THE UNIVERSE OF INFORMATION.pdf - ideals

(1) How much could the IIB spend efficiently per year beginning at
once under present conditions, i. e., with the uncertainty as to Brussels
Palais Mondial, etc?
(2) How much could the IIB spend efficiently per year (on operating
expenses, not including equipment, moving, etc.) as soon as establisht
in Geneva?
(3) With how small an appropriation would you be prepared to move
to Geneva at once? We figured out the need for $ 5,000,000 and I said
it would require at least $ 1,000,000 to move with temporary housing
etc. but I think I can see where even with $ 500,000 it would be
possible to start firmly establisht on our own territory in fire proof
housing.. . 40
He talked with representatives from various foundations in
America (such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie
Corporation) and found, as he reported to Richardson,
«despite the general undercurrent of distrust of Otlet and La
Fontaine growing out of a lack of comprehension of their larger
plans and underlying world center conceptions... an
unexpectedly definit spirit of rediness to co-operate...» 41
In February Otlet furnished Dewey with the financial information
he had requested. A total of $92,000 could be spent
efficiently at once. In Geneva, a budget of $300,000 a year
would permit the completion of the RBU in ten years, though
a sum of $62,000 would be needed to make the move thither. 42
At this time, as the first anniversary of the eviction from
the Palais Mondial approached, a debate was held in the Belgian
Parliament on the Palais Mondial and the relations of
Belgium with the Committee for Intellectual Co-operation.
Jules Destree who had been appointed the Committee on
Intellectual Co-operations representative on the IIB Council,
spoke against the Palais Mondial. This was a betrayal in Otlet's
view. In an act «whose boldness I don't deny», Otlet
reported that he interrupted Parliament upon the resumption
one week later of the debate in which Destree had spoken.
He reminded Parliament very strongly «of our existence and
our history. The ministers —and this was one of my aims —
were moved and we have received a letter from them...» 43
The anniversary of the eviction was formally celebrated.
What Dewey thought of all this emotion of betrayal, recrimination
and defiance, it is hard to say. It is also hard to say
how effective Otlet was being in promoting the cause of the
Palais Mondial especially after the League quite definitely
agreed to the establishment of the Paris Institute for Intellectual
Co-operation. Otlet's mind was fixed now on abandoning
Belgium and moving lock, stock and barrel to Geneva. There
had been a suggestion that the new Paris Institute might take
over the Institution of the Palais Mondial, though the amount
of space needed for the Museum especially, was regarded as
a serious drawback. 44 Otlet was unenthusiastic and possibly
even suspicious of this overture made through Julien Luchaire,.
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