CO129-538-1 Hong Kong University 31-12-1931 - 6-8-1932 — Page 177

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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