SO THAT SAILORS MAY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER Catholic Esperantists' Congress

From Our Own Correspondent
THE HAGUE
The advantage obtained in such organisations as the A.M.I.C. (International Seamen's Apostolate) if it were possible for sailors of different nationalities to under'stand each other's speech, was stressed at the nineteenth congress of the International Union of Catholic Esperantists which has just taken place at The Hague.
It was pointed out by Fr. Ouwendiyk (Holland) that sailors more than any other group of working people would benefit by a knowledge of Esperanto since they had to make contact on shore with the people of the countries visited by their ships.
He understood, he said, that Communist organisations had already planned to work along similar lines and it was therefore up to Catholic Esperantists to make counterpropaganda by the same means.
Fr. Ouwendiyk's proposal was acclaimed and among those who supported him was M. Goseling, the Dutch Minister of Justice, who stated his intention of putting the matter before the Dutch Government.
Esperanto, said M. Goseling, must not be considered a supernational confusion. 'There was no reason on earth why it should weigh down the existing personality of any nation.
Several members of the Esperantists' Congress paid a visit to the International Scouts' Jamboree which was being held in Holland in the same week. It was found that the Czechoslovakian scout patrol leaders were all competent Esperantists.
English Esperantists
There also exists in England a League of Catholic Esperantists. Manchester has a neutral body which exists solely to teach the language, and to provide teachers to groups or societies desirous of studying the language. Details may be obtained from the hon. secretary, Mr. L. Hesling Addie, 23, Deyne Avenue, Manchester, 14.