INTER LANGUAGE AMERICAN ESPERANTO MAGAZINE Ofaala Organo de la ESPERANTO-ASOCIO de NORD-AMERIKO SEP - OCT, 1953 Fifty C«nf$ Vol. 67 AMERICAN ESPERANTO MAGAZINE (Amerika Esperantisto) G. ALAN CONNOR, Editor 114 West 16th Street New York 11 N. Y. Nos. 7-8 Associate Editors: Dr. William Solzbacher, Doris Tappan Connor, Dr. S. Zamenhof, V. Rev. Gabriel N. Pausback, Myron Mychajliw. Sustaining Board: Portia Anderson, Dr. Luella K. Beecher, John M. Brewer, Sergio Docal, Preston Davis, Jr., Ernest G. Dodge, Dr. F. W. Breth, Anonymous, George Hirsch, Bertha E. Mullin, Tony Nabby, J. Louise Owens, Bertha F. Sloan, Harold S. Sloan, Dr. William Solzbacher, Sud-Kaliforniano, Mazah Schulz, Flora Wyman. Office Assistants: Lola Mae Muse, H. S. Harris. Kelkaj gejunuloj el la Vkraina Danc-Grupo dum unu el la popol-dancoj Jarabono eksterlande por kalendara jaro: $1.50 aŭ egalvaloro. Subscription rate in the United States and Canada: $3.00 per year. Make checks payable to the Esperanto Association of North America, Patron Membership in the EANA — $10.00 per year Regular Membership in the EANA— $5.00 per year Student Membership & Armed Forces — $3.00 per year AMERIKA ESPERANTISTO Vol. 67 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1953___________Nos. 9-10 A LETTER FROM HELEN KELLER ^jlHE following letter was received from Helen Keller by Harald Thi- »_>/ lander of Stocksund, Sweden. Mr. Thilander, himself blind, has for many years edited and printed a braille magazine in Esperanto, the Esperanta Ligilo. In one issue he described for his readers the travels of Helen Keller in Egypt, Lebanon and other Near-East countries. There was also a translation of her talk at the Sorbonne University. Mr. Thi- lander sent a copy of the Ligilo to Miss Keller, and in response received a gracious enthusiastic letter. He immediately sent an airmail letter re- questing permission to publish her letter. The reply came by telegraph and said, "The answer is yes". Consequently, the following letter was first published in braille in the Esperanta Ligilo, April 1953- We take pleasure in printing it in the American Esperanto Magazine. Dear Mr. Thilander, The New Year brought me special happiness in your letter so overflowing with good-will and the two copies of "Esperanta Lig- ilo," and I thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending them to me. First, I want you to know how proud I am that after almost a lifetime of prodigious activity you are still editing the "Ligilo". Full of interest I note in it news that I seldom read in other Braille magazines of the blind in Finland, Belgium, Flanders, Holland and Sweden. It also pleases me to see how my speech at the Sorbonne looks in Esperanto. How free and flexible Esper- anto has grown! This spring Miss Thomson and I are going to South America on a tour in behalf of the blind covering Brazil, Chile, Peru, Pa- nama and Mexico, but when we return to Westport at the end of June, I shall be glad to subscribe to "Esperanta Ligilo". And I should like to have at least a dictionary of root-words in Esper- anto, so that I may more fully understand the news from the blind in thirty countries who communicate with you. How it warms me! an auxiliary language that throbs with the needs, joys and sor- rows of my blind fellows throughout the globe. With affectionate greetings, I am, Sincerely yours, McTvKti/ tJ~ March fifteenth, 1953 65 ESPERANTO IN ACTION Esperanto fashions have recently appeared in style shows in the United States. They are a product of the french designer Hubert de Gi- venchy, and David Haft of the "House of Swansdown". The "Esperanto collection" was made, according to its originators, because "we want to mix our American way of wearing clothes with the best designs from any country". The Silkworm Research Institutes of Maebashi, Japan, and Ales, France, have begun to cooperate closely; correspondence is conducted in Esperanto. The Revue du ver a soie ("Silkworm Review"), published by the French institute, recently published an article in Esperanto by Haruo Hashimoto, Director of the research laboratory of the Japanese in- stitute, about a method of determining the sex of a silkworm. The method was discovered by Mr. Hashimoto. The 37sf International Trade Fair of Padua, Italy, held during the first two weeks of June 1953, used Esperanto for its publicity. The "Coordinated Esperanto Classes" at People's Colleges and Adult Education Centers, conducted during the past year following the initiative of Dr. Tina Peter-Ruetschi, member of the Swiss Women's Council, and of the People's University of Zurich, Switzerland, turned out to be a tremendous success. Eleven institutions in ten countries co- operated: Zurich, Switzerland; Paris, France; Manchester, England; The Hague, Netherlands; Stuttgart, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; Florence and Parma, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; Karlstad, Sweden; and Helsinki, Finland. The classes were started simultaneously. After the first month students began to correspond with fellow students abroad. It is planned to continue the experiment next winter. The State Government of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, recently organ- ized two Esperanto classes for civil servants at Porto Alegre, the State capital. The plan provided for 70 participants, but many more applied and had to be turned away. The classes are taught by Colonel Wanderley Francisco Goncalves. Members of the Amsterdam police force, in the Netherlands, now can learn Esperanto in easy installments. Serialized lessons appear in their newsletter, the Tijdschrift voor de Amsterdam.se Politie. Travel folders in Esperanto were published recently by the city ad- ministrations or chambers of commerce of the following cities and vaca- tion resorts: Trondhjem and Bodo, Norway; Berlin and Hanover, Germany; Vichy, Thiers, and Mulhouse, France; Antwerp, Belgium; Thun,Switzer- land; Zagreb, Yugoslavia; Como, Italy; Volendam, Netherlands. 66 Tfie Austrian Post Office Administration has issued a new series of illustrated postcards, carrying in red ink explanations in German, En- glish, French, and Esperanto. We received one of these cards showing the Montafon cable railroad in the Alps, built in 1950 and offering a pa- noramic view of "the 200 mountain tops". Italy's leading sewing-machine manufacturer, the Vittorio Necchi firm in Pavia, uses Esperanto words such as Nova and Mira to name some of its machines. Next year's Universal Esperanto Congress, probably the biggest and best since World War II, is scheduled to be held at Haarlem, Holland, the flower capital of the world, not far from Amsterdam and The Hague. Another French teachers college now features an Esperanto class: the ecole normale of Moulins. Thirty-five students are enrolled. The Ethnological Institute of the University of Lund, Sweden, re- ceived 90 replies from 35 countries in connection with a worldwide in- quiry about the consumption of horse meat and people's attitudes towards it. The whole project was conducted in Esperanto. In Adelaide, capital of South Australia, Esperanto is taught at the Woodville School. In other parts of Australia, Esperanto classes are held at such diverse places as a Toe H Club at Hobart, Tasmania, the Cath- olic Youth Movement of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, and a children's group at Perth, Western Australia. The University of Bologna, Italy, one of the oldest in the world, es- pecially famous for its Law School founded in the eleventh century, now features an Esperanto class taught by Dr. O. Nanni. The Academic Senate passed a resolution in favor of Esperanto. At the Esperanto exposition held at Montevideo (See the American Esperanto Magazine of March-April 1953) one of the most enthusiastic visitors was Catholic Archbishop of the Uruguayan capital, the Most Rev. Antonio M. Barbieri. He promised his help in introducing the teaching of Esperanto in Catholic circles and immediately persuaded the "Sarandi" radio station to broadcast a talk about Esperanto by the Archbishop's Brother, Senor Ruben Barbieri. Guests of the Mayor of Vienna usually receive a souvenir album il- lustrating the principal attractions of the Austrian capital and some of the most outstanding accomplishments of its city administration. The explanatory text is in Esperanto as well as in German. The 1953 "Vocation Study Supplement' of "Study Abroad", an inter- national handbook published by UNESCO in Paris, contains among its listings information about the international conference of the Esperanto World Youth Organization at Worgl, in the Austrian Alps. The Dutch daily newspaper "Winse/ioter Courant' publishes serial- ized Esperanto lessons and organizes conversation classes for its read- ers. The most successful students are offered ten-day vacation trips to Denmark or France, at the newspaper's expense. 67 UNESCO AND ESPERANTO / UTHER H. EVANS, the new Director-General of UNESCO, who for O*" many years held the position of Librarian of Congress in Washing- ton and also served for some time as Chairman of the United States Na- tional Commission for UNESCO, recently wrote to Mark Starr, Educa- tional Director of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and Vice Chairman of the U. S. Advisory Commission on Educational Ex- change: "You were good enough to raise the subject of Esperanto which has proved of practical utility to you in your own personal experience... I have no hesitation in assuring you that, in accordance with the deci- sion of the Seventh Session (Resolution 4. 14), this matter will be con- sidered at the Eighth Session of the General Conference to be held in Montevideo next year. The international petition in favor of Esperanto, which had been submitted to the United Nations, and which was forward- ed by that Organization to UNESCO, has been communicated to all Mem- ber States with a request that they forward their observations and com- ments to UNESCO. Replies are now coming in, and I shall report upon the results of these consultations to the Eighth Session of the General Conference, which will then decide on the action to be taken by UNESCO in response to this petition." Mr. Starr was a member of the international delegation which present- ed the Esperanto petition to the United Nations on August 2, 1950. Shortly before his election as the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Luther Evans wrote Dr. William Solzbacher, who was then President of the Esperanto Association of North America: "I have received... the material concerning Esperanto. I assure you that UNESCO is giving this material the most careful consideration." Following the adoption of a Swiss resolution concerning the Esper- anto petition at the Paris Session of UNESCO's General Conference last December (See the January-February issue of the American Esperanto Magazine), Dr. John W. Taylor, Acting Director-General of UNESCO (and a former President of the University of Kentucky) sent a letter (CL/728) to the governments of the sixty-eight nations now affiliated with the or- ganization. The following is the text of his letter to the Canadian Gov- ernment. (The Information Division of the Canadian Department of Ex- ternal Affairs was kind enough to send us a copy): No. CL/720 February 9, 1953 To the Secretary of State for External Affairs, Ottawa, Canada Dear Sir, I have the honour to draw your attention to the following resolution, adopted by the General Conference at its Seventh Session: "4.14: The Director-General is authorized to communicate to Member States the international petition in favour of Esperanto, which has been submitted to the United Nations and forwarded by that Organization to UNESCO, and to un- dertake, in the light of comments received, the necessary preparatory work to enable the General Conference to decide, at its Eighth Session, upon the action to be taken on this petition." In accordance with this resolution I enclose the text of the petition lodged with the United Nations by a delegation of the Universal Esperanto Association 68 and of the Esperanto Association of North America on 2 August 1950 and for- warded by the United Nations Secretariat to the Secretariat of UNESCO. With the petition were received four volumes containing the original signatures of 459 persons in 18 countries and of the qualified representatives of 484 non-govern- mental organizations. According to information supplied by the Universal Esper- anto Association, the total number of individual signatures which they have col- lected is 875,432, while the 484 non-governmental organizations signing the petition represent altogether 15, 454, 780 registered members. To enable the Secretariat to proceed as desired by the General Conference, and to prepare a report for that Conference at its Eighth Session, I should be glad if you would let me have at your convenience, but in any event before 1 June 1953, any information, views or observations which your government may wish to furnish. It would be especially useful to know how far the teaching and use of Esperanto extend in your country, the results obtained, and what prac- tical plans, in your government's view, should be submitted to the General Con- ference at its Eighth Session to give effect to the hope expressed in the at- tached petition. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (signed) John W. Taylor, Acting Director-General The deadline, originally set for June 1, 1953, was found to be too close and was extended to October 15. For the first time in history, UNESCO's inquiry gave sixty-eight governments throughout the world an occasion to undertake a serious study of the claims of Esperanto. Some of the early replies received at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris are extremely favorable, for instance that of the Mexican government which declares that "this country (Mexico) looks with favor upon any measure taken in support of that language (Esperanto)." The United States Government transmitted to the Director-General of UNESCO, without comment, a detailed memorandum on "Esperanto in the United States of America," prepared by the Esperanto Association of North America and submitted by it to the State Department and the U. S. National Commission for UNESCO. However, while transmitting this in- formation received from us, the State Department expressed a completely negative view on the heart of the matter: "There is enclosed, without comment, for transmittal to the Director- General of UNESCO for his information, a memorandum of the Esperanto Association of North America, Incorporated, on 'Esperanto in the United States of America.' It is the view of the Department that it is not appro- priate for UNESCO to sponsor and promote Esperanto or any similar aux- iliary language. In the United States the teaching of Esperanto is a mat- ter for decision by local school systems, and it is, presumably, a matter within the domestic jurisdiction of other member states. Because of the demands already being made on UNESCO's resources, it is the further view of the Department that it would be unwise for UNESCO to embark upon further action or study on the subject of Esperanto or any similar auxiliary language, especially until UNESCO has done much more to solve the problem of illiteracy." It is earnestly to be hoped that this is not the State Department's last word in this matter and that the American Delegation to the Monte- video Conference next year will give sympathetic consideration to pro- posals which may enable UNESCO to take action on the Esperanto pe- tition without curtailing fundamental education and literacy projects and 69 without adding a major burden to UNESCO's budget. The Division of International Cultural Cooperation at UNESCO's Headquarters, headed by a former Columbia University Professor, Henry Schneider, is now studying the replies from the various governments and collecting additional information. A staff member of the Division, Pierre Lebar, attended the Universal Esperanto Congress at Zagreb as an ob- server for UNESCO. When addressing the members of the forty-third annual congress of the Esperanto Association of North America during their visit to U. N. Headquarters ,on June 29, Mr. S.V. Arnaldo, Director of the New York Office of UNESCO, pointed out that, while the Secretariat of UNESCO does a great deal of preparatory work for all of UNESCO's projects and plans, the decisive element in UNESCO are the national delegations ap- pointed by each government, usually in cooperation with the National Commissions for UNESCO. To obtain good results at Montevideo, he de- clared, it is essential that members of the different national delegations be fully informed about Esperanto and its uses and about the background of the U. N. petition. The Esperanto Association of North America, in its memoranda pre- sented to the U.S. Department of State and to the Canadian Department of External Affairs, suggested that UNESCO sponsor a number of inter- national experiments under expert supervision. The results of these ex- periments could then serve as a basis for further action. The memorandum presented to the State Department in Washington contains the following"conclusions and recommendations" (the last chap- ter of the Canadian memorandum is almost identical in form and content): "Experience has shown that Esperanto, because it is neutral, logi- cally constructed, and easy to learn, makes it possible to overcome to a considerable extent the language barriers in correspondence, conferences, radio, and research, and that it enables persons otherwise unable to study languages to participate actively and directly in the promotion of friend- ship and mutual understanding among the peoples of the world. "This would seem to be of considerable interest to UNESCO, which according to the preamble of its Constitution, gives expression to the desire of the governments 'to develop and to increase the means of com- munication between their peoples and to employ these means for the pur- poses of mutual understanding and a truer and more perfect knowledge of each other's lives.' "It might be appropriate for the General Conference of UNESCO to recognize this by adopting a resolution encouraging the teaching and use of Esperanto as a means of promoting the objectives of UNESCO. "In the sixty-six years of its existence and the almost fifty years of widespread practical use, Esperanto has demonstrated its suitability and adaptability in all fields of human endeavor. It should also be pointed out that what has been accomplished so far is due exclusively to the efforts of persons devoted to the cause of international understanding through a neutral and easy-to-learn interlanguage, without any major ma- terial support from outside sources. A great deal more could be achieved if UNESCO were willing to take an active interest in such efforts. "In deciding what action to take on the Esperanto petition presented 70 to the United Nations and referred to UNESCO by the United Nations Secretariat, the General Conference of UNESCO might instruct the Di- rector-General to study the following possibilities: (1) The organization of an international experiment, sponsored by UNESCO, if possible in cooperation with the World Organization of the Teaching Profession and the Universal Esperanto Association, consist- ing of simultaneous Esperanto classes in schools of all countries where qualified teachers are available and the local education authorities are willing to cooperate, and the subsequent use of the language for inter- national correspondence and the exchange of visits, under the supervi- sion of experts who would draw up a report at the end of a specified pe- riod, which might be two or three years; (2) The organization of a similar experiment for adult education groups, in cooperation with the Universal Esperanto Association and with appropriate international non-governmental organizations; (3) The experimental use of Esperanto at one or two international conferences sponsored by UNESCO, or in carefully selected portions of such conferences; (4) The experimental publication of two or three UNESCO pamphlets in Esperanto, followed by a controlled study of their effectiveness, as evidenced by the geographic variegation of their distribution, readets' mail, constructive suggestions received, articles and news items in newspapers and periodicals, and by use in school classes, adult educa- tion groups, public lectures, and non-governmental organizations. LOOK AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS! USE ESPERANTO GREETING CARDS! Beautiful, super-quality Esperanto Christmas cards. All-Esperanto design, wording and color, printed in Emerald Green and Bronze Blue, on 80 lb. "Fiesta" White Wove Antique Finish paper with wide green deckle edges on both folder and envelope. The outside cover design consists of a large Esperanto Green Star, cleverly made up as Santa Claus. From Santa's right arm (one point of the star) a graceful ribbon floats down to spell out greetings in Esperanto (SALUTON). The Esperanto wording inside, dignified and appropriate, surmounted by a small green star, ends with the old familiar greetings Gojan Kristnaskon — Feliĉan Novjaron! You will want to send your friends —here, there and every- where—these superb representatives of living Esperanto. The folders come with envelopes to match, size 4 3/4x6 3/8 inches. Folders with envelopes to match, in complete sets: I for 25,au,i. xa x.r.xxyoxjxt. ItxJ i/c ; * * * Jaroj pasas. Via barbo kreskas, kaj ankafl via reputacio. Fine, plena de ago kaj honoro, vi kunigas la manojn sur la barbo, kaj kuŝigas vin por morti. "Vi estas tiel saĝega, avo!" flustras via nepino, kiu sidas adorante ce via lito. "Vi scias ĉion, ĉu ne? Do, diru al mi, kara avo — de kie venas la infanetoj?" Vi malfermas la lacajn, eluzitajn okulojn, kaj rigardas tiun amatan knabineton. Subita larmeto duone blindigas vin. Kia freŝa, juna kreitaĵo! Kiel bela kaj mistera la vivo! "Nu, de kie venas la steloj en la Ĉielo? Mi ne scias, karulineto mia." "Sed, kara avo, se tion vi ne scias, kion vi ja scias?" "Nenion, etulino. Nenion!" 79 DEZIRAS KORESPONDI IS Kosto de anonco: Eksterlande, unu vorto aŭ maŭongigo por unu cendo (set vortoj por 1 int. respondkupono); Enlande, unu vorto por du cendoj. Argentino. Enrique R.Gonzalez, Casilla de Correo, 421, Mendoza. 18-ja- ra studento dez. inters, il. PK kun ĉiuj landoj, precipe Icon Usono. Brazilo. Haroldo Silva, Rua Mai. Joaquim Inacio, 40-c/6, Realengo, Rio _ de Janeiro. 25-j. studento, dez. kor. kaj inters. PK. Cekoslovakujo. Jaroslav Pokorny, Riegrova 299, Svermov 1. Dez. in- ters. PM kontraŭ unuatagaj kovertoj. Skribu Esp., angle aŭ hispane. Germanujo. Josef Barghammer, Unterweikertshofen, (13b) Post Schwab- hausen/Dachau. 17-j., studento, dez. kor. kaj interŝanĝi PM. Hispanujo. Nicasio Terrasa Pou, Delegacion de Hacienda, Palma de Mallorca (Isles Baleares). Dez. inters, (por sia nepineto) il. revuojn ĉiumonate kontraŭ hispanaj gazetoj. Serioza persono dezirata. Hispanujo. F-ino Aurora Vilella, Calle Clot 111, bajos, Barcelona. 17-j. deziras korespondi kun junulo 18 ĝis 26 jaraĝa. Hispanujo. Petro Fernandez, estr. Ripolles 45 bajos, Barcelona, L.M., 25-jara fraŭlo deziras korespondi, prefere kun fraŭlino. Italujo. Maria Antonietta DeMuro, Via Pincipessa Maria 41, Sassari. 19-jara fraŭlino deziras korespondi, interSanĝi fotojn pri kostumoj. Japanujo. Kozo Yamanishi, Higashi-Koniri 89, Nishihima, Wakayama-shi. 29-jara arkitekto deziras kontaktiĝi kun samprofesiuloj tutmonde. Kanado. John Deakos, 314 Second St., Midland, Ontario. 16-jara, dez- iras korespondi kun junuloj prefere de Sud-Ameriko. Nov-Zelando. S. M. Nola, Oratia, Auckland. Deziras korespondi kun Usonanoj pri diversaj temoj. Portugalujo. Renato Adolfo Figueira, Rua 9 de Julho 292, Porto. 25-jara desegnisto deziras korespondi kun Usonaj geesperantistoj. Svedujo. Frank Johansson, Gotlandsgatan 58 v, Stockholm S°. Deziras korespondi kun samideano en New York aŭ New Jersey. Usono. J. E. Bush, 3700 N. 75 St., Milwaukee 16, Wisconsin. 42-jara instruisto deziras korespondi kun alilandaj samideanoj. Usono. Janis A. Lazdins, Gays Mills, Wisconsin. Deziras korespondi kun la tuta mondo. Usono. David Schieber, 301 So. Walnut, Bucyrus, Ohio. 19-jara,studento deziras korespondi kun Esperantistoj en la tuta mondo. Interesiĝas pri muziko, literaturo kaj poezio. Respondo garantiata. Turkujo. Faik Cakmak, Posta kutusu No. 1, Keskin. Deziras korespondi. 70% Discount on All Books to Members of EANA The Central Office is pleased to announce that henceforth all members of EANA will enjoy 10% discount on ALL books and other items in the ca- talog purchased from Headquarters. Thus, when you order books in any amount just take 10% off the total sum due. Now is a good time to order those books you may be wanting. This offer of 10% discount will be va- lid until new catalog is issued, or until further notice. Take advantage of this special privilege to Members of EANA. 80 POPULAR EfPIRANTO BOOKS The Central Office is equipped to supply all your hook needs. Here are a few pop- ular and standard items. 10% discount in quantity. Ask about other titles. PRACTICAL ESPERANTO, Dr. Wm. Benson. Many use this text for class or self because it is unique with 650 pictures to illustrate rules, affixes, vocabulary, etc. Grammar in English, exercises in Esperanto. 160 pp. illustrated............$ .25 REED'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR, Dr. Ivy K. Reed. A very complete beginner's text for class or self, with extensive examples, dialog, etc. Offset reprint, a few pages slightly blurred but fully usable. 142 pp. with vocabularies and a complete index. Original price 75-.- yyyrrn: >t*^h- ^^c^.^.. nwr** Is: NEW CONNOR COURSE IN ESPERANTO Correspondence Course with Vinylite Records Instruction by Doris Tappan Connor New! Modern! The "Connor Course" is unique,— it provides real-life disk conversations plus the personal instruction of Doris Tappan Connor. The one and only record course, in any language, that gives everything in the way of learning aids. NOW, you can learn Esperanto like a "native"— better,quicker, and easier. It's fun to learn this real-life way! You converse with the disk and confer with the instructor. The "Connor Course" is compiled by experts. "Vinylite" recordings by Mr. and Mrs. Connor. All designed so you can master Esperanto. The complete "Connor Course* includes the following: (1) A lively text, "Esperanto: The World Interlanguage." Eight complete "Vinylite" double-sided 10'records. A practical and easy-to-follow "Study Guide" (82 pp.) Personalized instruction and guidance of Mrs. Connor. Supply of answer paper and printed return envelopes. An interesting card game, to develop your vocabulary. And finally, an official "Certificate of Achievement". (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDY: The complete "Connor Course", as described above, will be sent postpaid for only S36. FOR GROUP STUDY: Buy one complete master course at $36. Each additional member pays only S6 more lot Textbook and complete Study Guide for his own use. Full money-back guarantee. So, place your order NOW: Esperanto, 114 W. 16th St, New York 11, N. Y. 1 m