Empty Promises?

The destruction of the Louvain University in Belgium, particularly its magnicent Library--"that cradle of the finest religious and scientific thought from the earliest dawn of the Renaissance"--was part of the cost that heroic Belgium paid for opposing the Germans in 1914. It was out of admiration for Belgium's brave stand that Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, representing the people of the U. S., offered to rebuild and restock the Library.

The sum originally required was $250,000. Dr. Butlet and a National Committee of the U. S. raised twice the necessary amount. It was a generous response to a worthy appeal, but about 18 months ago the U. S. public stopped giving, although the amount was found to be insufficient for the work. Consequently the Library is not half finished and further work has had to be stopped for lack of funds.

Dr. Butler explained this apparent failure on the part of the U. S. people by slating that the "rising costs and more elaborate plans for construction" had doubled the original estimates; thus it has become necessary to raise another $500,000. Continuing, Dr. Butler said:

"It was the unanimous judgment of the committee that this additional sum could not be raised by a multitude of small gifts, but that resort must be had to a different method and that a relatively small number of large gifts must be sought. For this task the committee as earlier organized was no longer needed, since individual effort must be relied upon to secure these larger gifts.

"That individual effort is now being made by various persons, but ii is not yet possible to announce any result of their, efforts. It is hoped, however, that several gifts of $50,000 and $100,000 each may shortly be made in order that the library may be pushed to completion in season for the celebration in 1926 of the 500th anniversary of the establishment of the University of Louvain."

The fact remained, however, that the Louvain Library was not being built--and this fact was brought home to that good friend of Belgium, U. S. Secretary of Commerce Herbert C. Hoover, onetime food controller in that land, by Mgr. Ladeuze, Rector of the University. As the man who has never undertaken anything for Belgium that "has not been completed in the fullest sense," the good Rector appealed to Mr. Hoover for additional aid. Said he: "As you are aware, the construction of the new library was undertaken by an American group headed by Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler some four years ago. Unfortunately, the response to their appeals has proved only partially successful and less than one-third of the necessary construction has been completed.

Said Mr. Hoover: "I am willing lo make inquiries as to the possible support for a renewed effort."