Since the last meeting of the Preparatory Committee of EJF, at Ljubljana, things have suffered from a considerable amount "of misunderstandings and misconceptions. Let us therefore recall the original situation. Already for years, some jazz people have intended to create a better cooperation between the existing jazz institutions, organisations and personalities. At Warsaw jazz representatives and individual experts from several European countries finally reached the point to act instead of just talking and planning. The Preparatory Committee had beeb established. Meetings were held officially at Prague, Vienna and Ljubljana. In addition there was an informative meetting at Montreaux. At Ljubljana the Polish Jazz Federation at first suggested not to have the constitutional conference at the Jazz Jamboree 68 — because of some internal reasons. Later we tried to convince our friends that, out of respect for their work and activities, and because we all wanted to go ahead in establishing the EJF, they should have this confeernce. Also detailed proposals for the proceedings were already made at Ljubljana. With a letter, dated August 19 th, 1968, we asked the Polish Jazz Federation whether we could be "of any help" at the preparation work, since time was passing by and we havent received any detailed proposals for the Ostober meeting. Unfortunately we live in an "unjazzy" world and some things occurred which drew the attention of the necessities and realities of overy-daylife. After we found out, that the situation was not going to change within a short periode, we sent a letter, dated Sept. 23 rd, 68 stating that "there are times when silence is better than activity" and that this seemed not to be the time for such "minor" problems like EJF. Finally we stated that we still hope "to see you all again soon, under normal conditions"
Regarding to this letter we still have no answer! We informed in addition, Mr. Aldridge and Mr. Viera about the reasons of our decisions not to come to the Warsaw meeting. After serious private talks with them we asked them to make the proposal that some people should meet at Warsaw and discuss further problems, but this should be done in an informative meeting . Well, you all know the result. And we even understand that most of the participants of the

"Warsaw meeting have put their best intentions into their meeting and into their "decisions". Yet, we still think international organisations have other rules and standards to accept than just some private associations of individuals. We firmly believe that
- each country has to be respected in its decisions
- there is no place for taking advantages out of special situations
- the sake of a special field (jazz) should not be given priority to the regular accepted standards
of life - only those can be fully responsible members who do not have to act under pressure (especially economic or status concerned) but cooperate out of their free will
The position of a fully responsible member can be compared with the position of a nation. It can, if necessary, live without the other nation — but, out of sound reasoning, it will of course accept cooperation because it is for the benefit of all. By this we want to state that we should not forget what comes first: The free will of a fully responsible organisation in the respective country has, in cooperation with similar organisations of other countries, founded (or will found) an organisation and divisions of it. It is the task of the founders to tell the divisions and institutions what to do — but not vice versa. At least not in principle questions and matters . But to come to an end:
The Austrian Jazz Federation is willing to participate at a meeting in Venice. Whwther this is already the constitutional conference of EJF shall be decided by a circulation letter (in which every member shall give its vote on the subject) and by the fact how far the proceedings for the constitutional conference have been already developed (we expect to get informations about that).
We cannot accept the Warsaw meeting as an official meeting of EJF preparatory committee (only an informative meeting) and therefore we also cannot accept any decisions or resolutions made at this meeting.
Furthermore, to prove that we do not act out of self-interest, but for the sake of principles, we resolve our canditature for the seat of EJF (taken at the Ljubljana meeting). Vienna will only apply and be willing to accept this task, if new proposals should be made at the Venice meeting. Finally we want to repeat our offer to be of any help in organisational matters for the preparation of a well organised, highly respected, organisation — based on the principles of mutual respect and understanding and administrated according to the common achnowledged rules of international diplomacy.

Austrian Jazz Federation
JOHANN FRITZ