COPY.
12062/46.
Sir,
11th January, 1947.
23
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Creech Jones to refer to Mr. Bevin's letter of the 24th of August to Mr. (now Viscount) Hall on the subject of the report of the Interdepartmental Commission of Enquiry on Oriental, Slavonic, East European and African studies. In paragraph 9 of his letter, Mr. Bevin asked for the Secretary of State's views on certain questions arising out of the Commission's recommendations and Mr. Hall in his reply said that he had asked his Department to consider these questions and to communicate further with the Foreign Office departmentally as soon as possible. I am to say that these questions have now been examined in the Colonial Office and that the following views have been formulated.
2.
Post Graduate Studentships It is observed that nothing is said in the report about the sources from which candidates for studentships will be drawn. It is realised that the primary object of the scheme is to provide academic staff for Universities in the United Kingdom, but in view of the difficulty that is to be anticipated in finding suitable candidates in sufficient numbers, and having regard to the desirability of stimulating interest in the proposels in the Dominions and Colonies, it is suggested that there would be considerable advantage if it could be made clear that candidates from the Dominions and the Golonies would be considered.
3. Training for Careers. It is noted that the Commission, in paragraph 74 of the report, expresses the hope that the comprehensive plans embodied in the scheme for the Colonial Service would receive the attention of other Government Departments and Mr. Creech Jones will be very glad to make available to others the experience gained by the Colonial Office in arranging courses. It is observed that the Commission considers that detailed arrangements for the inauguration of courses can best be left to the Department and the University concerned in each case, but should any committee or committees be formed to co-ordinate these arrangements, Mr. Creech Jones would wish the Colonial Office to be represented.
4. The proposals in paragraphs 87 - 92 for training abroad have been noted with interest, but Mr. Creech Jones feels that it may be inadvisable to take steps to put these proposals into effect in the immediate future. In his view, it is important to set the courses in the United Kingdom on a firm foundation before attention is diverted to the establishment of centres abroad.
Consider-
5. Development of Public Interest. Mr. Creech Jones is in entire accord with the aims indicated in the report. able attention has been devoted to the development of publicity by the Colonial Office since the war and a copy of a memorandum which contains an outline of the present position is enclosed.
6. Mr. Creech Jones fully realises the desirability of co-ordinating these plans with those of other Departments and will welcome any arrangements which may be made to ensure such co-ordination.
7. The Colonial Office is closely interested in the proposal to establish an Oriental centre and the Secretary of State hopes
UNDER_SECRETARY OF STATE,
FOREIGN OFFICE
/that