Evening star., 1939-11-30
Postal Rate Cut Urged
As Way 10 Boost
Latin Book Sales
Dr.. LeIond Advocates
Move; Brett Opposes
Cheap Editions

A suggestion that the United
States take the initiative in obtain
ing reduction of parcel post rates on
mail between nations of the West
ern Hemisphere was made today by
DR.. Waldo G. Leland, permanent
secretary of the American Council
of Learned Societies, during an open
forum session of the Conference on
Inter American Relations in the
Field of Publications and Libraries,
being held In the Library OF Con-
gress.
In asking that representations be
made to the Post Office Department,
DR.. Leland called attention to the
statement made yesterday by DR..
Manuel P, Gonzales of the Unlver-
sity of California, in which he cited
high retail prices as an important
reason for the absence of appre-
ciable trade in United States books
among the republics to the south.
DR.. Leland expressed the opinion
that the book postage scale for ex-
ports to Latin America should con-
form with the present low domestic
schedule.
DR.. Harry M. Lydenberg, director
of the New York City Public Library,
added the plea for lower rates should
be accompanied by reminder that
similar treatment would be expected
from the countries benefited through
lower rates on books sent to the
United States.
Opposes Cheap Editions.
A suggestion by DR.. Gonzales that
cheap editions be printed for the
South American trade was rejected
bv George P. Brett, president OF the
Mcmillan Co., who declared present
and Immediately prospective BOOK
sales in Central and South America
does not warrant such program,
and the saving, in any event, would
be negligible. MI. Brett lndorsed
the postage reduction and added
that steps should be taken to assure
publishers in this country adequate
copyright protection.
He pointed out book trade to the
Orient was nearly eXtinguished be-
cause of insufficient protection ana
the practice of making cheap, un-
authorized reproductions OF Amer
ican volumes by the photo-onSet
process.
Looking toward a long-range de-
yelopment of book business IN Latln
America. Mr.. Brett said American
publishers have prepared to take
a beating" for a number OF years
by selling their product "at rldlcu-
lousy low prices-prices we wouldn't
think of giving any one in the
United States.
Protection for Dealers.
Horace B. Mccoy, chief of the
special division, Bureau OF Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, said un-
informed publishers could protect
themselves against unscrupulous
book dealers through availing them
selves of the bureaus information,
collected by representatives of the
United States foreign service.
Henry NJ Snyder, Latin American
export agent for number of lead
ing publishers in this country, said
he had been received with en-
thusiasm' throughout current sur
vey of the South American markets,
and added that the cooperative
billing and customs entry documen-
tation arrangements effected prom
ised to be particularly valuable in
fostering book sales to the readers
in Latin America with the least
hardship to publishers here.
While this consideration of means
of popularizing United States print
ed matter to the south was being
conducted, another division of the
conference was devoting its atten-
ton to plans for making more Latin
American literature available to
readers in this country. More ex-
tensive photographed services were
suggested as a desirable step.
DIR. Walsh Speaks.
The Americas are custodianS of
western culture as a result of the
current European war, the Rev. DR..
Edmund A. Walsh, S. j.. vice presi-
dent of Georgetown University, de-
clared last night during the confer
ence dinner in the National Press
Club.
Father Walsh said the Western
Hemisphere may be witnessing the
dawn of a new civilization.
The clergyman, head of George
towns School of Foreign Service.
acted as toastmaster for the dinner.
Latin Americans have been some
what surprised by the recent awak-
ening of interest in their welfare