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From The New International, Vol.5 No.2, February 1939, p.34.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
THE January issue of the New International has stirred up, as expected, considerable discussion and controversy, to the mutual benefit, we hope, of all concerned and involved. Certainly it helped New International sales. Anticipating extra orders, 5,000 copies were printed, and indications are that the entire issue will be disposed of – the best results to date. It is now up to the magazine agents and friends of the New International to do their utmost to keep as many as possible of the new readers as regular readers. This can be done, or accomplished better, if the comrades and sympathizers will keep in touch steadily with those readers who obtained the magazine the first time with the January number.
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This column has often indicated the great prestige the New International has in all foreign countries, as well as in the United States. This is reflected in the constantly increasing circulation of the publication in foreign countries. Nearly one thousand (1,000) copies are now sent abroad to the European countries, particularly England, Scotland, South Africa, Australia, Palestine, China, India, the South and Central American countries, Canada, and others. This is more than gratifying and demonstrates, too, the ever more solid basis and growth of the Fourth International organization, in which the New International plays a big and important part. However, problems and difficulties also arise therefrom for the magazine.
1. The New International is dependent for a good part of its revenue upon the foreign agents. With unstable economic and political conditions prevailing particularly in the foreign countries, these revenues can be cut off at a single moment. The magazine would be affected quite possibly to the point of actual suspension. Already some foreign agents and comrades write us that legal difficulties are arising. In one important instance even now, the magazine has to find its way into the country despite barriers. But in such circumstances, results are uncertain, generally meager, and revenue virtually ceases.
2. To have 1,000 English-reading foreign readers of the New International is, we repeat, indeed gratifying and important. But again, in several instances, economic circumstances – incredibly low wages, acute mass unemployment, etc. – make it utterly impossible for foreign readers to pay the American price of 20 cents per copy. What shall we do? Refuse to send the New International abroad because of their inability to pay 20 cents, and thus deprive our comrades and readers aboard of an important instrument of ideological clarification and development, and in their own struggle against social-democratic, Stalinist, capitalist, fascist movements? Incredible, unthinkable, of course, on our part. The magazines are sent, wherever agents place bundle orders. The New International bundle rate is reduced in those cases to meet, so far as possible, the economic position of the foreign agents and comrades. For instance: in Scotland, Palestine, India, and other countries. These bundles are sent at a very heavy loss to the New International. But they must and will be sent, so long as we are able to do so. (But, hark, we now begin to need the assistance of the magazine readers in the United States.)
3. Furthermore, for identical reasons given for sending bundles at heavily reduced rates to several foreign countries, the review is sent free to two hundred (200) individuals in the Latin-American countries (particularly Argentine, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, Porto Rico, Cuba); China, India, Japan, Holland, Belgium, etc., and especially to France and Belgium, where there are large numbers of foreign revolutionary emigrés (Germans, Italians, Czechs, Austrians and others) who read English and literally implore us to be sure to send the New International to them since they must have it for their own knowledge, information and work.
All the foregoing speaks for itself, and we know that our comrades and readers endorse these actions of ours. But, too, sending such quantities of magazines to foreign countries, represents a very heavy postage cost to the magazine, many times higher than the cost of mailing the magazines throughout the United States. This is because in this country the magazine is sent at second-class rates, whereas publications are sent abroad at the much higher third-class rate of postage. But, hence, our readers are now more clearly aware that several hundred copies of the review are sent abroad which can be said to represent a subsidy or contribution of the New International to the revolutionary movements abroad. This has meant a heavy financial drain on the magazine, though borne willingly; but now we feel it is our right and duty to call upon our readers to give us aid in order that we can continue to give aid abroad in the manner outlined above, and even to increase our assistance. YOU, SWP branches YPSL units, individual comrades, sympathizers and readers, CAN HELP NOW AND REGULARLY. HOW?
1. Party and YPSL Units: Hold entertainments, affairs, for the benefit of the New International Sustaining Fund.
2. Readers and Sympathizers: SEND A DONATION and make a regular PLEDGE to the New International SUSTAINING FUND. DO THIS TODAY!
3. Party and YPSL Units: Pay for your bundle orders promptly. Bundle payments and subscriptions represent almost the entire revenue of the magazine at present DO NOT DELAY BUNDLE ORDER PAYMENTS.
4. EVERYBODY!!
Party and YPSL Units: Organize subscription campaigns. It is easy to obtain subscriptions for the New International if only the Party and Youth comrades will proceed systematically to call upon and talk to contacts, sympathizers of our movement, and readers of the magazine who today just purchase their copy each month. GET SUBSCRIPTIONS!
Readers of the New International: SUBSCRIBE! And get your friends to read and subscribe!
Proceed to carry out the foregoing requests, and the Management and Editorial Board promise the continuation of an acknowledged magazine of quality, and, we hope and aim, a bigger one.
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NEW ORDERS
Jersey City, N.J., Mike G., agent, five copies. Johannesburg, South Africa, J.M., agent, 24 copies. (Three agents in Johannesburg – J.M., M.S., and L.S. now dispose of 90 copies among them.) Paterson, N.J., Eddie C., agent, 5 copies. New Brunswick, N.J., 5 copies.
INCREASES IN BUNDLES
Detroit, Mich., E. Panicali, agent, from 40 to 50 copies: a promise and an achievement made good on schedule. “NI is selling better and better each month.” San Francisco, Cal., from 50 to 60 copies. Relations between Local San Francisco and the New International now straightened out. New Literature Com. consisting of A.S., Glen Trimble and E.B. Expect to go places! Fresno, Gal., new agent, Eugene Me., from 5 to 10 copies. “NI is good. Keep it up,” Fresno writes. O.K. – You keep on increasing too. Toledo, Ohio, Doris Cooper, agent, from 10 to 15 copies. Toledo now in better shape than at any previous period. Houston, Texas, K.H., agent, from 4 to 8 copies; placing magazine also on newsstands. New Haven, Conn., Morris Gandelman, agent, took additional 10 copies of December issue; permanent increase not yet decided upon. Cape Town, South Africa, Paul Koston, agent, from 45 to 55 copies. H.M. van G., Cape Town also disposes of 12 copies. B. Palley, Sydney, Australia, from 20 to 30 copies.
In good standing: San Diego, Cal., Portland, Ore.: came through on schedule and agents H.A.B. and H.M. expect steady forward movement. Reading, Pa., also in good standing now; agent, V. Pettinato, has been ill; says at least small bundle will be regularly disposed of. BUT: Some large cities are definitely in danger of having their bundles cut off unless payments are forthcoming by the time this issue goes to press. We withhold names this time, awaiting and meanwhile expecting results – i.e., payments.
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