PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS

701 · which, with few exceptions, has been the rule. We in the United States and, indeed, in all the Americas remember that our population stems from many races and kindreds and tongues. Often, I think, we Americans offer up the silent prayer that on the continent of Europe, from which the American Hemisphere was principally colonized, the years to come will break down many barriers of intercourse between nations-barriers which may be historic, but which so greatly, through the centuries, have lead to strife and hindered friendship and normal intercourse.

The United States stands today as a completely homogeneous nation, similar in its civilization from coast to coast and from north to south, united in a common purpose to work for the greatest good of the greatest number, united in the desire to move forward to better things in the use of its great resources of nature and its even greater resources of intelligent, educated manhood and womanhood, and united in its desire to encourage peace and goodwill among all the nations of the world.

Born of that unity of purpose, that knowledge of strength, that singleness of ideal, two great expositions, one at each end of the continent, mark this year in which we live. And it is fitting that they commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of our permanent government.

Opened two months ago, the exposition on the magic island in San Francisco Bay presents to visitors from all the world a view of the amazing development of our Far West and of the neighbors of the American continent and the nations of the isles of the Pacific. Here at the New York World's Fair many nations are also represented-most of the nations of the world-and the theme is "The World of Tomorrow."

This general and, I might almost say, spontaneous participation by other countries, is a gesture of friendship and good will toward the United States for which I render grateful thanks. It is not through the physical exhibits alone that this gesture has manifested itself. The magic of modern communications makes possible a continuing participation by word of mouth itself. Already, on Sunday afternoon radio programs, no fewer than seventeen foreign nations have shown their good will to this country since the 1st of January.

In many instances the chiefs of state in the countries taking part in the programs have spoken, and in every case the principal speaker has extended greetings to the President of the United States. In this place and at this time, as we open this New York

World's Fair, I desire to thank all of them and to assure them that we, as a nation, heartily reciprocate all of their cordial sentiments.

All who come to this World's Fair in New York and to the exposition in San Francisco will receive the heartiest of welcomes. They will find that the eyes of the United States are fixed on the future. Our wagon is hitched to a star.

But it is a star of good will, a star of progress for mankind, a star of greater happiness and less hardship, a star of international good will, and, above all, a star of peace. May the months to come carry us forward in the rays of that hope.

I hereby dedicate the New York World's Fair of 1939 and declare it open to all mankind.

ADDRESS OF HONORABLE HERBERT H. LEHMAN

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

I AM greatly honored in having the privilege of participating today in the dedication of this great fair.

Here we have living proof of the divine blessings, of material resources and spiritual strength which have been granted to our people. On these grounds there are exhibited the fruits of our industry, of our mines, and of our laboratories. But on every hand there is symbolized something far more precious, more typical of America than material progress our faith in our destiny and our confidence in our future. Men elsewhere may doubt the days that lie ahead; here we accept adversity with hopeful and confident hearts. Our nation was born in struggle and in sacrifice. It is not new for our people to surmount obstacles and bring order out of chaos. We shall do so again.

One hundred and fifty years ago on this very day the first President of the United States was inaugurated in this city. His illustrious successor the thirty-second in the line of Presidents-is here with us today. It is a young nation that has had only thirty-two rulers. It is virile and imaginative; capable and resourceful. Free men everywhere look toward our land for leadership and guidance. Mr. President, we are proud that in these dangerous days they have not looked in vain.

It is almost unbelievable, standing amidst this great pageant of material progress, that there are yet hidden from man two great secrets of the social relationship in which man must live. One is the secret of how to distribute the fruits of the field, of the mill,

GOVERNOR LEHMAN'S ADDRESS

703 of the laboratory, so that all may have a sufficiency of the goods of the world, goods for which they are willing to exchange the toil of their hands and the sweat of their brows. The other is the secret of living together in understanding and friendship, in tolerance and in good-will. I pray that some day-in the "world of tomorrow" these secrets, too, will be revealed to us. It is not too hopeful to believe that the day will come when we will build a world in which men will seek to help their neighbors, not to harm them; a world of which the keystone will be justice, equality, and tolerance; a world in which right will ever be the master of might.

This fair will bring to our state a great army of visitors from every other state in the Union and from every other country on the face of the globe We will learn from them, and I hope they may learn something from us. The exchange of ideas and views which come when people meet in cordial relationship will inevitably lead to a more sympathetic understanding of each other's philosophy and problems.

The fair, I am certain, will bring a clearer realization of our resources and hopes and ideals as a nation. It will bring to our millions of visitors a better appreciation of the part that New York City and New York State play in the economic and social life of the nation.

The citizens of the State of New York, are a hospitable people. They will seek during the months of the fair to show our visitors that New York wants nothing in her own self-interest which is against the interest of other peoples. We in this state believe that our larger interests lie with every other part of the nation. This momentous undertaking has been conceived with broad vision and has been executed with singular and signal success. It will be the means of demonstrating that all parts of our country are linked in a common interest-that what affects the happiness and prosperity of one part affects the happiness and prosperity of all.

We of New York want to share with the rest of the nation whatever is good in our life and in our experience. We want to know what people in other parts of the country have done so that we, in turn, can profit by their experience and achievements. We will eagerly welcome to the State of New York all those who do us honor by coming to us from our own country and from abroad. I can promise that they will be received by the people of the State of New York with heartfelt cordiality and that in whatever part of the state they may travel they will receive a warm and friendly welcome.

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ADDRESS OF HONORABLE F. H. LAGUARDIA

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

MR. PRESIDENT, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, on behalf of the people of the City of New York, I bid you welcome. As the host city, the people extend a cordial invitation to all our neighbors throughout the United States to honor us with a visit to this inspiring fair.

Among the many exhibits of science, industry, commerce, may I point to one exhibit which I hope all visitors will note, and that is the City of New York itself.

Not what you will see in the city's exhibit, but our exhibit to the whole world is that in a city of seven and one-half million people, coming from every land and every country, and children of these people who have come from every country in the world, live here together in peace and harmony. And for that we claim we are most unselfish about it, and pray and hope that other countries may copy. All we do is to let every man and woman have a say in their own government, and we have eliminated artifical stimulus of hatred. That is New York City's contribution to the world's fair.

And now, Mr. Whalen, please accept the thanks of the mayor and through him of the people of this city to you for the direction, and to you men out there who built this fair-go our thanks and gratitude.

Mr. President, you are always welcome to New York City. In fact, you belong here. And I know that your greatest thrill must have been this morning as you were received by hundreds of thousands of people who waited your arrival and cheered you on the way to this fair.

We are indeed fortunate and should give thanks that we are living in a country that refuses to admit that out of all the marvelous things that you will find in this fair it is impossible for men and women to live properly. Yet the United States has another exhibit, not necessarily found in the various halls, and that is that in periods where other countries were suffering we built and constructed an ideal throughout the United States of the vision and the dignity of the leader of the Republic.

Finally, New York City will welcome our visitors with open arms not only today, the opening of the fair, but all through the fair and every day thereafter. The city of today greets the world of tomorrow.

WELCOME OF THE CITY

ADDRESS OF HONORABLE SIR LOUIS BEALE

K. C. M. G., C. B. E.

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COMMISSIONER GENERAL FOR HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSIONERS GENERAL OF THE PARTICIPATING FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS

I HAVE the great honor, on this memorable occasion, commemorating the inauguration-150 years ago of the beloved first President of the United States, from whose great qualities of heart and mind all peoples have benefited, to speak on behalf of the foreign commissioners general to the New York World's Fair, and in their name to say, first, how much we have enjoyed working with the administrators of the fair and with their officials, and how much we have appreciated their cooperation and the spirit of harmony which has prevailed in all our relations. Speaking with even greater emphasis, I must then express the pride and satisfaction of the nations represented at the fair at being associated with the people of the United States of America in this event of world-wide significance.

The President of the United States invited the countries of the world to come to New York to play each its part in this historic parade of national achievement; they have responded with enthusiasm and sincerity to his gracious invitation. There are here represented nearly sixty of the nations of the world. Every country, deeply sensible of the privilege of participation, is seeking to make fully and faithfully a contribution, national and patriotic, it is true, but a contribution worthy of this great occasion, based on friendship and acceptable to the people of this great nation-a contribution which shall play a real and important part in the magnificent international pageant which is now spread before us.

The word "friendship" denotes exactly and faithfully the spirit of foreign participation at the World's Fair, and I am persuaded that the spirit of friendship inspires all who are here responsible for any form of participation and will equally animate all who come as visitors from all quarters of the world.

Those of you who have been able to make a tour through the fairgrounds at any time during the past few weeks will have been given a sure promise of a beauty which will gladden the eye and heart of every visitor. The majestic scale of the fair, the bold conception of its planning, and the masterly execution of the work, both in building and landscaping, have insured an outstanding achievement.