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4/25/1961 - Stirrings of British Interest in Chinese Science by C. H. G. Oldham

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS CHGO The Pines Nuns Walk Stirrings British Interest Chinese Science Virginia Water Surrey England April Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affa Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Dick From since arrival England September I making enquiries about amount British interest Chinese science One places I visited connection United Steel Research Laboratories Rotherham newsletter mainly devoted describing interview which I United Steel Mr Robert Sewell But order interview poper perspective I first brief summary other interest Chinese scientific developments I Brltaln The interest falls categories First there individual scientists various reasons interest Chinese science Most these connected academic institutions several instances their interest China Chinese science originated years prior communist revolution Pre eminent among group scientists Dr Joseph Needham Cambridge University His outstanding Science Civilization China shown foremost authorities history science China Secondly there scientific oeleties professional associations several Of which beginning interest sponsoring exchanges delegations China The Royal Society particularly active respect Its president Sir Cyril Hinshlewood visited China later Chinese delegstion attended Society tercentenary celebrations London _nother Chinese delegation invited Royal Society expected visit Britain October In December group medical perts China arrived Britain inspect medical institutions They invited Royal College Physicians their visit provided first official meeting doctors countries Thirdly there universities technical colleges which Just beEinning interest teaching Chinese scientists Here seems technical colleges which CHGO taken initiative In September Sheffield Technical Colle6e Holborn College Law Languages Commerce began courses Chinese scientists The Sheffield course based language textbook published Chinese Pekin The Holborn course however designed teach scientists approach problem translatln Chinese quite different proposition speak language Finally there those roups oranizatlons dlsinct individuals which following Chinese scientific developments Two these stand being active field Government other industrial organization The Government group National ending Library Unit Department Scientific Industrial Research The National Lending Library first planned present Director Dr D J Urquhart Since library collecting scientific Journals world Its includes Russian translation program which carrled cooperation National Science Foundation America In Lending Library Unit began collect Chinese scientific literature In June Chinese holdings prepared which showed hundred different titles being received Twenty these Journals obtained xchane purcham However October November supply scientific Journals began rstricted Chinese paper shortage sixteen titles being ceived This report paper shortage China verified recently Chinese friend whose brother writin Pekin mentioned unable enineerin textbooks because paper shortage The Journals borrowed anyon interested Library provide chief sourc supply Chinese scientific literature Britain A other roups particular British Museum receive Chinese scientific literature Lending Library collection complete The industrial organization which following Chinese scientific developments United Steel Oompany largely responsible interest Mr Robert Sewell I first across reference Mr Sewell article London Times dated July This article reported course teach scientists Chinese Just established Sheffield Technical College Mr Sewell responsible or6anizln6 course Then whenever I taled people England about contemporary Chinese science I thin6 person could probably about British interest subject Mr Sewell Oonsquently I visited Mr Sewell United Steel Research Laboratories Rotherham Rotherham small about eight miles northeast Sheffield Like research laboratorles En61and United Steel Laboratory built rounds lares estate The research carried modern buildings arranged around large house which forms administra centre library I discovered Mr Sewell himself scientist linguist speak French German Russian other lanEuages His Job world technical literature information which might interest value scientists economists management United Steel Company He staff twelve We studyin Soviet literature since before Sputnik It through Soviet literature began information about Chinese steel industry This beginning closer Chinese literature itself He realized within years amount scientific literature China would betremendous unless West began prepare scientists could assimilate material would useful knowledge I first tried Universities I wanted would willing courses aimed educatln sclentlmts Chinese language contemporary China Without exception I found unwilling operate All universities interested classical approach On university suested there would Jobs industry prsons scientific training knowledse Chinese rason beinK interested teaching Chinese scientists Eventually Sheffield Education Committee areed course Sheffield Technical Oollege It course which I reported London Times The students fourteen hours At Nr Sewell estimated scientist should paper field interest within years I asked United Steel ideas which leaned Chinese technical Journals He process turned extremely successful He flret technique described 8eneral terms English publication Science Abstracts China He foundry managers meagre information contained abstract method tried without success He later managed original article translated English The information aufficlent enable United Steel apply method successfully several research ideas Mr Sewell added The Chlneae inatallln biggest modern blast furnaces world Any information about their erformance interest value In addition promoting study hlnese British scientists Mr Sewell tryln promote exchan6e visits between British Chinese dele6atlons In steel Industry He believes there present aItatln Brltlsh Government Invlta Chinese delegation Britain hoping Chinese invite British deleatlon visit China In principle British Iron Steel Federation support Idea believe Prime Minister Macmillan thinks wren6 invitation Sewell thinks authorities twant embarrassment havln their nvltation turned recent drastic export Chinese Journals West feels becomln6 Increaslnly important scientists themselves Mr Sewell active Development Information Services branch British Iron Steel Research Association This organization proposed collect evaluate information interest steel industry operative basis In addition review technical information propose biographical files Chinese people organizations places connected industry The British steel industry realized importance China industrial progress takin 8teps brea8 development There 8urely other industries benefit similar research eneretlc needlln Mr 8ewell Yours slncerely C H G Oldhan Received New York May I