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^[[checkmark]] [[preprinted] EDWARDS JAMES MATHEWS 420 LEXINGTON AVENUE NEW YORK ROOM 3019 TEL MOHAWK 4-1917 [[/preprinted]] December 14, 1932. In Re: Rockefeller Center. Mr. Germain Seligmann, 3 E. 51st St., New York City. Dear Mr. Seligmann: I found our conversation last night most interesting and believe that we made some progress towards a working basis for international exhibitions. One point which I should like to emphasize is that while we are all agreed that the arts are international, the structure of Rockefeller Center is such that the national buildings must serve as centers for the display of all national products and for the housing of representatives of the individual European countries. While art is international, there can be no question each one of the European countries occupying a building in Rockefeller Center will, to some degree, find ^[[in the building]] representation for their artistic products both in the fine and industrial arts. It is, therefore, essential that until the leasing of these buildings is complete, that no agency be developed which might in anyway draw off the prospective tenants for these buildings. Rockefeller Center has placed the responsibility for such leasing in the hands of European syndicates and cannot at this time develop the foreign field in such countries as plan to occupy buildings in the Center, since it is inevitable that such promotional work on the part of Rockefeller Center would eventually conflict with the promotional work of the foreign syndicates. If however, the national buildings have not succeeded in developing the artistic field to its ultimate possible extent it will, undoubtedly, be possible, once their plans are clear to us, for us to procede along lines which seem to us sound in developing this field. At the present time it is not clear just what work is being done towards the representation of the arts by the French syndicate headed by Senator Jean Phillip. I shall try to keep posted on the plan for the French building and will let you know when I am in a position to report to you as to what agencies have been developed for bringing in exhibitions of French art. When the time comes I am sure it will be possible to develop the general European field for a group of international exhibitions and even to draw from the countries represented by buildings such exhibitions as have not already been planned by the controlling syndicates. ^[[ [[underlined]] ]] Until such time ^[[ [[/underlined]] ]] I think we should ^[[underlined]] confine ourselves to [[/underlined]] a consideration of the following questions: 1. What non-permanent exhibitions of European work might appropriately be held in a building of the character of the one under discussion? This would mean working with the several national art associations. 2. What can be drawn from countries not contemplating having national buildings, in the form of work in the fine and applied arts? ^[[ [[vertical line in front of the previous 2 paragraphs]] ]] I am sure you will understand our anxiety not to interfere with the work being done by the European syndicates and see that the national basis which has been established at Rockefeller Center makes it, at the present time, impossible to discuss an [[underlined]] international [[/underlined]] scheme at the present time. I will look forward to hearing from you upon this matter and in continuing our discussion, as eventually I feel sure that once the national building problem is resolved we will find an opportunity of developing the international one. Very sincerely yours, [[signed]] [[underlined]] E J Mathews [[/signed]] [[/underlined]]
