A LINK BETWEEN THE CELTIC NATIONS QUARTERLY PERIODICAL IN ENGLISH & IN CELTIC LANGUAGES PUBLISHED BY THE "CELTIC LEAGUE” THE CELTIC LEAGUE the editor of its quarterly; and the branch secretaries. Responsibility rests uniquely with those who are active OUR AIMS-The fundamental aim of the Celtic League in carrying out the work of the organisation, and its co­ is to contribute, as an international organisation, to the ordination. The League constitution specifies the attribu­ struggle of the six Celtic nations to secure or win their tions of each officer and the modalities of decision-mak­ political, cultural, social and economic freedom. This ing. Attempts have been made to give our members the includes: opportunity of taking part in decisions but difficulties (a) fostering co-operation between the Celtic peoples; arise if these are scattered over wide areas. Where they (b) developing the consciousness of the special relation­ are in sufficient numbers, encouragement is given to the ship and solidarity between them; formation of local groups. (c) making our national struggles and achievements Publications-Over the past ten years the Celtic League better known abroad; has published 33 isues of the quarterly CELTIC NEWS, (d) campaigning for a formal association of the Celtic giving in condensed form information on each Celtic nations to take place once two or more of them country, as well as reports of Celtic League activity. It have achieved self-government; has also published nine substantial volumes of articles (e) advocating the use of the natural resources of each dealing in depth and detail with various aspects of our of the Celtic countries for the benefit of all its national struggles. people. These publications have been replaced by the present By Celtic nations we mean the peoples living in Ireland, quarterly CARN, which is better adapted to serve the Scotland, Mann, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. Each if aims of the League. It provides the basis for an inter- these nations is characterised by an ethnic background, a Celtic information service by reporting facts of impor­ history, a language and a sense of community which dis­ tance in our national struggles as objectively and accu­ tinguish it from the English and the French peoples. A rately as possible. It offers a means of seeking, through common factor is that their destinies have been con­ discussion and analysis, a common Celtic approach to trolled for centuries by external powers, with the result our problems and putting forward proposals for solving that their cultures and economies have declined to a them. It thus constitutes a permanent channel of com­ critically low level. But in each of them the will to re­ munication between the six Celtic countries and gives its build an integrated community has engendered a readers the opportunity to participate in formulating national movement that manifests itself through various Celtic League policy. groups. By devoting a significant proportion of the space in Why stress the Celtic element-Tliis similarity of situa­ CARN to articles in the Celtic languages, of equaJ impor­ tions and rnterests, together with the realisation that each tance to those in English, we thus give them the largest Celtic nation on its own is weak compared with the place in our work compatible with a wide diffusion and forces of oppression, prompted the setting up of the adequate financial support. Our answer to the objection organisation. Although affected by many other factors that this decision deprives readers who cannot read these and influences, it was the Celtic element which gave these languages is that we have an internal as well as an exter­ nations their cultural distinctiveness. The Celtic languages nal role and that by using our languages we make a more today constitute their least disputable mark of national­ positive contribution to their restoration than by preach­ ity, and give them the strongest motivation in their ing about them in English or French. Here is a test of struggle for freedom. earnestness. Two considerations are to guide the writers Hence the stress which we put on the work being done of these articles: (1) that they provide their countrymen to promote their restoration to a position of prominence with information about the “other”’ Celtic countries; in their respective areas. We see this essential factor as a (2) that they write as simply as possible so as to encou­ means to recreate in each of our countries a well inte­ rage those with only an elementary knowledge of their grated society. Our basic concern is a social one and this language to read them with the help of a dictionary. is the reason why we must pay the greatest attention to This should help to spread a reading knowledge of die the social problems standing in the way of nation-build­ Celtic languages. ing in our countries. Our aim is not so much to maintain Meetings—General meetings or conferences are held national characteristics against the pressure of hostile annually by the Celtic League to review its work and forces as to create the structures ol a new Celtic society. plan for the year ahead. Annual, quarterly or monthly Organisation-The Celtic League is headed by a General meetings are organised by the Cornish, Irish, Scottish and Council and composed of six national branches, and London branches. international branches where a minimum number of touch of the attention of the League secretaries is members from at least two Celtic countries co-operate devoted to the answering of queries and letters concern­ locally. ing our organisation, our languages, national groups and At present, the members of the General Council are publications, etc., and acting as a focal point of Cletic the Chairman and the Secretary-general of the League; information in their respective countries. 1 Activities—In view of our financial and staffing limita­ ment of more satisfactory relations between individuals tions many of our projects take time for their completion. and nations. We need friends in all countries, and feel We have, however, a record of sustained activity includ­ solidarity with other peoples struggling for liberation, ing: particularly in Western Europe. ( 1) demonstrations of inter-Celtic solidarity: pickets In view of the fact that each Celtic nation is condi­ on embassies, written protests against aspects of govern­ tioned by a different history, we must not expect uni­ ment policies, participation in the campaign to end formity of thought but allow diversity to express itself internment without trail and to ask for international within the Celtic League so that we may better recog­ investigation of allegations of torture in Northern Ire­ nise those areas of possible co-operation and eventually land ; demand for the withdrawal of Scottish and Welsh formulate a detailed common policy. It is fairly obvious troops; that the attainment of Celtic freedom is hardly possible (2) Collections of money in support of the depen- under the ideologies prevailing in tire West as well as in pen ts of Breton and Irish internees (£600 gathered by the East, and that we should work out which kind of tire Breton C.L. branch with the help of the Association relations in our communities will enable them to enjoy of Breton-Speaking Families for the relief of distress in freedom without undue restrictions for the liberty of the N. Ireland); co-operation with S.P.l. in the transport of individual. four tons of second-hand clothing from Brittany to Bel­ fast; (3) the preparation of a memorandum stating the right of Brittany, Wales and Scotland to self-determina­ tion and its distribution to 112 permanent representa­ tives at the UNO; similar work in connection with a pamphlet illustrating linguistic discrimination in Brittany, and a petition to UNESCO in favour of Scottish and Breton. (It was soon recognised that inter-governmental organisations were unable or unwilling to intervene in the absence of a serious threat to international peace on our nations’ behalf.) CORNISH BRANCH LOSES PRESIDENT (4) the holding of a summer school to teach Irish to beginners from other countries coupled with a seminar Robert Arthur Dunstone died on Tuesday the 22nd of on certain aspects of Irish history, literature, art and poli­ February at the age of 50. He was president of the Cor­ tics; nish Branch of the Celtic League and one of its founder (5) helping young people to find work and holiday members; he had also been a vice-president of the Celtic accommodation in Celtic countries other titan their own, League. Many will remember him and miss him for his as well as facilitating their contacts there; unfailing kindness and courtesy, others because of the (6) statements of the Celtic League position concern­ competence with which he fulfilled his duties as president ing many matters of importance to our national lives The occasions on which the services of a president are (e.g. the exploitation of mineral resources by foreign required are few but important. Robert well knew how to companies; misuse of television; bilingualisation of road remain in the background when he was not needed, and signs). how to appear and officiate with confident efficiency Such activities could be intensified and multiplied when he was. with better means. They give reality to inter-Cletic soli­ He was too kind to be a hard-line activist and was not darity. often to be found in the fore-front of national protest: Role of the Celtic League in our national struggles-On somehow he managed to love Cornwall intensely without an internal level, the role of the Celtic League is secon­ ever once hating its English exploiters. This enabled him dary to that of the national organisations which work for to be a lay-reader in the English Church.