Evening star., 1950-12-10
The Role Of Books as Instruments of National Policy

and the date of issue), together
with the price.
The 35 presently circulated vary
in quality from the excellent
products of Scandinavia and
Switzerland to the sporadic and
fragmentary lists provided by
some of the Latin American coun-
tries. A few, such as ''Livres de
la Semaine" photographic de Ia
France, are occasionally mac
curate.
The Soviet Union has attained a
high degree of coverage but for
several years has strictly prohib-
tied the export of its fundamental
photographic record, "Knizhnaia
Letopis." Hungary, Poland, Czech
oslovakia and Rumania have
creditable registers but state con-
troll casts doubt upon their all
incluSiveness. Hardness in re-
porting publications and unac-
countable omissions impair the
utility of Spain's "Bibliografia
Hispanica."
No Formalized Enumeration
In Near and Middle East
For the Near and Middle East
CTurkey is qualified exception).
and the Arabic areas of
Africa there is no formalized
enumeration of new books. A
comparable situation obtains in
Southeast Asia. For some remote
regions. e.g. the Belgian Congo,
Madagascar, Cyprus, Kenya,
Uganda, Ethiopia. Dutch Guiana
and the French West Indies, de-
pendence for photographic intel
ligence must be limited to volun-
tary personal cooperation, at best
uncertain, at worst misleading.
In the Far East, only Japan
through the agency of the Diet,
Library and affiliated institutions
working with rehabilitated book
trade, may be said to furnish q
satisfactory photographic service.
In China, Korea, Formosa, Hong
Kong. Macao, booksellers labor
ing under severe and discouraging
handicaps, their trade in some in
stances actually prescribed, are
the only resort for contemporary
literature and their meager hold
ings are Ineffective for sound
knowledge of affairs.
These limitations surrounding
the selection and availability of
books are conspiciously aspects Of
that intellectual parochialism
abroad which obstructs the course
of communication to, and under
standing in, the United States.
But for the other countries of
the world there are obstacles al
most inSuperable. In them, Short
ages of foreign currencies paralyze
efforts and Illustrate wants. The
absence or unavailability of re-
quired m in m ums of British
pounds, French francs or United
States dollars (there can be no
doubt that this last prevents the
circulation of American books)
precludes even the most fastidi-
Gus purchase of those publications
which hold the confident promise
of enlightenment or information
or dispelled distrust.
More Importantly, there are
some regions of the earth where
progress is retarded, society i'm
poverished, resources wasted or
altogether forfeited, for want of
literature. There, false doctrines,
vicious ideologies, degrading en-
terprises can corrupt uncritical
consciences.
Similarly. effective restriction to
cultural, scientific and intellectual
interchange. inherent in prevailing
tariffs, shipping charges and
postal rates are a grim contribu-
ton to the suspicious and super
Stltions which beset the world.
Again. limitations on imports, and
export quotas. imposed by govern
ments, stultify minds and imperil
justice. The Soviet Union and its
satellites notoriously indulge these
practices which are tantamount
to rigid censorship. Finally, there
are grave dangers deriving from a
widespread lack of public libraries.
How the United States
Is Spreading Information
In the face of such adverse con-