Sixty different pamphlets are published and distributed. Many other publications are acquired for sale and for free distribution. A campaign for additional funds resulted in special gifts amounting to $890.57. During the year, 900 addresses on international peace were delivered under the auspices of the society. With regard to the Fifth American Peace Congress, the secretary's report says: "The Fifth American Peace Congress was held in San Francisco in connection with the Pan American exposition, October 10, 11 and 12 (1915). The Church Peace Union, the League to Enforce Peace and the American Peace Centenary Committee coöperated with the American Peace Society in making the congress a success." The death, on October 26, of Dr. Benjamin F. Trueblood, Honorary Secretary of the Society, and a life-long worker in the cause of peace, brought deep sorrow to all members of the Society and to Dr. Trueblood's many friends outside of that body. The financial report of the treasurer showed that the total receipts of the American Peace Society were $40,125.60, and the total disbursements $40,324. The allotments made to branch societies amounted to $12,450, and the cost of printing and mailing the Advocate of Peace and various pamphlets was $5,787.15. The subvention granted by the Endowment amounts to 77 per cent of the total receipts of the Society. During the year the Endowment's contributions toward the expenses of the American Peace Society amounted to $31,000. |