LANSflv 
THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
WASHINGTON 
December 21, 1815. 
My dear Dr. Holmes: 
I am writing this line in order to emphasize as much 
as possible the responsibility which rests upon the United 
States Oiiicial Delegation io the forthcoming Pan-American 
Scientific Congress. At the two recent meetings of the 
delegation held in the Department, preparations for the 
Congress have been outlined and matters of general interest 
have been discussed. The individual duties of the delegates, 
however, have not been fixed, nor is it indeed possible to 
define these duties, I hope, however, that this fact has 
not conveyed the impression that your responsibilities in 
the Congress are not distinct and of grave importance. As 
a matter of fact, 
our guests from the Latin- American countries, 
and also 
tut ions 
the host 
will res 
from the various universities and educational insti- 
in this country are looking to the United States as 
s of the Congress and the success of the enterprise 
t largely on the shoulders of our delegation. 
1 have taken the liberty of writing to you in this mat- 
ter in the nope that you will be able to spend considerable 
time between now and December 27th in coming in touch with 
the 
