COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS, Inc.

23 WEST 26 STREET • NEW YORK 10, N. Y. • MURRAY HILL 4-6140

OFFICERS

PAUL ROBESON
Chairman

WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN
Vice Chairman

EDITH C. FIELD
Treasurer

MAX YERGAN
Executive Director

COUNCIL MEMBERS

LEONARD BARNES
MRS. CHARLOTTA A. BASS
BISHOP W. Y. BELL
DR. R. T. BOKWE
MRS. LIDA N. BRONER
CHARLOTTE H. BROWN
WILLIAM F. COCHRAN
F. E. DeFRANTZ
HUBERT T. DELANY
EARL B. DICKERSON
E. FRANKLIN FRAZIER
JOHN HAMMOND
DAVID D. JONES
ADAH L. KIEFFER
NORMAN MacKENZIE
GEORGE MARSHALL
MRS. JOHN F. MOORS
BISHOP DAVID H. SIMS
FERDINAND C. SMITH
MRS. STANLEY F. SMITH
CHANNING H. TOBIAS
DOXEY A. WILKERSON

W. A. HUNTON
Educational Director

January 17, 1945

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Ave.
New York City

Dear Mr. Hughes:

The first Brazilian Writers Congress will convene in Sao Paulo on January 25th. Among the leaders in this expression of democratic culture are Anibal Machado, President of the Brazilian Writers Association, George Amado, Gilberto Freyre, Pedro Motta Lima, and others.

Several prominent cultural leaders in this country, including Albert Einstein and Sholem Asch, are sending a message of greeting to the Congress. If you would like to join in this expression of solidarity with our cultural allies in Brazil, kindly send your message by telegram to me and it will be forwarded along with other messages by cable.

Very sincerely yours,

WAH:jo

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OFFICERS

PAUL ROBESON
Chairman

EDITH C. FIELD
Treasurer

MAX YERGAN
Executive Director

November 8, 1945

Mr. Langston Hughes,
c/o Harper,
634 St. Nicholas Ave.,
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

The Council for Pan American Democracy, the Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions, Inc., the National Lawyers Guild and the Council on African Affairs are jointly initiating a Conference on Puerto Rico's right to self-determination, and cordially invite you to be one of the sponsors. The Conference will take place on Saturday, December 8, 1945, at the Hotel Essex.

In his October 16th message to Congress, President Truman said:

> "It is now time, in my opinion, to ascertain from the people of Puerto Rico their wishes as to the ultimate status they prefer, and, within such limits as may be determined by the Congress, to grant to them the kind of government which they desire."

The purpose of our Conference is to initiate a broad and sustained campaign of support for prompt Congressional action to implement the President's message.

Obviously, action by our government leading to Puerto Rico's liberation will have profound effect in advancing the independence struggles of Africa and the Far East, and world democracy in general.

As the time is very short, we should appreciate receiving promptly your permission to list your name as one of the co-sponsors of the Conference, who include Elmer A. Benson and C. B. Baldwin, officers of National Citizens PAC; Representative John M. Coffee; Hon. Stanley M. Isaacs; Ferdinand C. Smith; Prof. Harlow M. Shapley and others.

COUNCIL MEMBERS

LEONARD BARNES
MRS. CHARLOTTA A. BASS
BISHOP W. Y. BELL
DR. R. T. BOKWE
MRS. LIDA N. BRONER
CHARLOTTE H. BROWN
WILLIAM F. COCHRAN
F. E. DEFRANTZ
HUBERT T. DELANY
EARL B. DICKERSON
E. FRANKLIN FRAZIER
JOHN HAMMOND
DAVID D. JONES
ADAH L. KIEFFER
NORMAN MacKENZIE
GEORGE MARSHALL
MRS. JOHN F. MOORS
BISHOP DAVID H. SIMS
FERDINAND C. SMITH
MRS. STANLEY F. SMITH
CHANNING H. TOBIAS
DOXEY A. WILKERSON

my: mm

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23 WEST 26TH STREET • NEW YORK 10, NEW YORK • MURRAY HILL 3-6209

PAUL ROBESON, Chairman • W. E. B. DU BOIS, Vice Chairman • ESTELLE M. OSBORNE, Treasurer • W. A. HUNTON, Secretary

November 10, 1948

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Place
New York City

Dear Langston:

This is an S.O.S. -- truly urgent!

As indicated in the circular letter of October 7 signed by Paul Robeson and myself, now that the long disruption of its work is over, the Council is striving to push ahead with its program but is severely handicapped by a heavy burden of debts inherited from the past.

We want to send out *New Africa*, the Council's monthly bulletin, within the next few days and get several projects under way. We are confident of public support once the Council gets moving again. But we can't move without money.

It is imperative, especially in these days, that the Council do a full-time job of advancing the cause of African freedom. If you agree, won't you please respond post haste, and as liberally as possible, so that the job can be done?

WAH:mpm

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COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Dec. 1, 1948

RECEIPTS, Oct. 1 -- Nov. 30, 1948

Bank balance (Oct. 1, 1948)...................$122.64

General contributions:

one...................250.00
one...................200.00
one...................100.00
12 @ $10.-49.00........245.00
12 @ $1.-5.00........... 43.25

Contributions returned with payment for "Seeing"...........$38.25
Sale of "Seeing" and other literature.................. 29.50
Subscriptions, New Africa.............................. 75.64
Sale of furniture.................................... 75.00
Refund from P.O. on postcards....................... 4.58

Total $1169.61

DISBURSEMENTS, Oct. 1 -- Nov. 30, 1948

Yergan accounts:

Printing...................$124.52
Telephone.................. 144.90
Telephone deposit........ 60.00
Towel service............. 5.16
Western Union.............. 1.48

Current expenses:

Salary, stenographer (half-time)........225.00
Salary, Hunton (on account)...........100.00
Printing..........................159.38
Postage.............................138.65
Stationery, supplies.............. 57.13
Mimeo repairs, supplies.......... 22.14
Miscellaneous..................... 9.56
Rejected check and postal orders... 11.01
Refund on furniture sale.......... 5.00
Refund of New Africa subscription.. 1.00

Total......$336.06

Total......728.87

Total $1064.93

BALANCE ON HAND, Dec. 1, 1948...................$104.68

IMMEDIATE OBLIGATIONS -- past due

Salary, Hunton, balance due for Oct. 1-Nov. 30 @ $60 wk... $410.00
N.Y. Telephone Co., installation and service (Oct. 9-Nov. 1). 36.71
Advance Printing Co., 2 monthly installments on total
  balance of $727.46 (Y account)--agreement made to pay
  off balance due in monthly installments............ 140.00
Fred B. Kaim, typewriter service (Y account).......... 20.29
Gensup Stationery (Y account).......................... 34.55
British Inf. Service, documents (Y account).......... 7.30

Total $648.35

(Recommended that funds be secured for paying off these obligations at once.)

OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Salary, Hunton, Jan. 15--Sept. 30, 1948 @ $220.00 a month
--$1870.00, less $500.00...................$1370.00
Advance Printing Co., balance after payment of $140..... 587.40
Harold Cammer, legal services.............. 1000.00
Michael B. Atkins, legal services.......... 75.00
Employer's tax deduction ....................?

Total $3032.40

plus

(Recommended that these obligations be paid off, so far as possible,
by appropriation of $200.00 monthly from income, beginning Jan., 1949.)

COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS

PROPOSED OPERATIONAL EXPENSE BUDGET

based on perspective of immediate launching of membership-organization drive
and holding of 6 meetings in selected cities within period December 15 - January 31

DECEMBER, 1948

| Description | Amount |
| :--- | ---: |
| Salary, Council Secretary @ $65 a week | $260.00 |
| Salary, Organization Director @ $65 a week | 260.00 |
| Salary, Full-time Secretary @ $50 a week | 200.00 |
| Salary, Part-time secretary @ $25 a week | 100.00 |
| Telephone & Telegraph | 30.00 |
| Postage | 80.00 |
| Stationery supplies | 40.00 |
| Printing (membership brochure, leaflets, cards) | 200.00 |
| Mimeographing - New Africa, etc | 100.00 |
| Travel (organization director, speakers) | 300.00 |
| **Total** | **$1570.00** |

JANUARY, 1949 and subsequent months

| Description | Amount |
| :--- | ---: |
| Add: Rent | $130.00 |
| Deduct: Travel | 200.00 |
| | 150.00 |
| | 30.00 |
| Other items in December budget remain same | |
| **Total** | **$1320.00** |

PAUL ROBSON WELCOME HOME RALLY

Sunday, June 19, 3 p.m.
Rockland Palace, 155th St. & 8th Ave., NYC

This Card certifies that

LANGSTON HUGHES
is a Special Guest

Admission to Meeting by This Card

Seat Reserved on Platform

Secretary, Council on African Affairs

23 WEST 26 STREET • NEW YORK 10, N. Y. • MURRAY HILL 3-7622X
6209

June 13, 1949

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York City, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

We would greatly appreciate a personal
message from you greeting Paul Robeson on the
occasion of the Welcome Home Mass Meeting
being held next Sunday.

We hope you will be present with us
at that time (card enclosed).

HARLEM SPEAKS

for

**PEACE and FREEDOM**

at

WELCOME HOME RALLY

for

PAUL ROBESON

SUNDAY, JUNE 19 3 P.M.

Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois

OTHER PROMINENT SPEAKERS

ENTERTAINMENT

AT ROCKLAND PALACE

155th Street and 8th Avenue

ADMISSION:

General Admission 60c

Box Seats $2.40

Reserved Seats $1.20

Complete Box of 9 Seats $20

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE AT

HARLEM

Frederick Douglas Book Center
141 West 125th Street

Harlem Tenants Council
57 West 125th Street

BROOKLYN

Thomas R. Jones
523 Nostrand Avenue

BRONX

Bronx Council of Rents & Housing
910 Southern Boulevard

MANHATTAN

Council on African Affairs
23 West 26th Street

Jefferson School Book Shop
575 6th Avenue

Auspices:

COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS

— 23 West 26th Street, N. Y. C.

MU. 3-6209

112

PAUL ROBESON, Chairman

ESTELLE M. OSBORNE, Treasurer

W. A. HUNTON, Secretary

LOUISE T. PATTERSON, Director of Organization

August 5, 1950

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th St.
New York, N. Y.

Dear Langston Hughes:

I have sent you, under separate cover, copies of statements issued
here yesterday by Mr. Nathan Witt, counsel for Mr. Robeson, and
the Council on African Affairs of which Mr. Robeson is chairman.
Both statements related to the action taken by the United States
State Department seeking to deprive Mr. Robeson of his passport.
(Lest you may have not seen the other copies, I am enclosing
duplicates.)

Because the issue raised by this unusual action on the part of our
government against an American citizen goes far beyond the question
of Paul Robeson's personal freedom, as important as this is, the
Council on African Affairs hopes that you will give editorial com-
ment on this vital matter through the important public medium of
your newspaper column.

We shall be most happy to receive a copy of any published comment
you may make. I enclose a self-addressed envelope for that purpose.

264

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th St.
New York, New York

PAUL ROBESON, Chairman

• W. A. HUNTON, Secretary

August 17, 1950

Dear Langston:

The Council faces the greatest challenge of its
existence.

As you know, the State Department is attempting
to silence Paul Robeson by denying his right to travel.
But obviously it is not only Paul Robeson they wish to
silence. They want to crush the militant voice of the
Negro people and of the freedom-hungry colonial people
of Africa and Asia.

We are ready to meet the challenge. Legal action
is planned, backed by a ground swell of mass support
that can force the revocation of this high-handed un-
democratic act. In September we plan a Madison Square
Garden meeting which will resound around the world. It
will be a mighty demonstration of the people's answer
to the government's attempt to curb the voice of the man
who is universally known as the champion of the oppressed.

We need funds now so that there will be no delay in
getting this offensive underway. Won't you send your con-
tribution - $25.00, we hope - to help us with this task
which is so vital to the advancement of the Council's
general program of colonial emancipation?

WAH :mpm

264

December 1, 1950

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th Street
New York, New York

Dear Langston,

The enclosed is one of the newspapers published in the
Gold Coast, West Africa, by Nkruma's party which campaigns
militantly for self-government (S.G.) now.

I thought you would be interested in seeing how your
verses are being used to spur on the African people's fight
for freedom. This is by no means the only quotation of your
poems that I have noted.

I know you lead a very busy life, but I trust that we
can somehow, sometime spend an hour together. Meantime,
remember that the Council on African Affairs needs the sup-
port and encouragement of people like you.

WAH:mpm
Enc.

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