7. The discussion then shifted back to the question of how much Oxford cou provide for Southeast Asian students on the technological/scientific side, bearing in mind the limited new funds which had been put up by HMG to help with the expansion of Information Technology. The Warden of Nuffield remarked here that Oxford had very little spare capacity in this area, and that it would be far better to go for the tried and tested social science fields initially, fields where (eg in politics, international relations and economics) Oxford had a very good track record. He suggested that the advice of Sir Donald Hawley, who was on the Standing Committee of the Board of Governors of Reading University, should be taken here, and Dr Carey remarked that it was his intention to invite Sir Donald up to Oxford for a meeting with the key figures in the University concerned with the scheme in late November or early December.
8.
The question of the post and its funding was now considered. The Master of St. Catherine's, echoing the suggestions put to him by Dr Sudir Anand (Fellow in Economics at his College and a specialist on Malaysia), remarked that perhaps it might be best to go for the scholarships/bursaries first rather than the post. He also relayed Dr. Anand's grave misgivings about how to find an individual of sufficient stature and international reputation in the Southeast Asian field to fill the post if it was established at a senior level. Dr. Carey replied that this might indeed be a problem, but not, he thought, an insurmountable one given the attraction of such a post at Oxford to experienced scholars in the Southeast Asian field with particular expertise in the politics and international relations of the region in the 20th century. He said that he had already sent tentative feelers to three prominent scholars asking them what their reactions might be should such a post be set up, and that he would be able to report back on this at the next meeting in 1986. He also reiterated the arguments which had been made earlier to the Warden of Rhodes House about the need to work concurrently for an endowment for the post and for the scholarships/ bursaries. At the same time, he stressed that the appointment to the post should be made at a senior level (if possible at the Professorial level) in order to get someone who could act with sufficient authority and presence as a focus for Southeast Asian studies in the University, citing the example of X the fissiparous China Studies Centres as a warning of what might happen if
this focus was not established first.
1
As a footnote to this discussion, Dr Roberts gave some information about the funds which were currently being collected under the aegis of the ledley Bull Memorial Appeal, but remarked that it was not on the cards that any of these should be earmarked for a special bursary/scholarship or post in Southeast Asian Studies. Some discussion also took place, following on from this, about the
new Rhodes-funded Lecturership in Commonwealth Studies which was still in the process of being set up, but here again it was felt that this would not be suitably linked with any specific Southeast Asian interest.
9. The Master of St. Catherine's, the Warden of Merton, and the Warden of Nuffield had to depart at this point in the discussion (11.15 a.m.), but, before he left, the laster of St. Catherine's did make a strong plea that every effort should be made to secure substantial financial support from the Sultan of Brunei. le stressed how generous the latter ha! been in supporting various regimental causes in the British Army, and remarked that Oxford should think about orientating the Oxford scheme specifically towards the needs of Brunei and its middle-level government officers. Dr Carey re lied that a letter had indeed been sent to the Minister in the Brunci Prime inister's (ie Sultan's) Office, outlining the financial requirements and that there was nothing to do but to await the response (if any) to this appeal. He did, however, take note of the Master's stress on the new! to cater for runei overnment interests and said that
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