6.
283
of arranging any such scheme of exchange as between
British Universities and those of China. Indeed, I
regard the suggestion as at the present juncture
impossible.
The other arrangement which is sometimes referred
to loosely as an interchange of teachers aims at bringing
eminent men, generally University teachers from China to
give a few special lectures about China (these lectures
would be quite outside the ordinary University curriculum)
at various Universities in Great Britain. At the same
time men of quality (also generally University teachers)
would be sent from Great Britain to deliver special
lectures in certain Universities in China. This idea is
now being taken up by the League of Nations who have
recently selected an economist to go and teach in the
University of Nanking and are expected shortly to supplement this by sending a Professor of English also to the
University of Nanking. This is, I understand, the work
of the Cultural Relations Committee of the League.
If these eminent gentlemen are going to spend some years in Nanking and will be willing to instruct not only the teachers of this University (I am assuming that they would wish to be taught but one can not be sure of this)
but also to struggle with small batches of Chinese students,
they may effect something. But these perambulations of
eminent Chinese in Britain and of eminent Britishers in
China have very definite limitations.
It is quite true
that learned men like Dr. Hu Shih are likely to be welcomed in Britain Universities and to make a good impression. But such a man comes for a few days and goes away and is soon
forgotten