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8/28/1955 - Untitled by Peter Bird Martin

NOT FOR PUBLICATION Westmoreland St Louis issouri August Ms alter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Rogers For years I something novelty American studying Saharan Africa Ford Foundation grant ihout clusters academic letters following calling without being confined narrow acadeic field Instead I moving through areas continent staying place several months talking important unimportant people politics industry education learning people think countries South Afrima Federation Rhodesia Nyasaland Belglmn Congo Gold Coast The question inevitably arises period Was worth Would better given money I spent science examined something concrete greater detail would foreign study produced thesis which would under noble heading A contribution human knowledge It question answer I snnlng picture In shrinking globe expanding destructive constructive power seems vital ordinary people begin around learn something problems exist other parts world The problems similar different simple complex complicated factors climate geography But seems problems could dismissed ignored ordinary Americans simply because forelgn The difficulties Native administration Northern Rhodeslan Copperbelt concern factory foreman Cleveland They become concern however income copper shortage expansion World Communism affects Central Africa Specialists political social science probably better evaluate understand Native administration situation Northern Rhodesia I But information would gained never quite reches Cleveland foreman It destined printed technical language journal limited circulation passed mouth other sociologists political scientists Perhaps finds State Department causes change United States policy towards Northern Rhodesia But rarely ordinary unable intelligent opinions United States foreign policy That where people As profession journalist I continue access media public information I position Cleveland foreman goinE world aound affects personally It infomatlon palatable Without knowledEe I Eained durlnE years I would Ereatly handcapped postlon The argument raised perhaps Cleveland foreman interested Native administration Northern Rhodesia better leave matters hands experts This perhaps world leaving behind which Unite States isolated impassible barriers water But world possible deliver cobalt ideology anywhere matter minutes hours dangerous foolhardy leave opportunity spread information hands small clique How years The important feature fellowship I compelled hrough country scrap cream political social situation forming udnents throwing paper hurrying another continent another factsandadifferentsituation Ihadtimetoliveinhecountry I learning people problems climate farms politics inside Not specialist I individual become friend political social economic conditions through Of course I research But I country collection facts figures I somethin valuable I Ken Cunningham Pier Plessis Joseph Apish about these facts figures The problems country problems people I knows South African problems without adding I South Africans Without knowledge writer interpr foreign opinion interpretation others A speakin acquaintance ordinary important specialist anthropology medicine political science sociology But vital Field research necessary raining specialist receives enables etimes forces divorce situation facts their surroundings It ehooves ournalist divorce facts their environment It enouoh Boers South Africa intolerant To accurate necessary point intolerant because their ideas racial purity because their fears being blotted national entity because their history religious fanaticism feelings persecution The Afrikaners Boers perhapo deserve conde mnation But condemns without knowing publishing pertineut facts doing disservice himself readers Withou benefit years I would guilty disservice Another important aspect years comes under vague heading Foreign Experience I learned about asking questions getting answers answers particularly departmental questions evaluate information I gathered It experience cannot gained anywhere field experience already stood stead since return United States The I measure benefit I received Africa wighlng future achievement The proof value experience knowledge which The scientist specialist knowledge teach select become scientists specialists himself The journalist spreads general knowledge perhaps dramatizing readable Both scientist journalist business learning teaching difference opinion arises compares audiences I important information ordinary class potential experts Bu least important shrinking world Gaining experience valuable opportunity which could happened without ideals behind Institute Current World Affairs breadth vision Frd Foundation which supported To I offer sincere thanks wishes continuation unusual program giving specialist specialist benefit seeing beyond himself Martin