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Your city station in cooperation with the foreign press association brings you one other international interview this transcribed series is presented in an effort to help a quite our listeners with the changing trends in world opinion each week a panel of foreign correspondents representing the press of various countries interviews a different distinguished guest now to introduce our guest in tonight's international interview here is Seymour and Segal director of radio communications for the city of New York Mr SIEGEL How do you do ladies and gentlemen our guest tonight is Alexander Hamilton a direct descendant of the first treasurer of the United States Mr Hamilton as secretary treasurer of the American Museum of immigration which is planning on October celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty besides being a descendant of one of our country's early stage men Mr Hamilton in his own right has played an important role in preserving America's roads heretick and with us tonight and of you Mr Hamilton top newspaper man of the foreign press will introduce themselves to my nanny today at eight thirty and I am going to pond and. Got a lead. On the oldest. My name is Hans and because of. It. If. Not. All right the first question for Mr Von Brunn Mr Hamilton I'm sure are New Yorkers. To hear that Ellis Island would not be options. And he plans to keep it in that story. Well Mr von Briest my information through Ellis Island I imagine is the same as yours and that is what we read in the newspapers you may have undoubtedly recall that the. Department of Immigration abandoned Ellis Island as an immigration station some years ago and the federal government having no utilitarian purpose at hand as the player that surplus and it was the intention of the federal government to dispose of Ellis Island to the highest better however as we have recently seen in the paper yesterday of the intercession of President Eisenhower and the action to dispose of this tremendous latest Oracle. Of momento of the history of this country and also of New York has been held in abeyance until the federal government has had the opportunity to give it further study because the island itself does not adapt itself in its present form to the purpose that we have in the American Museum of immigration. Mr Stanhope's Mr homo. It used to be traditionally when ever immigrants from Europe came to the United States all over the last century and until now. Arriving in New York Harbor there I used to rest on two landmarks of the harbor the one being Ellis Island riches and lots of pleasant was not apparent to some for immigrants and the second one being the Statue of Liberty greeting them in the name of the United States and the two institutions kind of representing the up with the tools of immigration policy now I understand Ellis Island is appealing in its historical role I understand that the Statue of Liberty hasn't been the both the and the loss of the forthcoming this fall and that you are actively engaged in that could you tell us a little bit about one another's correctness Steinitz each year there is held are on the twenty eighth of October which was the anniversary of the unveiling of the statue a celebration of. Celebration has been held by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars However this year signifying the the change of the name of that clause Ireland to lever the island off of the fact that it is the seventieth anniversary of the UN veiling of the statue a large celebration will be held It is also the commencement of the operation unity of the American Museum of immigration when for the first time we open our appeal to the public to support the museum may I just follow that of for one second Mr Hamilton. I don't know as far as I know this that your liberty is a vote of a French sculptor was in need of but toil the agony that is correct is there a monument for that man and eventually led to this and might that the. To make one for him after all these years played India like quite all in the United States where we've feel vibe going our till the Statue of Liberty we are really growing more just as to Bob founded the sculptor than would be rendered by. Erecting a tablet or a memorial to the sculptor himself it was one of the founders hoped Mr Barch found the when the shrine was originally I'm very honored that the name Bedloe of Ireland would be changed and that the island would be known as Liberty Island This has recently been affected by an act of Congress and in that way in itself we are keeping faith with. The sculptor that might also interest you to know that our into the. Lacking of funds at the time that the statue was originally erected that the base of the statue was never completed and it is our purpose to so complete the base of the statue that that base itself will form the walls of the Museum of immigration Mr Press remaining When are you wonder the first there is the. Museum of immigration in. The basement of the stereo liberty the side of the emitter and so we'd be considered the because in Europe we do not think. Of the Statue of Liberty the Americans know the name of the Ellie's our land there is a really ugly and ominous significance and the sorrows of the people who came to this country not brought to buy the. The Hon he's been very strong feeling very strong in your should be represented thing aside what do you think of the possibility. Of the Leni I agree with you entirely and that is one of the reasons why I have not been able to see the possibilities of Ellis Island as a memorial to the waves of immigration that came into this country because as has been previously pointed out by one of our speakers it is the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty which is so important it was the Statue of Liberty signifying liberty which attracted immigration from abroad it was not the physical. Confines of Ellis Island that motivated them whatsoever and their movement to this country and we feel that the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty is a part so much a part of this whole immigration fact that to even think of Ellis Island as a fitting memorial is beside the point. Mr Brodrick. Never could sort of. Create that struck the. Second time a ship tourists on first and second guess we are not stopped at this only people and two of the stuff you surf Yes Can you explain. The. Explanation I am not too familiar with the formalities. Restrictions of the immigration laws but if I recall correctly. The. Predominating factor in determining whether you should go to Ellis Island or whether you would be permitted to disembark the ship's pier was the financial ability of the immigrant to support himself as is customary in all countries today they are extremely low to open their door was to individuals who may be attracted with the hope of economic prosperity but who actually made turned out to become wards of the state and I think you will find that the first and second class passengers were able to demonstrate their financial independence. Yes if you don't mind Mr McVay to turn to another topic also destroyed. In your field of interest. In New York and its various marks. I have been noticing. The last couple of years. That all of the tone. Buildings. Back to. The first part of the nineteenth. In favor of. Great. Buildings and what have you. Are right on screen which I understand is one of the historical centers of New York this happens every day. Living in New York and so forth and I feel that is. Quite a pity after all your historical buildings as compared to any given. City can afford to ten dollars is nothing. To stand it so I agree with you one hundred percent. Devoted considerable part of my life. Trying to protect these historic buildings to which you refer to. There is any city in the United States. That has less actual buildings standing today that have to do with its actual past than the city of New York it is a fact that there are not four buildings within. New York proper which were built prior to eighteen hundred. It is an extremely deplorable state of affairs and fortunately the federal government and the city government trying to lend their support to protecting a building when it has real historical significance. I think at least one of those four houses prior to it it had that very well and of the immediate neighborhood in UP THE NEW YORK of the house which is one of the few houses and I know of passing by there every day is a quite a lot of people there have a look at it my little daughter was four years. She called the little white house and left to have a side of it and walking into it so I think it would be that. As many of those Or as possible because people seem to be interested in. That and we have fear that these old historical buildings have a tremendous educational value. To both you and to the population of the city and it is fairly trusted that private citizens well lend their support to all movements to try and protect for Prosperity best stage physical vestige of the buildings of the Pat. And many foreign countries if their building has been designated by the local municipal Arts Commission as having historical significance that building cannot be destroyed and those who of you are familiar with Paris know that certain places that is impossible to change the facade of squares I cite for example the platform dome in Paris whereby you can do all kinds of construction back of the blast but you are not permitted by the French government to in any way change the fact that almost more Mr Houghton you mentioned the more four buildings in New York serving the world for eighteen hundred and. Mr Steinitz mention the Dykeman house one of the other three Well one of the most notable that is very close to us here is a city hall and the other one is Francis cabin and there's one more that you recall Well I am aggressively entertained in another building which happens to be the. Residence of my great great grandfather which is located on hundred forty first Street and Convent Avenue this is now known as the Grange and is owned by the American scenic and a star Preservation Society and we aren't ever going to restore that house which will be the fourth building that was actually constructed prior eight hundred Mr Preston leaning coming back to the problem of a museum of immigration which would be very useful very important they've been immigrants have been pain if the mental part of it how many can reach us. And our. Do you all know the great the difficulty in finding the documents about the myth that is the fact that they belong with the dual class not very conscious of themselves and they destroyed all day of documents when I tried years ago to gather some documents of the DOD and immigration they couldn't find anybody or would show ended single out of concern the concern the letters or the next US or sort of the booking Ricci case that's a very important the. Problem I think there's a running circle source of documented by the immigration which is assembled person well in the. Archives Department in Washington there is collected an enormous amount of material and are historians Committee under the chairmanship of Dr proud of Columbia and will be able assistance of Dr Pipkin of the National Park Service is making or they are making a very careful analysis of all this material and perhaps at this time it might be well if I stress the point that we are the American Museum of immigration look on this museum not merely as a tribute to immigration but as a memorial of the foreign born and their descendants to the American way of life we are not interested in the political connotations of the word immigration what we are interested in is assuring folk posterity that there will be maintained. A memorial where the descendants of the various races who have visited our show was contributed so much to our way of life will have an opportunity to see where why and in what way their ancestors have contributed to the American way of life and to the economic prosperity that their descendants are now enjoying with all other American citizens Mr one brought it are you more interested in. Immigrants or collectively speaking for instance. Immigrants etc Well naturally basically we have to divide to be accurate picture. With groups rather than with individuals there were naturally the accomplishments of certain significant individuals of each racial group which perhaps personified better than anything else the accomplishments of that group but there are numerous facets and way of life in which these various. Foreign contributions have been made to engineering to art but you're. Just a few minutes ago. Mr Pitts. Of information is respected. It came to my mind that some national seem to be somewhat better off. Because at some years ago. Visit. The culture of society and feel that if you. If you would do it in its current. Finds whatever one is looking for Expect to the history of German immigration to this country I guess you are familiar with that institution Mr Hamilton I trust that you are somewhat cooperating with Mr Steinitz and we are very pleased. To announce that we have the active support of practically every national organization which is established in this country what are you collecting mostly biographies of portraits costumes while the actual depicting the various chronological waves of immigration. Actually be left to the determination of the historians Committee and the National Park Service because as you all know the Statue of Liberty is owned by the federal government and is managed by the Department of the Interior which the National Park Service is the subdivision that has actual charge and this operation is being carried out in conjunction with the National Park Service and our committee in conjunction with the National Park Service ardent germinating the actual format at the museum will take. So I understand that you enjoy quite a considerable. Support of federal and state. Authorities and governmental bodies so I wonder what are you actually up against. You have to fight it is that private real estate speculation such as in the case of that would buildings or is it just public in different. Obstacles I think it's a combination of public indifference plus the fact that in the city of New York there is so little actual property available for expansion and improvement as you know have. Caused a new form of architecture namely the skyscraper. To come about as a result of this predicament in the city of New York and I think it is a combination of the indifference of the public and the economic necessity actually providing. Rentals for the very valuable piece of land that perhaps some of these sites may occupy. But I would like to make mention if I call again of this seventieth. Anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty this well open operation Europe Day which as I remarked a moment ago will be the first opportunity that the American people per se have had to contribute to this venture it will be their first opportunity to lend their support to the thousands of foreign born and their descendants who really commemorate the contribution they are all familiar with these racial groups have made American way of life Mr Hamilton but do you know that according to statistics out of five New Yorkers. We have either one on the other side in the first or the into second generation. Radish from the start of point of view everybody in America is an immigrant we talk about the American Indian but I historians revealed the fact that the American Indian was an immigrant. But somebody made a joke when I came to this country there are only tool real Americans and there are no and Nikki Buffalo. Mr President me when I think of the idea end of our discussion and I wish that you know in Europe they could hear us and listen to ask. Because they think that Americans are only interested in your gadgets. And your president well great deal of that true personally but isn't gentleman about all the time we have for the. Rights. International and. Was Alexander Hamilton the secretary treasurer of the American Museum of immigration he was interviewed by a panel of newsman representing overseas newspapers and members of the Foreign Press Association These included Mr Stein it. What's on Mr Joseph I for one brought it of noir. President Vienna Austria and Dr Geo separate personally me. Thank you Mr Siegel You have been listening to international interview our moderator was Seymour and Sigel director of radio communications for the city of New York we are interested in your reaction to these internationally oriented press conferences address your cards and letters to international interview W N Y C New York seven I'll repeat that address it's international interview W N Y C New York seven this series is presented in an effort to help a quiet our listeners with the changing trends in world opinion each week a panel of foreign correspondents representing the press of various countries interviews a different distinguished guest join us again next Wednesday evening at eight thirty for another of these transcribed programs international interview is brought to you in cooperation with the Foreign Press Association. And is produced by Mary McDonald for your city station.