The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-05-17
AIDED BY CONFLICT
WAR HAS CAUSED THE SPREAD
OF ESPERANTO.
Instead Of InJurino II, New Interest
Has Been Aroused In the Language
spreading Rapidly In the
Far East

| AT the outbreak OF the Europenh
war Esperantists everywhere feared
that the struggle would have an ex'
tremely unfavorable effect upon the
| progress Of the international language
Great was our establishment therefore
when 1t gradually became apparent
that just the opposite was true, re-
marks the writer OF a letter to the
editor Of the New York Sun. The first
important event that took place was
the official recognition that Esperanto
received from the government Of Ger
many, which published an Esperanto
translation of the original documents
relating to the war and caused 1t TO
be widely distributed among Esperan-
lists In the neutral countries. This
was followed by a series of publica-
tons In Esperanto that history will
show formed an important part of Ger
many's campaign Of publicity in neu-
trail lands. A few months later the Es-
perantists in France organized a So
ciety devoted to spreading an exact
knowledge of the French "side" of the
world war.
In all of the warning nations and in
the few countries still at peace there
has awakened a new interest in Es-
peranto, and 1t is now being studied
by many who were not even aware of
Its existence a few years ago. This
is particularly true of the soldiers of
all the countries at war, prisoners OF
war and those interned in neutral
lands. In the internment camp at
Harderwyk, Holland, for instance,
where there are several thousand Bel
gians and French soldiers, hundreds
have already begun to learn Esperanto,
and this Is also true of another impor-
tant camp at Zeist, where Esperanto
L. said to be spreading like wildfre."
But the most interesting reports Of
our progress come from the far East.
There Is now a large and fiourishing
society In China that has made thou
sands of converts" to Esperanto; and
Japan is much better represented than
In former years. This is remarkable
In view of the dissimilarity between
Esperanto and the language of the
Orient. l translate a paragraph from
a letter l received some time ago from
a friend in that quarter of the globe,
Maj r. L. Bush, who is stationed at
Major Bush writes: Last
May and June l travelled through
Japan and saw many beautiful places
md beheld many wonderful scenes; 1t
IS a beautiful and interesting country.
In Tokyo l met many fellow Esperan-
lists, who were very hospitable and
Who did everything they could to make
ny visit a happy one. They guided |
ne and treated me as guest, and l |
made some very good friends" Major
Bush now goes on to say that the Jap
Inese Esperantists honored him high
y as an American soldier. and that in
of this at meeting of the
japanese Esperanto association he
vas presented with an ancient Japan
Sc sword He continues: Esperanto
vas a great help to me in Tokyo; 1t
aimed me friends, through whose
indness I was enabled to see much
lore than could possibly have seen
y myself. | have always believed in
he practical utility Of the language,
nd am now certain Of It."
A language whose advocates are as
idespread as the Esperantists must
ecessarily possess great commercial
dvantages Business men in Ger
ANY. France, Russia and England
re now making active use Of 1t, and
Ill increasingly continue to do so.
significant indication Of the tendency
the times Is afforded by the recent
scision of the common council, Guild
Ill, London, that whereas, England
I'd her allies are preparing to act in :
ncert in relation to future CONNER
al affairs, 1t Is highly desirable that
lie language be accepted as CONNER
nj language, to be taught in all
hools." And the resolution, which
lave freely translated from an Esper-
ito version. goes on to recommend
r consideration the languages of the
lies, English, French and Russian
d Esperanto.