© 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

3/22/1950 - Progress Report by John B. George

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT VJORLD AFFAIRS Colonial Services Club South Parks Road Oxford England March Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers I completed terms resident study Oxford University weeks vacation before starting third It seems trailing affairs cleared check first months nstitute I learned write progress report In previous newsletters I outlined events England described hospitable treatment received Oxford Thanks influence Institute friends I quickly admitted New College University rapidly would expect foreign government agency facilities Colonial Service Club Institute Colonial Studies available All faculty Colonial Service people interested helpful I cated earlier letters there little laboriously search material colonial African affairs instead problem making right selections program lectures courses seminars comprehensive grasped entlrty During first Michaelmas which began after I arrived October I crowded schedule largest possible number lectures classes These included Commonwealth history African geography history British local government British central government colonial administration federal government basicanthropology social anthropology This deprived benefits intensive departmentalized study enabled survey Oxford offer I could decide I needed At I attempted observation reading small insight current British political thought determine limits framework public opinion within which colonial policy ulated This obviously could properly while living peculiar intellectual atmosphere Oxford University Town could gained listening Labor Tory arguments among Colonial Service classmates friends The fortuitous anticipation general election these arguments intense perhaps candi When I leave I believe I shall fairly political attitudes colonial bureaucracy impression least popular feelings metro politan nation During ectober I invite Oxford East Africa Society organization students faculty EA interested EA affairs holds regular meetings visiting authorities speak partic EA problems The membership includes natives several tribal chiefs Indians Arabs daughters white settlers The speeches discussions meetings I attended candid radical racial sparationlst views being freely advanced European members My present supervisor Miss Margery Perham regarded foremost British authority African affairs tells circumstance unique 0xford nowhere Africa itself I these bitterly opposed factions gathered discussion During first Mr enneth E Robinson Colonial Studies Institute supervisor His guidance extremely valuable carrle negotiations getting college after I arrived On advice reading first confined general colonial government British Africa foundation specfi reading later Near I began concen trate EA itself Books Colonial Policy_ Practice Furnivall Colonial Civi Serv Burns Were followed specifically scrlptie titles Race Po itic_s Kenya andeSorcere_r ADDr Perham Huxley I small start government reports studies EA The extent available reading material aside lectures other sources appeared large enough decide change plans remain University three instead terms Learning around Oxford absorbed I devote Study I should preferred The enjoyable though Most October seemed spring there chance admire antique architecture against green pleasant background before winter I lived Century house Longwall Street convenient lecture halls undergraduate fellow boarders rather interesting landlady She large group friends among junior faculty members literature humanities whose views politics philosophy favorite topic critical conversation called American Nay Life alays bubbling forth For recreation I bicycled around countryside after inter I occasionally stables outskirts The Colonial Services Club theaters movies course eternal hospitality Dick Jeanne Nolte henever I evening relaxation At Dick Nolte I Paris I continued visit John McCarthy Lans Grenoble I deliberate toward makin contacts Colonial Office London I would better confine relationships group colonial scholars officials I Oxford until I should learned about Then I would intelligent questions understand language But returning France I found plans readlng study could carried during Weeks Christmas vacation having changed about rooms would ready assertion social independence Which landladies enjoy wherever housing strictly seller market commodity The I could seemed return London spend familiar izing myself Colonial Office lowest possible level exploring libraries other academic sources My first contact Colonial Office aroused interest I expected Th first person I talked Mr Peter Canham edits Colonial Office journal insisted introducing authorities They naturally curious I forced early decision explain project reasonable detail The EA specialist Mr Wallace suggested would Colonial Office something writing confirm explanations explain objectives Institute Feeling could accomplished asking draft letter Secretary State Colonies explaining position I hurried letter Your subsequent communication Secretary settled matter Institute assurance Office I receive possible assistance information Director Africa Office Mr Cohoen personally formed interest eagerness Mr Cohoen others essential obtain government before undertaking study project British Africa The EA European commun ities outlying areas small istrict fflcers other officials always aware presence foreign travellers Suspicion would naturally aroused moving about without having explanation central ernment beforehand would within power local officials through their control transportation other facilities things difficult The obvious danger accepting government would I might become identified officialdom regarded another Britisher natives Indians I believe I careful I accept asking permission travel perhaps credentials which reassure local people I discussed aspect Mr Cohoen EA governments would respect preferences matter During later trips London I other Colonial Office academic authorities cbncerned African affairs Be sides Mr Andrew Cohoen Mr J H Wallace whose vital direct manner I Mr Hudson charge African Studies Branch As superior Mr Canham matters pertaining publication official Journals research The Mrs E M Chilver Social Science research Council Dr Audrey Richards ondon University professor anthropology since accept chair Makerere College Kampala Uganda The latter assured would I would allowed Makerere during thesis A Mr wraith University London traveled Africa various government missions references EA education research projects Miss Margaret Read Colonia Studies Branch University London perhaps useful I through using letter introduction given New York Mr Stackpole With district officers anthropologists Secretariat officials native authorities tobacco coffee traders I mentioned ready Mr Roger Norton EA Commissioner London ready entry arrangements I I shall motor length breadth Tangan Kenya Uganda stages miles between points where I I welcome guest I toying after first month Nairobl drive around Lake Victoria through Tanganylka ending Dar Salaam Capitol The second Hilary beginning January scholastically productive first I learned around Oxford ideas undertake further handling project gradually definite shape With supervisor Miss Margery Perham Mr Robinson place while Africa Colonial Office assignment I select thesis topic other decisions concerning EA plans Aside directing reading criticizing outline thesis access research files I Africa authorities Among these novelist political writer Mrs Elspeth Huxley mother Hon Mrs Grant Mrs Grant early Kenya ttler ladies offered house Nakuru place whenever peace serious rlting thinking Mrs Huxley leading exponent moderate Settler point which pounds unwise attempt political privileges native populations except slowly democratic forms government cannot administrative needs backward peoples This defeatist actually current British policy I narrowed lectures during Hilary stronger point hearing evening talks visitors Alan Paton author Cry Beloved Country delivered lecture relationsin South Africa Mr N G Fules Couchman Technical Advisor British Overseas Food Corporation spoke technical aspects EA groundnuts scheme Dr Dean Smith London School Tropical Hygene Tropical Medicine spoke nutrition colonial development Mr E Parry Deputy Labor Advisor Secretary State Colonies views On problems colonial trade unionism number French officials professors series discUssions French colonial problems These addition lectures Oxford faculty Miss Perham Lord Lugard African empire Miss Peter Ady financial problems colonial development Mr W E Beckett Mr G B Mase field agricultural problems There three conference Problems Higher Education British Tropical Africa under chairmanshi Professor Vincent Harlowe which Miss Perham Professor Frankel Africa economics specialist Oxford Mr Walter Adams Inter University Council Higher Education Colonies Professor Margaret Read Mr W E F Ward Deputy advisor Education Secretary forth their ideas nascent affairs colleges universities British Africa This makes appear crowded really Actually through cutting lectures I secured reading during Oxford library hours which different Princeton perhaps because British electric power I catch Somewhat periodical newspaper reading general directly pertinent project For month I keeping scrapbook clippings which thesis The colonies cussed radio commentators broadcast speeches lonial officials I rented A typical morning would included break landlady London Times Rhodes House lecture oclock coffee Rhodes House Colonial Service friends theanhour library followed lunch hotels A typical afternoon might include through parks Isis tutorial Miss Perham class federal ernment Professor Wheare Club reading The evenings given lectures study recreation Occasional trips London broke utine I willing enough during wlnter Hiary favorite recreational pleasures being outdoor variety stick close books leave serious playing until I should EA where there would chance rifle climb hills The greatest single during second definite start project resultant selection specific target objective I refer ideas concerned thesis which I mentioned explained These ideas I think given answers questions which puzzling since I first began realize scope study colonial government EA Where start What method analysis employ Economic Polltiaal Socio logical Mr Robinson mentioned during first subject regionalism EA might thesis should I decide become candidate Oxford graduate degree He explained knowledge serious study EA High Commission other agencies regional control operating throughout Kenya Tanganyika Uganda Zanzibar Other faculty members study properly carried results published wouldbe valuable contribution British ledge since problem promoting greater regional cooper ation among colonies prime consideration policy today As I continued study I examining several questions To extent would further Institute objectives making EA colonial govern specialist Would undertaking narrow observations perhaps prevent obtaining necessarily broad outlook authority How present background education particular approach Woul I better fitted other method attack The answers first second questions seemed implicit obvious breadth study regional agree regional govermment Any thesis Reglonallsm EA would every political economic social factor terms residence Oxford perhaps years observation study embodied writing should I think tance toward becoming usefully knowledgeable about colonial governant EA The third question seemed answer itself negative terms I qualified economist therefore cannot embark primarily economic approach I anthro pologist which Professor Herskovitz others almost essential prerequisite attacking EA problems sociological angle But positive tackling study having political agreement among racially culturally different groups people experience somethirAg offer Schooling Princeton Polities department International Relations dealings matters Of llasOn among Chinese Indian Burmese Japanese elements service military government agencies Japanese occupation seemed provided reasonable basis comparison Travel experience British India should At beginning I outlined study consulted Miss Perham received approval When I received concurrence I necessary changes schedule I could orient toward gathering material thesis Each lecture reading gives something under subheadings outline At thesis title Reinallsm East Africa candidacy degree Doctor Philosophy officially approved Unlversity Having clear objective improved things I proceed travel arrangements leave absence applications other admlnlstraiSe details which accomplished advance The thesis outline which detailed point tentative chapter paragraph headings gives handy checklist reading observation determining priorities central which every I years Aside usefulness regimenting thoughts efforts might possibly enable produce useful Americans interested EA problems regional cooperation Miss Perham suggests publication would supply British readers first single volume coverage history current status extant regional government agencies As planned first chapters thesis general geography topography soils climate sources tances Next brief historical summary migrant indigenous peoples their institutions The impact Western technology culture details European invasions changes wrought modern communicatlons evolution present regional governmental agencies High Commission technical services office telegraph cattle dlsease andtsetse flycontrol analyzed terms actual authority posess across EA colony boundaries The final chapters aimed problem giving detailed picture present factors EA politics native Indian feelings organized political parties labor groups economic factlons bureaucracy There attempt practicable advance criticism structive least opinion limit ations within which schemes further central government Impllmented So thesis itself The remainder second before little better organization The subheadings thesis began govern selection books which I should first For instance I aside general works began carefully Fitsgerald geography Africa flrst selection government reports I began favor those various Colonial Office committees closer union colonies regional agreement This reading called attention knowledge American colonial experience extent basis American interest EA I devoted locating statistics dollar sterling In vestments little American affairs Pacific dependencies I sought details compar ative purposes accounts military government Japan Germany But digressions minor I stuck organized deeply basic physical demographic aspects As pportunlty offered I cQntinued authorities others At Embassy London Mr John E Orchard description ECA development backward colonial areas Presdt Truman Fourth Point concerning local governments areas might impllmented future At New College I dined evening Sir Christopher Cox Educational Advisor Colonial Office He about educational picture EA authorities I arrived I number friends among Dr Orchard assistants ECA section Embassy London Among these Mr Malcolm Crawford working these months problems capital investment Africa My acquaintances Oxford lengthened little include number British force officers I nearly faculty members concerned colonial studies EA Since January I taking lessons Swah1 language which serves lingua franca throughout major areas EA Because which would qulred hours drill I aiming having basic vocabulary grammar before I I think hours And I lucky instructor My present address Colonial Services Club handier classes previous lodgings My large comfortable faces garden Being three meals dining another vantage since resturants Oxford leave deslre The Club hostel Colonial Service officers cadets overcrowded Second Course officers Oxford Most their districts various towns United Kingdom attached local government agencies apprentlceship I think about brings For April I attend symposium colonial ministration University Bristol where Dr Margaret Read others including Mr Klaus Knorr Yale series discussions colonial administration colonial policies various colonial powers The vacation Trinity spent continuing studies preparing departure June My travel reservations already I London June Durban Castle which takes readh Mombasa Suez At Mombasa I hello couple classmates drive Nairobi quarters High Commission From onward plans indefinite But tentatively envisage period ntation High Commis atrip around Lake Victoria stops Makerere College Dr Audrey Richards North Mara Biharamuto Tanganyika learn about native administration friends Paul Wren Ronal Smith district officers various other points observe functioning Technical agencies High Commission I Nakuru Kenya around Mrs Grant perhaps Lindi southern Tanganyika where Alistair Pollock Oxford classmate happens share fondness running district It might leave inland Southern Province where there primitive villages shooting He tells rifle camera afford ticket places where notebook typewriter rimmed glasses highly suspect I applying maximum leave absence Oxford I plans flexible return whenever I shalldnlone actual residence fulfill D Phil eligibility requirements I think quite likely anether required academlcgaps revealed during first period field ebervatien As length EA first shldn Eight menths years planning MiChaelmas being If EA ether civilized places I slely there I spend enjoying relaxing handcraft pleasure ergani theughts readable letters At least I better picture vlded flfty pages I Titten between pleamant energy dlsslpatlng distractions 0xferd Sincerely eceived New York