DS
LC.5195/5 52
BOMIVEL 111
100EC 947
9th December, 1947
Your letter S/o 788 (13980/600/47) of November 3rd about Dr. Hu Shih's plan for the Chinese Universities has been read with interest by China Department but passed to me because the subject matter is one with which the British Council is concerned.
Now that the British Council exists I do not think that the Embassy need be expected to give that close attention to educational matters of which your memorandum enclosed in Peking despatch No. 1485 of November 15th 1933 was such a good example. We should, however, like to be kept informed of any major developments which you think we ought to know about or on which you have views to impart.
I suppose there is little chance of Hu Shih's plan being put into effect, but if anything does come of it our cultural activities in China must be adapted to conform to it. We should try, for instance, to get in on the ground floor of the proposed new super universities, which cannot be developed to the standard aimed at without considerable foreign help. The emphasis on post graduate research might also be of interest in connexion with the Sino- British-American Academy at Peking proposed by the Scarbrough Commission. Lastly, the development of a super university at Canton might affect our plans for the development of Hong Kong University.
I am sending copies of your letter and this reply to the British Council and the Colonial Office.
H. Lamb, Esq., O.B.E.,
British Embassy,
NANKING.
B. C. MacDermot
Cultural Relations Department