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Every effort is being made to raise donations to meet the expenses of the Smithsonian participation in the Edinburgh Festival. The total budget amounts to $900,000 and includes $600,000 for the exhibition, $20,000 for symposia, $120,000 for musical performances, and $160,004 staff travel, receptions, and other expenses and contingencies. To date several generous donations have amounted to approximately $200,000, and a number of approaches to corporate and individual sponsors have yet to be answered. While he remains hopeful that the Smithsonian participation will be supported with raised funds, the Secretary recommended that unrestricted trust funds serve as a back-up; accordingly it was

VOTED that the Board of Regents endorses the Smithsonian's participation in the Edinburgh Festival. To the extent that budgeted items cannot be financed with funds donated, for these purposes the Secretary may draw upon the Institution's unrestricted trust funds with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Board Of Regents.

[[underline]]The Estate of Countess Bismarck[[/underline]]
Mr. Ripley reported that Countess Mona Bismarck, a long-time friend, admirer, and benefactor of the Smithsonian, died in July 1983 and then her Will bequeathed to the Mona Bismarck Foundation her extensive property on the Island of Capri, Italy. Knowing of the Countess Bismarck's interests, the Foundation is interested in turning over the villa to the Smithsonian to operate it as a cultural center, suitable for exhibitions of American Art, seminars, etc. as the Smithsonian maintains a presence at the American Academy in Rome and anticipates increasing involvement in Mediterranean nations in the forthcoming Center for Asian, Middle Eastern and African Cultures, the villa could become a focus for historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific communication. In mid-May Secretary Ripley will visit the site, talk with the executors, and will report further on its suitability for Smithsonian purposes.

[[underline]]The Archaeology of Israel[[/underline]]
each member of the Board of Regents had received two letters from Congressman Bill Green (and a copy of a reply Mr. Humelsine) regarding the Archaeology of Israel exhibition. The Regents discussed this correspondence and related facts candidly and fully. They reviewed the chronology of the Smithsonian's planning for the exhibition and particularly the circumstances which caused the Israeli Museum to decide not to go through with it. During the course of the review, it became clear to the Regents that questions indeed were raised by outside parties about the title to a few of the more than 300 objects under consideration. In the circumstances the Regents did not believe it appropriate to change the position which the Secretary and his staff of taken. Mr. Humelsine agreed to communicate these conclusions to Mr. Green.