AIMS OF ESPERANTO

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 27, 29 December 1932, Page 10

AIMS OF ESPERANTO

ASSOCIATION’S STATEMENT,

MASTERTON, Dec. 28

“Because so many people have an incorrect idea of what the Esperanto language means, and what its possibilities are for humanity at large, we. New Zealand Esperantists assembled in congress at Masterton, desire to make the following public announcement,” states the New Zealand Esperanto Association at its fourth annual congress now being held at Masterton.

“The idea of the founder and of succeeding Esperantists is to spread throughout the world the use of a neutral, living language, which, without intruding upon the national life of a people and without any attempt to supersede the existing national lan. guages, would give to men of different nations the power of mutual understanding and a.t the same time serve as a peace-making influence in those countries where radical differences are so acute and where national language jealousies are so marked. With such a language as Esperanto works of international interest could be written and published, and would have equal interest for all peoples. “It is universally agreed that an auxiliary language to become international can only be an artificial one. Radical jealousies would preclude the acceptance of a purely national language. therefore, Esperanto being actually completed, tested a.nd proved to ae capable of expressing meanings and ideas, free from idiomatic verbal labyrinths. is the one and only language that has any hope of general acceptance.

“The author and founder of Esperanto, Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, refused once and for all time to claim a pre-emptive right to ownership and has given to the world a gift of incalculable value. Esperanto is now at the free disposal of anyone who desires to use it for any purpose whatsoever. “Esperanto favours no special cult, religious, social or political. Its sole aim is mutual understanding between diverse races or nationalities. Human brotherhood, international amity and peace are concomitant results. “No restrictions are placed upon the use of Esperanto, but users of the language are advised not to deviate from the model of the founder in his work, ‘The Fundament of Esperanto.’ There is nothing so likely to destroy the effectiveness of Esperanto as attempts to modify or change the basic principle of the language. “Every person who has acquired a knowledge of Esperanto and who uses it for any purpose is entitled to be called an Esperantist, but active membership of an organised group or society is strongly recommended.”