There has been a very exciting development in connection with "The Future of Freedom," the international forum co-sponsored by TIME and New Orleans which I told you about in this letter six weeks ago.

In effect, it will permit us to put on the platform in New Orleans (along with the eminent world spokesmen we have invited to appear there) the expressed opinions of the man-in-the-street in ten countries overseas as well as in the U.S. Their scientifically obtained and reported answers to the very questions of freedom and regimentation, war & peace, hope & despair which are the subject of our four-day forum on "The Future of Freedom" will be available by April 14, when the proceedings begin.

The story is this: we have engaged Elmo Roper and six research organizations abroad to do this international survey of public opinion for us. As far as we know, it is unprecedented in the scope of its subject matter. As work on the forum has proceeded, we have come to realize that this survey makes the forum a unique venture--perhaps the first ever to be based upon a true cross-section report of what millions of people think, feel, hope and fear.

The findings of the survey will be published in a future issue of TIME. The survey itself is now under way in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, France, England, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden --in short, in a majority of countries where such a survey can be made today.

We are trying to find out, for example, what people think of the Marshall Plan. Are they for it or against it? Do they believe it will help or hurt conditions in their countries? Do they believe it would make war with Russia more likely? Will it stop the advance of Communist ideas? We want to know what people think about the United Nations, about a United States of Europe, about who is gaining in the present conflict between the U.S. and Russia, and which side they think will be ahead 20 years from now.

We know that the word "freedom" means different things to different people and so we want to find out, for instance, what the French Socialist thinks as compared to the American private enterpriser. In each country, therefore, we are asking for opinions about private ownership of business, the right to vote in a fair and free election, protection from interference by the police, the right to work at any job, and the right of free speech.

There are other matters of grave interest to freedom-loving peoples, too--such as, What does the Italian Socialist really believe about America's intentions in sending him food, money and equipment? What does a man in Mexico feel about all of this U.S. attention to Europe when he has troubles of his own at home? Is the man on the street in Europe really interested in a United States of Western Europe, or is that just wishful thinking on the part of men like Bevin and Churchill?

The survey will try to clarify these issues, and the world spokesmen invited to New Orleans will be offered the survey's findings as a basis for their speeches. For our part, TIME will do its best to see that the speakers' comments, as well as the results of the survey, are made available as widely as possible in & outside of the U.S.

Cordially,

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