P. s 
I just had a talk with Dr. Steelman. He is leaving for Puerto Ric© 
Friday with the President and they will return March 5 . As soon as possible 
after his return, there will be a brief meeting of the Committee at the White 
House. The agenda for that meeting will be arranged by Dr. Steelman, and myself. 
I quizzed Dr. Steelman as to funds and he said that he had talked with 
Staats at the Bureau of the Budget and with Webb about this matter. I asked 
him why the funds could not be taken from the President’s Emergency Fund, and 
he said that in view of recent criticism by Congress they thought it best not 
to. In fact, he thought the entire amount was already allocated. I told 
him that I considered it poor business to launch a committee by levying an 
assessment, and he said he agreed absolutely, and that he would see Webb again 
to see whether the Bureau of the Budget could not raise the funds necessary 
for this purpose without assessing the agencies represented on the committee. 
Dr. Steelman said he would call me again before he left to see if some method 
could not be worked out. 
A letter has been received from the Secretary of State asking for 
recommendations of the Smithsonian Institution as to the desirability of 
accepting the invitation received from the Peruvian Embassy to send repre¬ 
sentatives to the Second Inter-American Conference on Indian Life to be held at Cuzco, 
Peru, June 24 to July 4. In case we so recommend, they would suggest suitable 
persons to attend as official delegates of the United States. George Foster 
would be the man, but since he may be in Syria if we receive Mundt Bill funds, 
probably either Holmberg, now located in Peru, or Rowe in Colombia could attend. 
Both are good men and know all the Peruvians. I have sent an air mail letter 
to George for recommendation. Frank Roberts believes these would be the 
wisest choice. 
