© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

1/16/1961 - A.A.A.S. Symposium on Chinese Science: Part I: Background Information by C. H. G. Oldham

Glenneyre Street Laguna Beach California Au6ust Mr R H Nolte Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Dick The Twelfth General Assembly International Union Geodesy Geophysics Helsinki July Au6ust For Professor J T Wilson marked three years resident Union Three years which travelled earth trying promote scientific understandin8 Before meeting convened appeared efforts eminently successful nations which found difficult operate politically agreed toether discuss sclentific questions mutual interest Both Est West Germany delegations important Peoples Republic OAina represented there possibility Formosa miEht scientists It appeared convention would provide excellent opportunity discuss Professor Wilson Chinese deleEatlon chances spending China studying Chinese science It I Helsinkl attend Twelfth General Assembly En route I planned visit Sir Joseph Needham advice determine location learnln Chinese This report summarizes findings The Results I U G G Me tlngs Unhappily assembly optimism proved unfounded At minute Peoples Republic China cancelled their travel arrangements Helsinki In hundred cable Finnish Arrangements Committee their reason Formosa planned deleatlon They discovered Professor Wilson invited Formosans their cable devoted personal haranEue Wilson They accused committing unfriendly Peoples Republic Oni expressed surprise after reception given China should subsequently associate himself Oniang Kai clique This disappointinE While having lunch tohether Wilson himself expressed pessimism about probability anyone Eetting China study scienCe within years He additional evidence Chinese Just evicted Canadian reporter Toronto Globe Mail actually 8ettin8 rather Chinese It would hinese friendly West Wilson think however might possible periodic trips through Gaina about months duration Meet S J edham As Sir Joseph Needham perhaps greatest Western Sinologist The three volumes which published seven volume Science Civilization China established leader In addition foreign member Academia Sinlca He probably qualified advise feasability project I therefore written requesting interview areed Cambridge return Helsinki The meetin interesting He invited lunch rooms Gonville Caius College Also present distInEuished biochemist Fellow Royal Society Chinese appeared Sir Joseph assistant I beEan telling group Professor Wilson Journeyings President I U G G visited China surprised different things believe reading Western press reports I explained West should better informed promotin travel study Western scientists I mentioned Professor Wilson written amked I intereste first learning Chinese language studyin science I explained point I Sir Joseph advice My questions I Did think worthwhile project If think there chance success would hinese China Where would recommend I learn language Sir Joseph Eave these questions thouEht He asked several questions about Wilson One Chinese Moon which suEested pretty bound whether Chinese regarded friendly I ominous Helsinki cable which Wilson distinctly called unfriendly After discussing matter about finally summed answers questions follows I Yes thought project worthwhile Two years spent learning Chinese could extremely valuable He matte before West realized importance Chinese science He mentioned evidence recent decision United Steel scholarships study hlnese lanEuae Sheffield He however student should motivation should Just tackle Job No think Chinese would China within years In would least years before anyone West would study unless person could contribute talent China actually wanted He believed however should possible periodic trips through suggested Hone Kon6 visit China countries Japan Te place learn Chinese would either University London Hon KonE Cambridge certainly suitable since written lanEuaEe tauEht Dr Twltterlng Mrs Ts_i As findin I hoped Professor Pulleyblank Of hinese department about possibility studyinE hinese Cambrid5e However vacation I talked Dr Twitterin5 instead Dr Twltterin6 Just appointed Chair Chinese London University particularly qualified discuss Cambrid6e London He confirmed Sir Joseph statement CambridEe quite unsuitable place learn contemporary Chinese It specializes entirely written lanEuaEe Elves courses spoken lan5ua5e The School Oriental African Studies University London suitable courses I believe would Eood place learn lanEuaEe Dr Twitterin6 mentioned Yale excellent school study Chinese Mr Chun6 Tsi another member Cambrid6e faculty about transfer University London He Just spent Cambridge after eiEht years University Hone KonE about University Hone KonE Apparently Chinese Department University deterlated somewhat Mr opinion learn Mandarin Hone Kon6 means tutor He recommend suitable should arise Mr thought University London might little better Hone Kon ettin6 initial start language although thought Formosa would place Le Pek_ing I interested whether would feasible children China wondered about accommodation would Pekin I there wrote British Charge Affalrs asked number questions In reply Convent school Pekin provide British education mainly attended children different foreign embassies legations Accommodation would problem which Urged settled wrltln Chinese before I entered The letter su88ested every library laboratory University I hoped visit specified writin before I Finally recommended before decidin whether China I should someone Foreign Office London recently returned Pekin Conclusi After careful consideration facts athered I propose followin Spend University London learnin Chinese I select London because place learn Chinese England I select England followin reasons In order China whether several years several months probably necessary break United States I think reason largely rules Yale makes academic approach Eng highly desirable From point childrens education moves For reason would start British education possible The second should spent based Hon6 Kong I would continue learnlnE Chinese tutor I would study Chinese scientific literature would China perhaps first visit conditions permit extended If seems likely extended possible I think project should chanEe orientation Just Chinese science comparative study science South East Asia paying particular emphasis comparison between China India This would partly based literature partly visits China India Japan I would express appreciation Institute Crrent World Affairs financing Helslnki Cambridge I should thank Mrs Nolte kindly entertaining return New York I certainly successful enjoyable camping Finally would please thank Mrs Murkland letter sendln8 cuttin Mr Parkin If I ahead project I would advantage offer introduce someone United Steel Attached expense account refund travel advance Sincerely With wishes C H G 01dham