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lead quickly to the American Museum's acquisition of the entire collection, have slowed and become cooler recently as the Museum has become fully aware of the magnitude of the problem of housing such an extensive collection. The Foundation is therefore now exploring other alter-natives. Mr. Adams reported that he has indicated that there is little likelihood that the Smithsonian in these times could make a serious move toward acquiring these collections, important as they are. On the other hand, the Secretary has expressed his willingness to visit the collections, to express concern about their condition in an appropriate manner, and to try to give them additional national attention. This is not to be understood as the beginning of a bargaining process for something that would require vast resources; rather, it is designed to help a museum that has marvelous and very important materials but which lies beyond the Smithsonian's reach.

If the collections were given, the Smithsonian would not only inherit contentious problems of rightful ownership of native Americans' religious icons and cultural materials but would also be required to provide housing costing $25-30 million and commensurate operating funds for the indefinite future. The Foundation's assets are insufficient for the current costs of staff and maintenance. A variety of alternatives are being considered and it is uncertain how long it will be before there is a clear resolution. In their discussion the Regents supported Mr. Adams' intention to give this situation national attention and his view that the Institution cannot be considered as an alternate solution to the Heye Foundation's problems for the time being.