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10/11/1949 - Initial Report by John B. George

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JBG INITIAL REPORT Longwall Street Oxford England Institute Current World Affairs October Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Rogers Everything Oxford The pleas uneventful I trouble getting lectures being assigned tutor having program study planned Mr Veale wheels motion I called office handing Mr Robinson charge Colonial Service program Mr Robinson finished everything except final detail getting formally admitted University which wishes accomp through standard method first having accepted colleges I believe wants college because other Colonial Service students colleges there seems certain amount prestige social advantage involved The amount obligation these people towar yourself Mr Moe being demonstrated their going beyond fulfilment baking request I allowed participate inthe program I doing possible final wrinkle college admittance ironed I writing because I hoped detaiihad settled college The Colonial Service program nicely plans being duration I leave spring I advised possible toward Bachelor Letters perhaps switch later Ph D without taking courses outside Colonial Service Colonial Government purview They might especially convs nlent since resident study I might doing Africa considered resident credit Oxford Afer I ground I about appraise likelihood returning further useful study after while field The Colonial Officers I talked differ attitude toward think Oxford start going think worth while retur every years refresher purposes I extreme cases against their havingbeen selected local superior officers allege Oxford simply AfriCa These INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS unguardedly bitter about whole I guess wholly pleasant experience dragged comfortable colonial housing their instruction useless things colonial history ommonwealth relations This criticism emphatically nearly students beginners veteran officers alike concerned contemporary practical problems ministration They history emmonwalth stuff important enough justify inclusion concentrated course It strikes basic conflict Academic versus Practical reminding staff schools I attended Watching afford quite fewgood laughs morning I heard Prof Harlowe spend first lecture making seemed rather frantic apology history subjects being forced program He spoke value experience rising which every Imperial Power subject tself moment becomes mperial And preceded definitienof imperialism which implied patriarchal bnignity colonial power Incidentally Harlowe first I heard lecture competent lecturer I standpoint presentation convincing dialectics So I Oxford disenchantment predominantly Princeton I think tells about I about scholastic The vagueness character istic University itself I mysteries continue unfeld Barring I should Inside informatien easier ebtain On personal everything equally The train London enjoyable ceuntryside appeared I expected weather still being Dick Nolte hospitable after first night spent steeping myself atmosphere incon vienence Mitre Hotel I moved place spent while leoking permanent quarters For semething pounds weekly I roeming eating breakfast dinner Lengwall I think better staying hotel because expense because thrown contact With several other students entirely different other Britons I I hardly understand their individual versions King English until accents British I during altered better contin contact iwith IYanks The thing which would priceless breakfast dinner table school foreign language would chance INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS fellow Colonial Service students There immediate prospect opportunity I making friends among veteran colonial officers without difficulty because served India Burma during The biggest trouble candid spontaneous conversations among colonial officers gotten under under influence Weak smoky ceilinged I afraid intestinal tract decay proport amount unstinted uncensored opinions I I pretty complete Oxford appearance The I brought plane fittingly wrinkled shirts twice laundry taking weeks I bought necessity Oxford ridden three nights without being killed speeding lorries Austins whose numbers belie petrol rationing program tried sports jacket trousers found Phil Talbot warning about quality price woolens correct Quality merchandise being exported point irony instance where Oxford weave shirting unavailable Oxfor years Phil I however wrong about typewriter situation Foreign typewriters waiting Oxford English machines little difficult price By string pulling I dared I Oliver Portable really little machine promised delivery Christmas In meantime I borrow unless happen across vienent getting American machine This minor detail since plemy typewriters aailable borrowing think nothing unless chance arises incur obligation The machine I Phil disposed would other American portable But delay inconvience getting routine means would certainly worth while Besides seeking devious Britons themselves about obtaining their products which largely earmarked export I learning about Brtish economics individual attitudes toward policies government Onsecon thought better aheadand British typewriter Maybe after I while I profound observations subject British mechanical genius Iod basis limited experience British water closets I would trite Well after these Oxford still seems fascinating place Tere million impressions I scribbled notebook later I INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS stand I changed little ready example being coming round values I appreciate suggestion I bring family really meant There pleanty quantity quality meats American standards This comes interestu young undergraduates being perhapstyears England declared never their lives Americans believe balanced healthful It worth noting attitudes shopkeepers instance described pleasan States People generally willing stranger greater frustrations encounter other At first glance least there seems evidence greatness beneath material mediocrity Island I letter I havet taken condense length commensurate factual import I write again I overlooked Oxford following Princeton pattern manding written papers while least energy taken trying catch ground British history papers accept So while I little writing layed through Mid Northwest Ford Everything I learned seems point wisdom hastening Colonial Service Course Being entered tremendous advantage educati6nal contacts points I across grateful As study shapes itself I describe detail Right I think I start trying paper The Current Popular Attitude oward Intolerable Indirect Government I nothing selection ultra controvefslal topic Mr Rbinson suggested perhaps malice aforethought would awkward changed something sensitive Sincerely yours