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The East and West Association Devoted to mutual knowledge and understanding of the life of the Oriental and the American peoples Forty East Forty-ninth Street, New York City April 18, 1942 [[left margin]] Officers and Board of Directors PEARL S. BUCK President CHARLES S. PHARIS Treasurer JAMES G. BLAINE MANCHESTER BODDY LOUIS BROMFIELD MORSE A. CARTWRIGHT MILDRED B. HUGHES HENRY R. LUCE MARGARET MEAD CLARK H. MINOR JAMES Q. NEWTON THOMAS L. SIDLO JUAN T. TRIPPE RICHARD J. WALSH Advisory Board (In formation) ADRIAAN J. BARNOUW JOHN DEWEY C. A. DYKSTRA ROBERT M. FIELD OWEN LATTIMORE LIN YUTANG MILDRED H. MCAFEE PAUL V. MCNUTT GREGG M. SINCLAIR ELBERT D. THOMAS JOHN VAN ESS [[/left margin]] My dear Mr. Kuniyoshi: I am writing to invite you to become a member of the Artists' Committee of the East and West Association. For many years I, and others with me have felt that the ordinary peoples of the world must know each other better, and through their mutual knowledge understand each other's minds and feelings. The necessity for such an understanding, especially between ourselves and the peoples of Asia, becomes every day more clear, and the war has, of course, made it more urgent. To this end the East and West Association has been created. The enclosed memorandum tells of the plans of the organization and the channels to be used in developing its program more fully. Its one purpose is to discover and provide every possible means of communication between the ordinary peoples of East and West. The stress is, above all, human. Aware as you are of the significance of art as a means of human communication, you will se at once what an important place the Artists' Committee has in such a two-way program. Too often the appreciation of art in our own country has been limited to the European heritage, with complete neglect of the rich art of the Orient. Conversely, our art must be made meaningful and appealing for all the peoples who know nothing about us. You are busy, I know, as we all are, and yet perhaps in this work you may find added scope. At any rate, we do not expect to make any great claim upon your time. Primarily, we want your advice and interest through an occasional talk and through the mail. I very much hope to hear that you will accept. Yours sincerely, [[signature]] Pearl S. Buck [[/signature]] Pearl S. Buck PSB:P Enc.