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CHINA REPORT
The Chinese academic authorities whom we consulted were unanimous in their approval of the proposed scheme of visiting lectureships. They regarded it as one of the best methods that could be devised of promoting cultural relationships and understanding between the British and Chinese peoples. From conversations with educational leaders it was gathered that in the general opinion of the Chinese the best results would be attained by bringing out from Great Britain eminent scholars who would devote themselves to intensive work for perhaps six months at particular academic centres such as Peiping (the seat of several universities) or the Nanking- Shanghai region or Canton, where each lecturer would not only give courses of lectures but would also familiarise himself with, and perhaps The take an active part in the academic life of, his chosen centre. alternative is that each lecturer should spend his time in visiting various parts of the country giving a few lectures at each University. This procedure might be adopted with advantage in some cases, for some- times- as in the case of Professor John Dewey-it has been followed with good results; but it is the former alternative that seems to be regarded with most favour.
With regard to the subjects which "should be represented by the British men and women invited to lecture in China", we find that the Chinese demand is for lecturers on the social, political and physical sciences, technology, economics, philosophy, and English literature. We were not specifically directed by the Committee to ascertain and report the names of individual British scholars who would be welcomed in China, but having regard to what we believe to be China's greatest educational needs at the present day we venture to express the opinion that, for reasons which we should be prepared to specify, the Committee would not go wrong if it were to offer lectureships, within the next few years, to the following persons: Graham Wallas, Harold H. Mann, Ernest Barker, Sir W. Beveridge, Canon C. E. Raven, A. M. Carr-Saunders, and Harold J. Laski. With regard to Dr. Mann, we would add that his advice and experience would be highly valued by that increasing number of Chinese who are interesting themselves in social experiments and in that important mass-education movement of which one of the most distinguished leaders is Dr. James Yen. As to Professor Laski, it may not be out of place to mention the fact that it was the purpose of the Central University (Nanking) to invite him to visit China this year or next. It might be possible for the Universities' China Committee to associate itself with the Central University in this invitation and to relieve that institution of a portion of the expenses by appointing him to a lecture-
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RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE DELEGATION
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ship under the proposed scheme. There are many other eminent teachers and thinkers in Great Britain who might with great advantage to both countries be sent out by the Committee to give courses of lectures in academic centres. Among the names suggested to one or more of our delegation by the Chinese themselves may be men- tioned J. W. N. Sullivan, Professor Eileen Power, J. M. Keynes, and J. A. Hobson. A group of educational leaders in Peiping whose main interest happens to lie in the direction of English literature and art included in their list of recommendations the names of Middleton Murry, Aldous Huxley, Roger Fry, Robert Graves, Edmund Blunden and Lascelles Abercrombie. Many other suitable names are likely to suggest themselves to the members of the Committee, and perhaps it might be worth while to circularise the British universities on the subject and invite their suggestions.
It is less easy to carry out the instructions of the Committee to recommend candidates for lectureships tenable in Great Britain by Chinese, not so much because there is a lack of scholars in China who are qualified to act as interpreters of Chinese culture to the West as because some of them have little or no knowledge of English and also because many of the most competent scholars have either aban- doned an educational for a political career or cannot be spared from their own universities. In a speech made in June last by Mr. Chu Chia-hua, one of the best-known educational leaders in China, he observed (according to press reports) that "there was a dearth of out- standing scholars in China and owing to the absorption of many of them in politics there was a shortage of men qualified to hold the position of professors; and having regard to the vast sums which were being expended in sending students abroad, it would be more profitable, and less costly, to invite an increased number of eminent foreigners to give lectures in China". This is a very significant utterance from the head of the Central National University in the capital of China, who happens also to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and incidentally it indicates that our proposed method of utilising that small portion of the indemnity fund which is to be administered by the Universities' China Committee is likely to be in complete harmony with any educational programme hereafter to be adopted by the Board.
Though Chinese names for the purpose we have in view are less numerous than English ones, it is not impossible to mention a few distinguished Chinese scholars who would probably be both able and willing to accept invitations to lecture in Great Britain. Among them are V. K. Ting, L. K. Tao, T. C. Chao, William Hung, Y. Y. Tsu, Anson Chow, T. Z. Koo, Dr. James Yen, and Dr. Lin Yu-t'ang.
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