1. Literature,
national though it be in origin, knows no frontiers, and should remain
common currency between nations in spite of political or international
upheavals.
2. In all
circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the
patrimony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by national or
political passion.
3. Members of
P.E.N. should at all times use what influence they have in favour of
good understanding and mutual respect between nations; they pledge
themselves to do their utmost to dispel race, class and national
hatreds, and to champion the ideal of one humanity living in peace in
one world.
4. P.E.N. stands
for the principle of unhampered transmission of thought within each
nation and between all nations, and members pledge themselves to oppose
any form of suppression of freedom of expression in the country and
community to which they belong, as well as throughout the world wherever
this is possible. P.E.N. declares for a free press and opposes
arbitrary censorship in time of peace. It believes that the necessary
advance of the world towards a more highly organized political and
economic order renders a free criticism of governments, administrations
and institutions imperative. And since freedom implies voluntary
restraint, members pledge themselves to oppose such evils of a free
press as mendacious publication, deliberate falsehood and distortion of
facts for political and personal ends.
Membership of P.E.N. is
open to all qualified writers, editors and translators who subscribe to
these aims, without regard to nationality, language, race, colour or
religion.
**
Charter source:
www.internatpen.org
