Detractors said the project would not be able to find funding, other nations might not attend, and U.S. exhibitions might compare poorly to foreign exhibits.

More than 80 nations will attend.

Still, several other nations are also attending the working sessions as interested outsiders.

The conference was held in the city of Algeciras, Spain, and 13 nations attended.

About 40 more nations have attended as observers.

Sixty-six nations, representing 80% of world trade, attended the official opening on May 4, 1964, at the Palais des Nations.

The 40 plus nations attending need to set aside their differences and choose a lead country and other to follow.

In 1884 the United States hosted the International Meridian Conference and twenty-five nations attended.

I think the time has come when we should seriously consider whether free nations can attend the celebrations in Beijing for the Olympics later this year.

But more than 100 nations are attending, including all other North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, and virtually every Western Hemisphere nation.