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will get wide publicity, because, in addition to its inherent interest, it could serve as a fulcrum by which other major foundations will note the faith that the highly respected Mellon Foundation has placed in the Institution and will encourage them to do similarly.

TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES AND CONDITIONS IN PANAMA 

Mr. Adams noted that the political and economic difficulties in Panama had not yet had any significant impact on the activities of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Acutely aware of the potential disruptions and dangers to which civil disorders might lead, Smithsonian staff have worked with the Director of STRI in developing a contingency plan and have maintained close liaison with the U.S. Department of State. In response to a question, Dr. Hoffmann indicated that the Smithsonian has about 100 employees (including approximately 50 senior scientists) at STRI, a large number of whom are citizens of Panama or some other nation.

The Secretary added that, in part as a result of the political and economic turmoil over the last several years, the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine has been facing increasing financial difficulties as its primary sponsor, the National Institutes of Health, has effected a change in its funding policy. The Institute's Board of Directors recently authorized its director to close its facilities if conditions warranted. Since many of the activities of the Gorgas Memorial Institute are of interest to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, as well as certain of its assets -- including, but not limited to, its library holdings and equipment -- the Smithsonian has entered into a dialogue with the Institute. It is not yet clear what specific outcome will result from this dialogue, but the Smithsonian staff would be willing to entertain the notion of a Gorgas Wing of STRI, provided that the arrangement could be financed properly and