Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1943, Síða 67

THE DANISH SOCIETY
61
The leading idea of the new society was that the dissemina-
tion of a knowledge of Denmark abroad was such an essential
factor in our work for the promotion of international under-
standing that it ought, like the diplomatic and consular services,
to have at its disposal a staff of qualified agents who had com-
pleted a university education: the »cultural envoys« of the society.
In a spirit of international understanding, these agents, young
Danish men and women, were to act as intermediaries between
Denmark and the country where they resided, and not as propa-
gandists or agents for one-sided interests.
This object could be best obtained by attaching the agents
to that type of institution which has the most neutral position
and the widest influence in a modern community, viz. the in-
stitute of higher education. They were to act as Danish envoys at
such universities, commercial high schools, or other institutes of
higher education as were willing to receive them; and there they
were to give instruction about Danish civilization and social life,
within the framework of the ordinary instruction given by the
institution in question, by lecturing and by taking classes in Danish.
Furthermore, they were to address a wider public by keeping
in contact with the principal local organizations, the wireless, and
the press, and to organize annual study tours in Denmark, especi-
ally for students.
Their sphere of activity will naturally in the first instance
be the European countries and the U. S. A., and it is intended
that, in addition to their work in the capitals, they shall also
undertake work in the major provincial centres of culture and
economic life.
In the nature of things, the first work of the society had of
necessity to be of a preliminary character: the war was raging
in Europe and made contact with many countries difficult or im-
possible. On the other hand, the preparatory work undertaken
was so comprehensive that it would take several years to carry
out all the projects which the Society was planning.
These preparations comprise the provision of the necessary
equipment for the agents of the society, and their training for
the work they will have to undertake. As the details, both as
regards the provision of equipment and the planning of the train-
ing of the agents, reflect the general nature of the projected in-
formation service and the subjects which it is intended to tackle,
an account of the preparatory work carried out during the three