Mr. KENNETH HOLLAND, MARCH 29, 1945. Director of the Educational Division of the Office of Inter-American Affairs. DEAR SIR: At the regular meeting yesterday of the board of directors of this chamber, the excellent work of the Office of Inter-American Affairs was again brought to the attention of the board, and particularly that concerning the vocational education program between Brazil and the United States, which, we understand, is sponsored by your Office. The board is well informed regarding the project of taking directors of Brazilian vocational schools to the United States for the purpose of instruction and of bringing American vocational technicians to Brazil for the purpose of assisting, in the establishment of vocational schools in Brazil. It has gone on record unanimously, in endorsing and encouraging the continuation of such activities, since it is unqualifiedly of the opinion that it will contribute greatly to the establishment of better and stronger trade and commercial relations between the two countries, as well as promoting more friendly relations. Furthermore, the United States now has an opportunity not only to counteract the influence which Germany and other countries have in the past exerted, but also to supplant it. Therefore, we believe that this program deserves the full support of this chamber and the United States. Very truly yours AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR BRAZIL, PARTIAL LIQUIDATION OF 1945 CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION Mr. RABAUT. I remember when the request was first made it was for $5,000,000. Mr. HISLE. You gave us $2,588,275 for the 1944 fiscal year and a contract authorization of $2,500,000 for the 1945 fiscal year. We are asking in the fiscal year 1946 a cash appropriation for the partial liquidation of that contract authorization. Mr. HOLLAND. We are not asking for more funds this year. We are planning to do the job which we have outlined to you in previous years within the total funds already provided by the Congress in the form of cash appropriations and contract authorizations. When the present program has been completed it can be evaluated and a decision made as to whether additional activities in this field are justifiable. EXPENDITURES DURING 1946 Mr. TABER. You do not tell us on page 7 of the justifications how much money you expect to spend in the fiscal year 1946. Mr. HISLE. The third line from the bottom shows estimated cash disbursements of $1,524,489. Mr. TABER. What are you going to spend that money for? Mr. HOLLAND. The funds are used to send materials on education in the United States to the other American republics. They are also used for sending a few of our representatives down to act as consultants to the ministries of education, or educational officials, to exchange ideas and work with them, so that they may have a better understanding of our educational system and we of theirs. The American republics can then adapt to their own needs and experience what they have learned. We think that our experience in this education program will be helpful to us as well as to them. The program also provides for bringing a number of key educators from those countries to study, to work, to lecture, and to exchange ideas with our educators. EXCHANGE OF STUDENTS Mr. CASE. Are you doing anything in the exchange of students? Mr. HOLLAND. That program was transferred to the Department of State. Our exchange is now in connection with ministers of education, specialists in education, and directors of normal, secondary and primary schools, with special emphasis on vocational education. Mr. CASE. The work of this particular section is more in the way of urging others to do that. And rather than an exchange of funds it is an exchange of students? We Mr. HOLLAND. This is a cooperative educational program. are contributing and they are contributing funds, personnel, materials, and services. Mr. CASE. It has seemed to me that a good deal can be done in the way of an exchange of teachers and students, that that is a fertile field for a reciprocal understanding between the United States and other countries. Mr. HOLLAND. I believe that; I have just returned from 2% months in Latin America and I am convinced that this is a field that has not been really developed in our relations with the other American republics. I think we have a great possibility in this program and that it has permanent value. OTHER EDUCATION ACTIVITIES Mr. CASE. Do you encourage the establishment of colleges for graduates of institutions in the Latin-American countries? Mr. HOLLAND. Which types of institutions do you mean? Mr. CASE. Such as the various larger schools, like the one at La Paz. Mr. HOLLAND. The program to assist private schools has been transferred to the Department of State, and they are carrying that out, particularly through an office we set up known as Inter-American School Service. This Service is carrying on that work in Latin America, helping private schools in getting personnel and materials and keeping abreast of the latest developments in education in this country. Mr. CASE. In the long run such a program would be of considerable value, but at the same time it is a type of program that costs very little? Mr. HOLLAND. That is what we feel. Mr. CASE. I feel that it has very great possibilities with the right kind of educators and teachers, and that those youngsters for generations will be influenced by those teachers. PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT (See p. 544) Mr. CANNON. Continuing the hearings this morning on the items for the Office of Inter-American Affairs. For item No. 10, the Press and Publications Department, you have an estimate for 1946 of $3,086,246. I notice that while a substantial reduction is proposed, this is one of the largest items in the Budget, and I should be glad if you would review for us, briefly, the work of this Department, letting us know what you have accomplished up to date and how you plan to proceed for 1946. Mr. HARRISON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to have Mr. Jamieson, who has been the head of this department for 4 years, answer for his department. JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATES Mr. JAMIESON. Mr. Chairman, this department is in one sense a basic production unit. I offer the following justification for the record: PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT Objectives. The Press and Publications Department is the medium by which the Office of Inter-American Affairs disseminates information, news, pictures, and printed material to help secure not only the fullest possible cooperation of the American republics in the war against the Axis but also their continued adherence to the principle of cooperative action for common goals. The coming year will be a critical one in inter-American relations. The demand for informational materials in the field of press and publications is constantly on the increase as people of the other American republics, in common with people. all over the world, are looking with concern toward the problems of the future. The people of the other Americas share with us a belief that only through the fullest interchange of information and knowledge will we all be able to meet and solve our common problems. Operations.-The proposed budget is designed to maintain the Press and Publications Department program at a rate consistent with the present need. The material produced by this Department has already supplanted Axis publications, and is countering Axis short-wave propaganda in the other American republics. This material would be made available on a continuing basis, in conformity with the needs of the year 1945-46. This Department provides news, news commentaries, and round-ups of the war and world-wide news especially interpreted as it affects the Western Hemisphere, for short-wave broadcast to the other Americas. Special articles and features are supplied regularly to newspapers, magazines, and radio stations. Over 1,000 newspapers in the other American republics receive each, week matted and illustrated articles prepared by the Department. The Department maintains a complete picture and illustrative material service, which includes prints, glossies, mats, plastic cuts, and display placards and posters. Many of these papers are thus printing material from the United States for the first time. Without the service provided by this Department, most of them would have access to no such material. This material is air mailed, air expressed, radioed, and shipped to the other Americas. The Department also prepares and distributes a series of illustrated informative pamphlets and posters which are in great demand. Since 1942, the Department has brought to the United States from all of the other American republics 128 prominent editors and journalists who have inspected at first hand military and naval establishments, war-production plants, and cultural institutions. Included in this number are 20 journalists who this year have been enrolled for short courses in leading schools of journalism in various colleges and universities throughout the United States. It is proposed to continue the program during the coming fiscal year. EN GUARDIA MAGAZINE Mr. JAMIESON. In addition to press services, we publish a magazine called En Guardia, which began publication about 2 months before Pearl Harbor, and which has a circulation of 550,000 copies, 50,000 of which are purchased from our office by the O. W. I. and distributed in Spain and Portugal. In connection with the publication of En Guardia, Congress authorized funds in an earlier fiscal year for a circulation of 750,000 with a much higher paper content than we now use. In an effort to reduce costs and conserve paper, we held the circulation to 550,000 copies, and in addition reduced the use of paper by 25 percent. There is a further 3.3 percent reduction now under way for the final quarter of this fiscal year. It is not our intention to expand the cirulation beyond its present level. Mr. WOODRUM. How often is this magazine published? Mr. JAMIESON. It is published once a month, but on occasion it has been deferred. This particular issue which I have here was deferred in publication about 3 weeks because of President Roosevelt's death, and our desire to insert material on the President's death and about President Truman. The next issue, which normally would be published at this time, was held up so we could publish a color photo of President Truman on the cover. The demands for the magazine exceed the total circulation, and it is distributed only upon request. MAGAZINES, PUBLICATIONS AND MAILING LISTS Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Your big item here is $1,066,000 for magazines, publications, and mailing lists. Do I understand that that is all for En Guardia, or are there other magazines included? Mr. HISLE. On page 8 there is a break-down of the $1,066,000 for the magazine, publications, and mailing lists. (The material referred to is as follows:) (a) The magazine, bearing the titles of "En Guardia" for the Spanish edition and "Em Guarda" for the Portuguese edition, is distributed monthly. Special editions in French, entitled "En Guarde," are published three times a year for the French-speaking population of the other American republics. The magazine is distributed to leaders in all fields, and its popularity is attested by the fact that its present circulation is based entirely upon individual requests. Although s circulation of 700,000 was originally authorized for this magazine, it has been limited to a maximum circulation of 550,000 because of the paper shortage. In the course of the past 2 years, paper savings of 25 percent per unit have been effected by reducing the weight of the stock and an additional paper savings of approximately 120,000 pounds, or 3.3 percent, has been ordered to become effective in the last quarter of the current fiscal year. It is estimated that a net savings in the cost of the magazine of approximately $32,000 will result. In the 1945 fiscal year, 50,000 copies of each issue of the magazine will be furnished on request to the Office of War Information for distribution in Spain, Portugal, and other countries. The costs of these copies, estimated at $68,000, is reimbursed to this office by the Office of War Information. The Office of War Information has renewed its request for the 1946 fiscal year and the cost to it will be $66,000. The savings of $2,000 to the Office of War Information is included in the net savings of $32,000. (b) Publications.-The Press and Publications Department will continue the purchase of certain United States weeklies for regular distribution in the other American republics. In most cases plastic plates are purchased for printing in the other American republics which results in a savings of paper, shipping, mailing, etc. This program provides a regular and timely United States news and commentary service for editors, radio commentators, and other leaders in the other Americas. (c) The mailing list of the Office of Inter-American Affairs, which is used for the distribution of "En Guardia" and other publications, includes a complete classification of 386,000 names by occupation and geographical location. It is kept current with the assistance of the coordination committees, the embassies, legations, and consulates. Its continued maintenance is an essential prerequisite to the efficient distribution of publications of the Office, and has permanent value in that it provides the Government with the only complete distribution vehicle for the other American republics. (d) Advisory services.-The Press and Publications Department has contracted for advisory services on lay-out work, typography, and photographic material. Through this service, the format of the publications of the Press and Publications Department has been established and maintained at a high level, and large net savings have resulted through techniques suggested and applied by the contractor. It is proposed to continue these advisory services through the 1946 fiscal year at a savings of $2,500. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Just one magazine? Mr. JAMIESON. Yes, En Guardia. It is published in three languages. There is $5,000 for printing advisory services, and we think that has been a good investment because it has helped to bring down the cost of the magazine. The other item-(b)--for publications, is for the distribution of various United States publications which we believe will help the other American republics to understand the United States better. This includes the purchase and distribution of the News of the Week section of the New York Times. It is mailed to a list of roughly 6,000 people, including editors, journalists, and Government officials in Latin America. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. The magazine estimate is for the cost of personnel as well as materials? Mr. JAMIESON. Yes, sir. It is published under contract with the Business Publishers International Corporation. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. What is the circulation? Mr. JAMIESON. Five hundred and fifty thousand. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Are we still distributing that entirely free? Mr. JAMIESON. Yes. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Are you giving any more consideration to having a small charge for the magazine? Mr. JAMIESON. We have considered that very carefully. However, because En Guardia would give serious competition to commercial Latin American publications, it has been considered inadvisable to make any charge for it. Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. How much of the work of this department is done outside? You say this magazine is on a contract basis. Mr. JAMIESON. That is the only continuing operation that is done outside under contract On occasion we have pamphlets written by specially qualified writers oustide the Office so we are not required to have as large a staff as we would if we did it all ourselves. PHOTOGRAPHS AND MAPS Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. What about photographs and mats? Mr. JAMIESON. The bulk of this material is secured from Government sources and printed at the Government Printing Office. I offer the following justification for the record: |