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33 Ferry Avenue East,
Detroit, Michigan,
February 22nd, 1908.

T. MASUDA, Esquire,
Mitsui Banking Corporation,

Tokio, Japan.

DEAR MR. MASUDA,

I have just returned from a ten days visit in New York and hasten to write concerning the proposed Exhibition of Japanese Art as mentioned in your letter of January 21st, 1908. We had two conferences, one on Tuesday Evening at the Nippon Club, and the other on the following evening at the Plaza. The following gentleman attended both meetings: Consul-General Midzuno, Mr. Fukui of your Company, Dr. Takamine, Mr. Hayashi, Mr. Ushikubo, Mr. Yamanaka, Prof. Fenollosa, Prof. Dow and myself.

Messrs. Midzuno and Fukui gave very interesting reports of the wishes of yourself and associates, and I read your letter to me. Deep interest in the subject was manifested by all present, and, I think, we all appreciate the greatness of the kindness of yourself and associates. We discussed many questions which are likely to arise in the matter and the time of the Exhibition, and we agreed that because of the great important of the collection you propose to send, it should not be seen in New York alone, but also in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit. If this plan prevails, an enormous amount of hard work will ensue and the gentlemen who were at the meeting unanimously decided that it would be necessary to enlist the assistance of a large number of gentlemen who are to be known in a body as an Executive or Central Committee. Upon this body of gentlemen, all responsibilities will rest, and it will remain for them to do everything necessary to make the Exhibition a grand success. This executive committee will be drawn from leading citizens of all the cities named and will number upwards of twenty men. We have invited well-known men whom we deem in every way competent to act upon this Committee, and if we can secure their cooperation, we feel that the Exhibition can be carried out at all of the Cities above mentioned. Of course, if we cannot secure the cooperation of first-class citizens in all of the various cities named, we will be compelled to exhibit the collection in a fewer number of cities.