December 28, 1956

Mr. Robert Blum, President
The Asia Foundation
105 Market Street
San Francisco 5, California

Dear Mr. Blum:

I hate to be so persistent in my appeals to you, but before
you made any irrevocable decisions I did want you again to be aware
of our situation.

We have received a three-year grant from the Ford Foundation which is being gradually scaled down every year, starting this year, so that even if you supported us to the extent that you did last year, we would have a deficit of $10,000 to make up. This may not seem like a big sum to you, but unhappily Harvard is engaged in a big fund raising drive at the moment, so that almost all the obvious sources are closed to us. Therefore, should you either scale down your grant or refuse to extend it, we would have to conduct the Seminar on an absolute shoestring, eliminating most of our Asian participation, and eventually we would have to close it all together.

I know that foundations prefer to get things started and
then hand them over to someone else. To be perfectly honest, however,
no foundation has ever told me who this someone else might be.

We have gone ahead with this year's selection process on
the assumption that some money would come through, but we will be in
desperate straits should this hope prove misleading. I find it
difficult to believe that at this stage of America's relations with
the world, a program could collapse which, by the account of everyone
who has seen it or been associated with it, makes an important con-
tribution.

I do hope that the Asia Foundation will find it possible
to continue its interest in our effort.

Best regards.

January 4, 1957

Mr. Robert D. Barton
American Embassy (USIS)
A.P.O. 285
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Barton:

Thank you very much for your letter of December 4.
I am enclosing 25 application blanks as you requested.

With regard to your query about whether or not
we will accept women, we have always taken three or four
each year and will certainly consider any applications from
women that you may send us.

In past years we have noticed that a great number
of the Spanish applicants are from the diplomatic school.
Although we are naturally happy to consider these, I was
wondering whether it would be possible to solicit a few
more applications from candidates in other fields so that we
may have a slightly more representative group to choose from.

This is in no way a criticism of the assistance
you have given us, but this point occurred to me when con-
sidering the balance of the whole seminar.

We are looking forward to receiving the applica-
tions of the finalists.

With many thanks for all your help.

January 14, 1957

Professor A. Stamper
Jugoslavenska Akademija
Znanosti i Umjetnosti
Zagreb, Yugoslavia

Dear Professor Stamper:

Thank you for your letter of December 22. I am sorry to hear that you have had difficulty in obtaining a visa for this country; however, I hope you will not let this stop you from suggesting individuals for our seminar as very often there is much that we can do from this end in helping people obtain visas.

Last year Mr. Vladimir Ibler of the University of Zagreb attended our seminar, and we found his contribution invaluable. We hope you will have other representatives from your country in the future.

I look forward to hearing from you.

January 11, 1957

The Reverend Jacques Lair
Ecole des Cordeliers
Dinan (C.D.N.)
France

Dear Reverend Lair:

Thank you very much for your letter
of January 6 in regard to your applying for
the 1957 session of the Seminar.

In order to do this, you would not
need to send in another application, but we
would like to be brought up to date on your
activities during the past year.

You will realize of course that
your application must be reconsidered in
relation to the many others we expect to
receive, and that we cannot give you an
assurance that you will be selected.

January 16, 1957

Mrs. Helen Benedict, President
The Surdna Foundation
1156 North Broadway
Yonkers, New York

Dear Mrs. Benedict:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of The Surdna Foundation in supporting the 1957 session of
the International Seminar at Harvard.

The Seminar, which we have been conducting for the past six
years, originated in the belief that existing exchange programs failed to
provide an opportunity to a group on the verge of reaching positions
of leadership in their countries. We thought particularly of the generation
which matured during the war and witnessed the despair and destruction of its
aftermath. Too old for existing student exchange programs, too active to
leave their countries for extended periods, these men and women have felt
isolated and, too often, have sought refuge in a narrow nationalism. It was
our belief that a meeting of the most promising representatives of this group
in an atmosphere of tolerance, created by a privately sponsored program would
go far to promote a better appreciation of common problems and of America's
deeper values.

We therefore invited each year about forty individuals equally
divided between Europe and Asia, together with a few outstanding young
Americans. They have included a number of editors, legislators, government
officials and labor leaders, as well as representatives from literary,
academic and artistic circles. You will find a list of participants of
previous years in Appendix H of the enclosed report. We have made no effort
to "propagandize" our participants, and this may have been the major cause
for our success. Instead, we have exhibited the United States in all its
plurality, inviting representative speakers from all walks of American life,
including Harold Stassen, Felix Frankfurter, Thornton Wilder, Philip Reed,
Robert Moses, Joshua Logan, Robert Bowie, Joseph Johnson and McGeorge Bundy.
Every speaker has been invited to an informal lunch with the group, and has
been available for questioning after his talk, so that insofar as possible
we have tried to avoid any impression of condescension and preaching -- the
bane of so many efforts at international understanding.

I will not say that our participants arrived disliking the United
States and left as enthusiastic supporters; the change has been more subtle.

Mrs. Helen Benedict

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Even those who left with some misgivings nevertheless were convinced that the stereotypes of their nationalist press were false. Since they have the media of communication of their countries at their disposal, their impact has been considerable. One Indian Government Official broadcast an account of his impressions of the Seminar over All-India Radio. Another participant has written a small book about his experiences in the United States. Many of this year's participants are also writing newspaper articles about their impressions of this country, and are giving lectures and informal talks. At the same time, all of the participants have acquired a greater awareness of the problems of other countries, and one of the most useful results of our Seminar has been the cultural exchange which has been started among the participating countries, for the participants are now writing for journals in the other countries, keeping each other informed about academic, political and cultural events.

We have felt very strongly that although the central focus of the Seminar is upon the United States, this emphasis is by no means the limit of the range of our purpose. The experience of forty participants from nineteen different countries, who live together in an informal atmosphere separated from their day to day concerns is perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of the Seminar. I think the best testimony to the effectiveness of what we have been doing is not anything I could say, but is in the letters which we receive throughout the years from former participants, some of which are included in the enclosed report, Appendix A.

Our 1956 session was well up to the levels of previous years, and the group was one of the best we have had. One of the most significant results of the Seminar has been the plan of our Indian participants to organize a congress of former Asian Seminar members to be held in New Delhi next year, and we are working on this at the present time. Our Seminar members have also formed the Harvard International Seminar Association among former participants. Through this Association they keep in touch with each other, help each other during visits to foreign countries, and assist us in selecting the participants for future years.

Ever since its beginning, the Seminar has been operated on a shoe-string basis. We have been absolutely rigid about not accepting Government money or even indirect support from any government, either United States or foreign. Although Harvard contributes close to 10% of our budget, we have been forced each year to raise about $60,000, most of which goes for transportation, living expenses, and faculty salaries. I would like to emphasize that our participants receive a weekly allowance of only $15 for weekend meals and incidental expenses, and that none of our guest speakers are paid honoraria for their appearance. Moreover, the salaries of both the staff and the director are almost token salaries, so that every cent we have raised has gone to the direct operation of the Seminar.

Our budget has been made up from grants from foundations and from private contributions. Since each foundation has been giving grants on a sliding scale, reducing its contribution each year, we have had to do a great deal of fund-raising simply to stay even, and we have never had a margin to exploit some of the by-products of the Seminar such as closer association among Seminar participants, along the lines of a letter written by one of

Mrs. Helen Benedict

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

our Dutch participants, which you will find on page 9 of the report. (I
might add that Mr. Wemelsfelder is anything but a hysterical type.) It
would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to take
an interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing deficit.
As it stands now, unless we make up a gap of some $25,000 this year, and about
$30,000 next year, we will be forced to curtail and eventually to suspend
operations.

I do not doubt that you are overwhelmed with requests of this
kind. Everyone who has seen or attended the Seminar, however, has felt
so strongly about it that perhaps we may be forgiven for feeling that it
is something a little special. I am sure that any of our guest speakers
whose names you will find in Appendix B will be glad to comment about their
reactions.

I apologize for the rather pedestrian appearance of the enclosed
report, but this is a symptom of the shoestring budget under which we have
been operating. I should particularly like to call your attention to
Appendix A which includes comments by Seminar members, and Appendix B which
includes comments by a few of our guest speakers. I would be glad to come
to New York to discuss this matter further, or I should be glad to make any
other material available to you if you should think it useful.

Henry V. Kraefter

Sincerely yours,

other materially satisfactory to you if you should think it meaningful to New York to direct your matter further, or I should be glad to make such increase comments as a few of our great audiences. I would be glad to come Abbeville X which includes comments by Seminarians, members, and Abbeville X which has been outstanding. I should certainly like to call your attention to report, put there in a summary of the outstanding points under which we have been successful. I anticipate for further consideration the convenience of the enclosed responses.

whose names you will find in Abbeville X which I will be glad to comment upon their something a little special. I am sure that such an great audience so strongly support it that perhaps we may be able to get them to feel that it might be useful to us. Everyone who has seen or attended the Seminar, however, has left me no doubt that you are overjoyed with your audience of this operation.

$30,000 next year, we will be forced to compromise and eventually to absorb it at some future date. I am sure we make it a tab of some $52,000 this year, and expect an interest in the Seminarian, and to help us meet our continuing deficit. I would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to make it a part of that. Mr. Muesfelder, I am writing to put a statement before you. Dutch barbershops, which you will find on page 3 of the report. (I

Mrs. Helen Benedict

- 3 -

January 19, 1921

January 16, 1957

The President
Stern Family Foundation, Inc.
36 Cooper Square
New York 3, New York

Dear Sir:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of the Stern Family Foundation in supporting the 1957 session of
the International Seminar at Harvard.

Stern Family Foundation, Inc.

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Stern Family Foundation, Inc.

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

January 16, 1957

Mr. Julius Stulman
Stulman Foundation
173 West Street
Brooklyn, New York

Dear Mr. Stulman:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining your
assistance in supporting an Israeli participant for the 1957 session of
the International Seminar at Harvard.

Mr. Julius Stulman

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Even those who left with some misgivings nevertheless were convinced that the stereotypes of their nationalist press were false. Since they have the media of communication of their countries at their disposal, their impact has been considerable. One Indian Government official broadcast an account of his impressions of the Seminar over All-India Radio. Another participant has written a small book about his experiences in the United States. Many of this year's participants are also writing newspaper articles about their impressions of this country, and are giving lectures and informal talks. At the same time, all the participants have acquired a greater awareness of the problems of other countries, and one of the most useful results of our Seminar has been the cultural exchange which has been started among the participating countries, for the participants are now writing for journals in the other countries, keeping each other informed about academic, political and cultural events.

We have raised sufficient funds to conduct the Seminar this year, although not on the scale that we should wish. The sufferers usually are participants from the smaller countries since, with a limited budget, we tend to confine our selection to the major countries. If the Stulman Foundation should find it possible to support an Israeli participant, the amount required would not exceed $1100.

Mr. Julius Stulman

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

I look forward to hearing from you about this.

January 16, 1957

The President
Sam Spatt Foundation, Inc.
514 West 49th Street
New York 19, New York

Dear Sir:

Sam Spatt Foundation, Inc.

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Ever since its beginning, the Seminar has been operated on a shoe-string basis. We have been absolutely rigid about not accepting Government money or even indirect support from any government, either United States or foreign. Although Harvard contributes close to 10% of our budget, we have been forced each year to raise about $60,000, most of which goes for transportation, living expenses, and faculty salaries. I would like to emphasize that our participants receive a weekly allowance of only $15 for weekend meals and incidental expenses, and that none of our guest speakers are paid honorarium for their appearance. Moreover, the salaries of both the staff and the director are almost token salaries, so that every cent we have raised has gone to the direct operation of the Seminar.

We have raised sufficient funds to conduct the Seminar this year, although not on the scale that we should wish. The sufferers usually are participants from the smaller countries since, with a limited budget, we tend to confine our selection to the major countries. If the Sam Spatt Foundation should find it possible to support an Israeli participant, the amount required would not exceed $1100.

Sam Spatt Foundation, Inc.

January 16, 1957

January 16, 1957

Mr. Louis Caplan, President
The Louis J. and Mary E. Horowitz Foundation
60 East 42nd Street
New York 17, New York

Dear Mr. Caplan:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining your
assistance in supporting the 1957 session of the International Seminar
at Harvard.

The Seminar, which we have been conducting for the past six years,
originated in the belief that existing exchange programs failed to provide
an opportunity to a group on the verge of reaching positionsof leadership
in their countries. We thought particularly of the generation which
matured during the war and witnessed the despair and destruction of its
aftermath. Too old for existing student exchange programs, too active to
leave their countries for extended periods, these men and women have felt
isolated and, too often, have sought refuge in a narrow nationalism. It
was our belief that a meeting of the most promising representatives of
this group in an atmosphere of tolerance, created by a privately sponsored
program would go far to promote a better appreciation of common problems
and of America's deeper values.

Mr. Louis Caplan

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Mr. Louis Caplan

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

our Dutch participants, which you will find on page 9 of this report. (I
might add that Mr. Wemelsfelder is anything but a hysterical type.) It
would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to
take some interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing
deficit. As it stands now, unless we make up a gap of some $25,000 this
year, and about $30,000 next year, we will be forced to curtail and eventually
to suspend operations. Any contribution the Horowitz Foundation could make
toward meeting this deficit would be greatly appreciated.

I apologize for the rather pedestrian appearance of the enclosed
report, but this is a symptom of the shoestring budget under which we have
been operating. I should particularly like to call your attention to
Appendix A which includes comments by Seminar members, and Appendix B which
includes comments by a few of our guest speakers. I should be glad to come
to New York to discuss this matter further, or I should be glad to make any
other material available to you if you should think it useful.

January 16, 1957

Mrs. Robert Halsband, Vice-President
The Aaron E. Norman Fund, Inc.
654 Madison Avenue
New York 21, New York

Dear Mrs. Halsband:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of The Aaron E. Norman Fund, Inc., in supporting the 1957
session of the International Seminar at Harvard.

Mrs. Robert Halsband

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Even those who left with some misgivings nevertheless were convinced that the stereotypes of their nationalist press were false. Since they have the media of communication of their countries at their disposal, their impact has been considerable. One Indian Government Official broadcast an account of his impressions of the Seminar over All-India Radio. Another participant has written a small book about his experiences in the United States. Many of this year's participants are also writing newspaper articles about their impressions of this country, and are giving lectures and informal talks. At the same time, all the participants have acquired a greater awareness of the problems of other countries, and one of the most useful results of our Seminar has been the cultural exchange which has been started among the participating countries, for the participants are now writing for journals in the other countries, keeping each other informed about academic, political and cultural events.

Mrs. Robert Halsband

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

our Dutch participants, which you will find on page 9 of this report. (I
might add that Mr. Wemelsfelder is anything but a hysterical type.) It
would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to
take some interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing
deficit. As it stands now, unless we make up a gap of some $25,000 this
year, and about $30,000 next year, we will be forced to curtail and eventually
to suspend operations. Any contribution the Aaron E. Norman Fund could
make toward meeting this deficit would be greatly appreciated.

January 16, 1957

Mr. W. Alton Jones, President
The W. Alton Jones Foundation, Inc.
70 Pine Street
New York 5, New York

Dear Mr. Jones:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of the W. Alton Jones Foundation, Inc., in supporting the 1957
session of the International Seminar at Harvard.

We therefore invited each year about forty individuals equally divided between Europe and Asia, together with a few outstanding young Americans. They have included a number of editors, legislators, government officials and labor leaders, as well as representatives from literary, academic and artistic circles. You will find a list of participants of previous years in Appendix H of the enclosed report. We have made no effort to "propagandize" our participants, and this may have been the major cause for our success. Instead, we have exhibited the United States in all its plurality, inviting representative speakers from all walks of American life, including Harold Stassen, Felix Frankfurter, Thornton Wilder, Philip Reed, Robert Mses, Joshua Logan, Robert Bowie, Joseph Johnson and McGeorge Bundy. Every speaker has been invited to an informal lunch with the group, and has been available for questioning after his talk, so that insofar as possible we have tried to avoid any impression of condescension and preaching -- the bane of so many efforts at international understanding.

Mr. W. Alton Jones

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Mr. W. Alton Jones

- 3-

January 16, 1956

our Dutch participants, which you will find on page 9 of this report. (I
might add that Mr. Wemelsfelder is anything but a hysterical type.) It
would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to
take some interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing
deficit. As it stands now, unless we make up a gap of some $25,000 this
year, and about $30,000 next year, we will be forced to curtail and eventually
to suspend operations. Any contribution the W. Alton Jones Foundation could
make toward meeting this deficit would be greatly appreciated.

I apologize for the rather pedestrian appearance of the enclosed
report, but this is a symptom of the shoestring budget under which we have
been operating. I should particularly like to call your attention to
Appendix A, which includes comments by Seminar members, and Appendix B which
includes comments by a few of our guest speakers. I should be glad to come
to New York to discuss this matter further, or I should be glad to make any
other material available to you if you should think it useful.

January 16, 1956

Mrs. Henry Ittleson, Trustee
The Ittleson Family Foundation
1 Park Avenue
New York 16, New York

Dear Mrs. Ittleson:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of the Ittleson Family Foundation in supporting the 1957
session of the International Seminar at Harvard.

We therefore invited each year about forty individuals equally
divided between Europe and Asia, together with a few outstanding young
Americans. They have included a number of editors, legislators, government
officials and labor leaders, as well as representatives from literary,
academic and artistic circles. You will find a list of participants of
previous years in Appendix H of the enclosed report. We have made no effort
to "propagandize" our participants, and this may have been the major cause
for our success. Instead, we have exhibited the United States in all its
plurality, inviting representative speakers from all walks of American life,
including Harold Stassen, Felix Frankfurter, Thornton Wilder, Philip Reed,
Robert Moses, Joshua Logan, Robert Bowie, Joseph Johnson and McGeorge Bundy.
Every speaker has been invited to an informal lunch with the group, and has
been available for questioning after his talk, so that insofar as possible
we have tried to avoid any impression of condescension and preaching — the
bane of so many efforts at international understanding.

Mrs. Henry Ittleson, Trustee

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

Ever since its beginning, the Seminar has been operated on a shoe-string basis. We have been absolutely rigid about not accepting Government money or even indirect support from any government, either United States or foreign. Although Harvard contributes close to 10% of our budget, we have been forced each year to raise about $60,000, most of which goes for transportation, living expenses, and faculty salaries. I would like to emphasize that our participants receive a weekly allowance of only $15 for weekend meals and incidental expenses, and that note of our guest speakers are paid honoraria for their appearance. Moreover, the salaries of both the staff and the director are almost token salaries, so that every cent we have raised has gone to the direct operation of the Seminar.

Mrs. Henry Ittleson, Trustee

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

our Dutch participants, which you will find on page 9 of the report. (I
might add that Mr. Wemelsfelder is anything but a hysterical type.) It
would therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it possible to
take some interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing deficit.
As it stands now, unless we make up a gap of some $25,000 this year, and
about $30,000 next year, we will be forced to curtail and eventually to
suspend operations. Any contribution the Ittleson Family Foundation could
make toward meeting this deficit would be greatly appreciated.

January 16, 1957

Miss Estelle S. Frankfurter, Executive Director
The Dorothy H. and Lewis Rosenstiel Foundation
350 Fifth Avenue, Room 602
New York 1, New York

Dear Miss Frankfurter:

I am writing to inquire into the possibility of gaining the
assistance of The Dorothy H. and Lewis Rosenstiel Foundation in support-
ing the 1957 session of the International Seminar at Harvard.

Miss Estelle S. Frankfurter

- 2 -

January 16, 1957

We have felt very strongly that although the central focus of the Seminar is upon the United States, this emphasis is by no means the limit of the range of our purpose. The experience of forty participants from nineteen different countries, who live together in an informal atmosphere separated from their day to day concerns is perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of the Seminar. I think the best testimony to the effectiveness of what we have been doing is not anything I could say, but is in the letters which we receive throughout the years from former participants, some of which are included in the enclosed report, Appensix A.

Miss Estelle S. Frankfurter

- 3 -

January 16, 1957

Henry V. Knaufner.

Sincerely yours,

other materials available to you if you should think it necessary.
to New York to discuss this matter further, or I should be glad to make an
increase comments on a few of our great speakers. I would be glad to come
Abendgix V which includes comments on Seminar memora, and Abendgix B which
been observing. I should certainly like to call on attention to
report, put this is a summary of the speaking program under which we have
I anticipate for the rather began an adherence to the above-mentioned
reasons.

whose names you will find in Abendgix B will be glad to comment upon their
is something a little special. I am sure that such of our great speakers
so greatly upon it that perhaps we may be long enough for seeing it that
it is right. Everyone who has seen or attended the Seminar, however, has left
I do not doubt that you are overjoyed with the reduction of this
anabend operations.

upon $30,000 next year, we will be forced to current and elsewhere to
be it attended now, maybe we make it a trip of some $20,000 this year, and
an interest in the Seminar, and to help us meet our continuing deficit.
world therefore be of tremendous help if you would find it desirable to take
my advice that is. Moreover, it is submitting put a theoretical type.) It
would be nice to hear from you will find on page 8 of the report. (I
om Dutch participants, which you will find on page 8 of the report. (I

Mira Eheffje S. Knaufner.

- 3 -

January 1921

January 17, 1957

Mr. Hans Frank
The Gustav Wurzweiler Foundation, Inc.
160 Broadway
New York 38, New York

Dear Mr. Frank:

We therefore invited each year about forty individuals equally
divided between Europe and Asia, together with a few outstanding young
Americans. They have included a number of editors, legislators, government
officials and labor leaders, as well as representatives from literary,
academic and artistic circles. You will find a list of participants of
previous years in Appendix H of the enclosed report. We have made no effort
to "propagandize" our participants, and this may have been the major cause
for our success. Instead, we have exhibited the United States in all its
plurality, inviting representative speakers from all walks of American life,
including Harold Stassen, Felix Frankfurter, Thornton Wilder, Philip Reed,
Robert Moses, Joshua Logan, Robert Bowle, Joseph Johnson and McGeorge Bundy.
Every speaker has been invited to an informal lunch with the group, and has
been available for questioning after his talk, so that insofar as possible
we have tried to avoid any impression of condescension and preaching -- the
bane of so many efforts at international understanding.

Mr. Hans Frank

- 2 -

January 17, 1957

We have raised sufficient funds to conduct the Seminar this year, although not on the scale that we should wish. The sufferers usually are participants from the smaller countries since, with a limited budget, we tend to confine our selection to the major countries. If the Gustav Wursteiler Foundation should find it possible to support an Israeli participant, the amount required would not exceed $100.

January 21, 1957

Mr. Hermann Wittneben, Studienrat
Gadenstedt, Steinbrucker Weg 311
Kreis Peine, Germany

Dear Mr. Wittneben:

Thank you for your letter of
January 8 in regard to your application for
the 1957 session of the Seminar.

We have brought your application
forward, and there is no need for your send-
ing in another one. However, we would like
to be brought up to date on your activities
during the past year.

Perhaps you would be good enough
to let me know about this. You will realize
of course that your application must be recon-
sidered in relation to the many others we
expect to receive, and that we cannot give you
an assurance that you will be selected.

January 23, 1957

Miss Usha Bhagat
12-A Curzon Road
New Delhi, India

Dear Miss Bhagat:

Mr. Mathai suggested that you might be interested in reapplying for the Seminar this year. If you are interested, would you let us know and also bring us up to date on your recent activities during the past year.