THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF WRITERS
FOR THE DEFENCE OF CULTURE
The first international Congress of
Tf/
riters for the defence of culture,
was held in Paris, 21st-25th of June,
1935.
W.riters of varying political
beliefs and literary opinions-including such diverse figures as Julien Benda,
Heinrich Mann, Aldous Huxley, Waldo Frank and Louis Aragon-found
a common basis for action in the conviction that the defence of culture
necessitates the o1·ganization of intellectuals the world over against war
and fascism. All realized that Western culture may not survive another
worM war, and that the growth of fascism is the immediate source of the
war danger. The large SOfJiet delegation impressed upon the Congress the
achievements of the Soviet Union in the construction of Socialism and the
struggle for world peace. The creation of new socialist values, the re–
markable development of literature, and the participation of millio-ns of
workers and peasants in cultural activities, were vividly described by
Ehrenbourg, Tolstoy, Babel, Kirshon and other Soviet delegates.
lvlore than
250
writers, representing
38
countries, were present. The
League of American Writers was represented · by Waldo Frank and
111ichael Gold. The papers read were of an exceptionally high order, and
at many points the discussion reached an unprecedented level of generaliza–
tion and discernment. Before closing, tlze Congress set up the
INTERNA–
TIONAL AssociATION OF WRITERS FOR THE DEFENCE OF CuLTURE.
This
association is directed by a Bureau of
112
members. The Bureou has at
its head a central committee including Andre Gide, Ro-main Rolland, Hein–
rich Mann, Thomas Jl,fann, 111axim Gorky, E.
11-1.
Forster and Aldous
Huxley. The chief office of the organization is in Paris. The international
Bureau will hold at least one plenary session yearly, each meeting to be
in a different country.
In publishing in tlzis issue the papers of John Strachey, Andre Gide
and Anrke Malraux, we hope to stimulate interest in the proceedings at
Paris and to extend the influence of that gathering on American readers.
-The Editors.
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