P.E.N. COMES TO NEW YORK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400200011-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: June 12, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

NEW YO:+I "I1M S
JUN 1 2 1966
Approved For Release 2005/01/12: CIA-RDP88-01315R009j 00~011
E.' N. ':Comes to New York
For the first time in 42 years, the International
P.E.N. is meeting in New York, bringing together
more than 600 poets, playwrights, essayists, editors
and novelists from, 56 ,.countries, numbering among,
them some of the most distinguished figures in con-
temporary literature. The ' talks will deal with the
influence of. the social scientist on the wmriter, the
part played by publisher and editor, in the finished
product, the use of other media in conjunction with
words as a form of expression. In considering these
and similar topics, P.E.N. is living up to its re-
solve to provide politically neutral ground for the
discussion of common artistic problems.
While the Soviet Union has :withdrawn her dele-
gation, 'the meetings will retain' a thoroughly cos-
mopolitan character. Delegates from other Eastern
European countries will meet not only' those from the
West but- also writers in exile; naturalistic -writers
will meet expressionists; committed writers will meet
the disengaged. Obviously the- discussion will-not pro-
vide solutions, 'probably not even agreement. But in
turning all facets to the light, by letting each writer
know that what -troubles him troubles others equally,
these meetings can be both- comfort and goad.
-Ultimately each man must sit down and face' that
blank sheet of paper, whether in Kuala Lumpur or
Paterson. In'-that regard all writers are one.
Approved For Release 2005/01/12 : CIA-RDP88-01315R000400200011-7