Republics of the Western Hemisphere. The efforts of the Bureau in the past, as was indicated in the annual report of the Director for 1897, have, necessarily, been more or less of an experimental character in consequence of the fact that the plan outlined by the International Conference was novel, both in conception and design, and its execution involved the solution of many perplexing problems. It is hoped that solid ground has at length been reached, and strong encouragement for indulging this hope is found not only in the present condition and prospects of the Bureau, but in the fact that the other members of the Union are giving it their active and cordial support. From the report of the Director, it appears that the responses to the recent requests for the payment of the annual contributions of the Latin-American countries to the support of the Bureau have already resulted in the payment by five of them of a sum considerably larger than the whole amount received during the previous fiscal year. It will also be noted that certain members of the International Union which, for some years, have ceased to take an active part now evince a desire to resume their former relations with the Bureau and renew their contributions for its maintenance. Among these is the Argentine Republic, which has just given official notice of its intention. The Director also calls attention to expressions of interest on the part of the Chilean Minister to the United States, which justify the hope that Chile, the only country participating in the International American Conference which did not subsequently become a member of the Union, will decide to avail itself of its privilege, thus completing the solidarity of the American Republics in the effort to weld together and promote the common interests of all. At a time when the thoughts of men are directed more earnestly than ever before to the harvest awaiting the industries and commerce of the United States in other lands, the importance of availing ourselves of the many proffers of friendship from our southern neighbors, in the spirit of fair exchange and mutual helpfulness, is clearly obvious; and when we consider the many points at which the interests and aspirations of the Latin-American Republics coincide with those which are most deeply graven upon our national life, it would seem to be no less evident that every step taken toward a closer identification in sympathies and purposes must contribute sensibly to the economic and social development of our sister Republics as well as of ourselves. From the point of view of its probable usefulness in these directions, the increasing activity of the Bureau of the American Republics on lines which commend themselves especially to the representatives of the other countries of the International Union seems to me to be a subject for special congratulation, and I would respectfully suggest that the attention of Congress be called to the fact that the effort is being made to economize as well as to develop the Bureau's resources, so that its practical utility may be increased. with the least cost to the public treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury, at my request, nas transmitted to Congress the estimates for the Bureau for the next fiscal year, and also the draft of an act permitting the use by the Bureau of amounts received from the other countries during the current fiscal year. The reasons for the proposed legislation are fully stated in communications from the Director of the Bureau accompanying the letters from the Secretary of the Treasury to the House of Representatives, and I hope they will commend themselves to Congress as being fully justified by the actual requirements. I have the honor to indorse the recommendation of the Director that Congress be asked to authorize the printing of 2,500 copies of the annual report for distribution by the Bureau to meet the demands for information as to its present condition and its plans for the future. Respectfully submitted. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, JOHN HAY. Washington, December 30, 1898. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS. BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS, Washington, D. C, December 21, 1898. SIR: In pursuance to instructions from the Executive Committee of the International Union of American Republics, at its meeting on the 17th instant, I have the honor to request that the accompanying report of the operations of the Bureau of the American Republics during the past year, together with a brief synopsis of the proceedings of the Executive Committee at the recent meeting, be submitted to the President, with the view to its transmission to the Congress of the United States. In addition to the announcement in the report that the Republic of Chile may, for the first time, give its active support to the Bureau, I am happy to be able to state that official information has just reached me that the Argentine Republic, which, since 1891, has not contributed to the support of the Bureau, has decided to take the necessary steps for the renewal of its former relations. For this welcome result, special acknowledgment is due the Argentine Minister in Washington, Dr. MARTIN GARCIA MÉROU, who has been at special pains to impress upon his Government the increasing usefulness of the Bureau. In order that the Bureau may be enabled to answer inquiries from many quarters as to its condition and purposes, I would respectfully recommend that Congress be asked to authorize the printing of an edition of 2,500 copies of the annual report for distribution by the Bureau. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, The SECRETARY OF STATE. Director. PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, INTERNATIONAL UNION OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1898. WASHINGTON, D. C., December 17, 1898. The executive committee of the International Union of American Republics met in the diplomatic reception room, Department of State, Saturday, December 17, 1898, at 11 a. m. The meeting was called to order by Hon. JOHN HAY, Secretary of State, as chairman. The other members present were Señor Dr. DoN MARTIN GARCIA MÉROU, Argentine minister. Señor DON JOAQUIN BERNARDO CALVO, Costa Rican minister. Señor DON MANUEL M. PONTE, chargé d'affaires of Venezuela. The Director of the Bureau of the American Republics, Mr. FREDERIC EMORY, was also present. The committee having signified its readiness, the Director read the annual report of the Bureau, after which he explained the leading features of the financial statement, as follows: The first page gives the receipts and expenditures during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898. I did not take charge until the 5th of February, 1898, and the detailed statement on the next page will show how I expended the money during the remainder of the fiscal year. Page 3 is a statement of the receipts and expenditures from July 1, 1898, to November 30, 1898, and this is important, because it shows the existing condition of the Bureau and its resources. The annual appropriation was $36,000 and the expenditures from that appropriation were $19,430.79, leaving a balance December 1, 1898, of the appropriation of $16,569.21. The receipts from advertisements and sales of Commercial Directory and other publications amount altogether during this period, July 1 to November 30, to $17,812.35, the expenditures to $16,078.85, leaving a balance of $1,733.50. To that I have added the face value of the advertising December 1, 1898, $16,500, and uncollected bills, $8,000, showing the total resources of the Bureau December 1, 1898, to be $42,802.71. The fourth table shows the expenditures made by me since the 1st of July to the 1st of December in detail, and in that statement appears an item-commissions on contract prior to March 1, 1898-which means that those commissions were earned before I took charge of the Bureau and that I have been settling them as well as I could. The ARGENTINE MINISTER (Mr. MÉROU): We find the report of Mr. EMORY to be very satisfactory, and we can fully approve it. It is very gratifying to be informed that the Government of Chile may come into the Union with the other Latin-American countries and unite with us, thus making it complete. I think perhaps it would be well to put upon the record some expression of this committee's pleasure in that regard. The MINISTER FROM COSTA RICA (Mr. CALVO): I fully concur with the suggestion of the minister from Argentina, and hope the Director of the Bureau will be authorized to express to the minister of Chile the sincere desire of the committee that Chile may come into the Union. The CHAIRMAN: In accordance with the expressions of the committee, the Director will please communicate to the minister from Chile the gratification of the committee at the prospect of Chile becoming a member of the Union. |