Change in Independent Accountant


On  July  1,  2000  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  resigned  as
independent accountants of the Fund.

The  reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the  financial
statements  of  the  Fund  for the  past  two  fiscal  years
contained  no adverse opinion or disclaimer of  opinion  and
were  not  qualified  or modified as to  uncertainty,  audit
scope or accounting principle.

In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal
years  and  through    July  1, 2000,  there  have  been  no
disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any  matter
of  accounting principles or practices, financial  statement
disclosure,   or   auditing  scope   or   procedure,   which
disagreements  if  not  resolved  to  the  satisfaction   of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP would have caused  them  to  make
reference   thereto  in  their  report  on   the   financial
statements for such years.

The  Fund  has  requested  that  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP
furnish  it  with  a  letter addressed to  the  SEC  stating
whether or not it agrees with the above statements.  A  copy
of such letter, dated July 3, 2000 is filed as an Exhibit to
this Form           N -SAR.

The   Fund,   with   the   approval   of   its   Board    of
Directors/Trustees and its Audit Committee, engaged Deloitte
&  Touche LLP as its new independent accountants as of  July
1, 2000.