THE P.E.N. CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 13

THE P.E.N. CLUB

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

WRITERS AND POLITICS

SOIVIE NOTABLE SPEECHES

(Written for "The Post" by Nelle M. Scanlau.)

Tho P.E.N. is an international association of writers, founded by Mrs. Dawson Scott in London about twelve years ago. John Galsworthy was its first president, and retained that position until his death, when his mantle foil upon H. G. Wells. It is hoped that writers of every country will form a circle, and so unite their efforts, which aro directed to a hotter understanding 'of each other, and so fostering pormanent peace between nations. It was thought that tho intellectuals might succeed where politicians had failod. The- "freedom of writers to write" is one of its most cherished aspirations, and that tho eirelo should bo truly representative of eveiy phase of thought and opinion is an essential, factor. No ono may bo barred admission because of his political or religious beliefs. This ideal is becoming rather difficult in a. world where political dictators have taken absolute control, and tho first circle to bo dropped was the German P.E.N. Last year they wore compelled to sever connection, beeauso they refused admission to Jewish writers aud' those whose words, and opinions were contrary to the Nazi spirit.

Tho letters of tho P.E.N. stand for: P. for playwrights and • poets, E. for oditors and essayists, and N. for novelists. It is said that Fleet Street does not favour this organisation, beeauso journalists are excluded, unless they qualify for admission under ono of tho other heads. Today everyone is a journalist, if to have written something for a paper or magazine is tho sole test.

Once a year the P.E.N. meets in congress, choosing a different country for its deliberations and junketings. This year it was the guest of Scotland,^ and about 400 writers from nearly 40 countries assembled in the lovely city of Edinburgh to put forth a variety of suggestions and resolutions. This year two now countries had joined up and were represented by delegates,■ the; Egyptian P.E.N., whose representative, a tall, handsome young writer, Dr. Mohamad Mohamed, claimed that they had been in existence only seven months; and the New Zealand P.E.N., a still younger branch, with about three months of history behind them. Mi-. H. G. Wells presided at tho first and last meetings, and among tho most distinguished writers present at tho congress were Dr. EmilLudwig, of Austria, well known for his biographies and other writings; M. Louis Piorard, of Belgium; Professor Franz do Backer, representing tho Flemish Bolgians; Tzo Hsiung Kuo, a young Chinese who has translated all Sir James Barries works into Chinese; A. Oras, of Estonia; Mrs. Helmi Krohn, of Finland; M. Jules! Romains and Benjamin Cremieux, of France; Herr Ernest Toller, tho eirilcd | Gorman writer; and Rudolph Olden, one of Germany's most biilliant oditors, also condemned to obscurity beeauso of his anti-Nazi opinions; Dr. Milan Curcin, of Jugoslavia; Johan Bojor, of Norway; Jan Jean Parandowski, of Poland; Victor Eftimiu, of Rumania; Mr. Cnnninghame Graham, of Scotland; Luis Calvo, of Spain; Dr. Gunnar Silfvorstolpo, of Sweden; Poter Moyer, of Switzerland; Leo Koinig, representing the Yiddish writers; and Hcndorson, of ,tho junior branch, known as tho Young ! P.E.N. Scan O 'Faolain was Ireland's delegate, and Miss Flora Eldcrshaw (part-writer of "A House is Built") was the Australian delegate. Italy had Signor Marinetti, Holland sent a dozen writers across, headed by Dr. Boutcns, Hungary's delegate in chief was Dr. Anthony Rado, and there were many more who were not official delegates but members of the P.E.N. attending tho congress. The £*im of tho P.E.N. was to keop clear of politics, but before the congress had been going half an hour they were kneo-deep in it. It could not be otherwise, because the freedom of writers to write is hedged about with so many political restrictions those days in Europe. In fact, it became a sort of minor Disarmament Conference.

The most magnetic personality undoubtedly was. Ernest Toller, the exiled German. Toller has spent five years-in prison for his 'opinions, and is a fierce opponent of tho Nazi regime. Ho began by being an ardent Socialist, and was a powerful figure in Germany. Middlesize, perhaps 45, he has the t most compelling ©yes, largo and dark and slightly mysterious. His thick, iron-grey hair grows low on his forehead, and sweeps back in a crisp, wavy mass. There is A fiery intensity about the man, and yet he always has something of an animal at bay about him; a defensivo look, like one who is hunted. His plea for freedom, his demand for a resolution by tho congress_ urging tho release of all writors now in prison, and held there without trial, was a most moving performance. Rudolph Olden, the ex-editor, a thin, palo man with long, lank hair, was oven more impassioned, and he became almost hysterical in his frenzy of denunciation of the wrongs inflicted upon writers who differed from their tyrannical Governments. His waving hands trembled as .though with palsy; perspiration dripped from liis forehead; ho was entirely spent by the time ho concluded. ;

Peter Meyer, of Switzerland, opposed Toller, partly on personal grounds, and accused him of oppressing those who opposed him when he was a power in tho. Socialist movement. This led to a scene, in which it .was evident that the congress 'a : sympathy was with Tollor. When tho Catalonian chairman of the day gave Meyer another ten minutes to finish his speoch, tho congress howled him down and refused to listen. And when. Ernest Toller replied, lie "wiped the floor" with Mr. Meyor.

I Groat intorest centred in ISmil Ludwig's speech. Ho proposed that if war [should thrcaton, tho P.E.N. should bo 'called together to demand that tho I cause in dispute should bo submitted [to arbitration, and if tho Govornmont would not, do this, the P.E.N. itself should arbitrate. He suggested that tho Governments of, the various countries should be taken from the hands of the politicians and put into the hands of the intellectuals, who could sense the truth more quickly. Ono had a vision of war breaking out, and poets and essayists and', dramatists, etc., scuttling from China- and' Hungary, from South America ana California, from Poland and Italy, from Norway and Egypt and the othor remote countries to confer in London, and demand attention. For one thing, in time of war, frontiers arc usually closed, and authorities aro not likely to grant passports to robe! intellectuals and those who oppose them. They are hard enough on such people in time of peace, and tho whole thing seemed so impracticable.

When Lrtchvig raised the question again at the last meeting, when the congress attendance hurt dwindled considerably, Mr. Wells had to exorcisemuch diplomacy to prevent such a resolution being tacked on to the- P.E.N., ns it would have uinfle (hem all look lutlivi ridifiilourl.