Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1912 [PAGE 192]

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148

UNIVEKSITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Julie 13

Mr. Holt has requested me to take charge of the undertaking, and to endeavor to perfect a plan by which it can be established and carried out. I beg, therefore, to offer for your consideration and approval the following: 1. That six universities—Yale, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Virginia, Illinois, and Minnesota—shall cooperate in carrying forward this undertaking. 2. That tl\e representatives of Japan shall be in residence for approximately four wTeeks at each of the Universities, named, and shall give such lectures, conduct such seminars and conferences, and do such other appropriate work as may be arranged for in each case. It is suggested that while in residence at each of the six institutions successively, opportunity might be found for the Japanese lecturer to address chambers of commerce, boards of trade, scientific and literary societies, and other organizations in cities and towns of the vicinity. 3. For the visiting Japanese lecturer the six institutions named would incur no pecuniary obligation apart from whatever attentions they might wish to show him individually. 4. It is proposed that every second year the presidents of these six institutions, or representatives designated by such presidents, shall select the representatives to be sent from America to Japan, and that the sum of $3,000.00 shall be provided for him as an honorarium in lieu of expenses. The money cost, therefore, for each of the six institutions named would be $500.00 every second year. There appears to be no reason why the representative of the United States to be sent to Japan should* necessarily be an officer* of any one of the six cooperating universities, or indeed that he should be a university officer at all. It may at times be desirable to send as such representative a public man or a man of affairs. . * It is believed that such a plan as proposed above will work easily and without friction, and that by participating in it the several universities named can join in rendering a distinct service to the people of the United States and to thpse of Japan. Should the plan be put in operation I am perfectly rea'dy to have this office conduct the necessary correspondence and carry on the business negotiations, if that would be agreeable to the heads of the other institutions concerned. I take pleasure in laying this plan before you, and should be glad to have an early expression of your feeling in regard to it. Sincerely yours,

NICHOLAS MUKKAY BUTLER.

P. S.—1. There is reason to believe that an endowment may be given for the support of the American lecturer in Japan. In that case the suggested contribution from each' of the cooperating universities would soon be unnecessary. .2. If this plan is approved, Japan is^ready to send to America in October Dr. Nitobe, who is reputed to be the leading educator of Japan and who speaks English fluently. I t was moved that the president of the University be authorized to enter into the arrangement suggested by President Butler, with the understanding t h a t the arrangements may be terminated at any time by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. This motion was passed by the following vote: Ayes, Mr. Abbott, Mrs. Bahrenburg^ Mrs. Busey, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Grout, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Moore; noes, n o n e ; absent, Mr. Anthony, Mr. Blair, Mr. Deneen, Mr. Meeker." HANDBOOK FOR FRESHMEN.* 4. A request from Professor T. A. Clark, dean of men, that he be authorized to publish for the University a s*mall book containing information about the University and its activities which could be presented to each freshman