THE OXFORD CHAIR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—The creation of a Chair of International Relations at Oxford has caused a stir in University circles, not only in Great Britain, but also in other countries. The event marks a notable stage in the progress of our international thinking. For when one of the most ancient and conservative centres of learning can break with its traditions for such a purpose, we may well be assured of the general acceptance of the view that in education is to be found one of the greatest safeguards of peace.
Ever since the War, this view has been steadily gaining ground. Perhaps its most dramatic expression can be attributed to a statesman and philosopher, now deceased, who stated that had we known more about our neighbours, the Germans in particular, their national character, their abstract ways of thought, we might have-succeeded in recon- ciling them to the French, and so averting the struggle which shattered our world. Nothing could be more impressive than such an admission uttered by one of the Ministers primarily responsible for the conduct of British foreign policy during the most crucial years of our history.
It was not at first apnare_nl that international affairs could provide an advanced subject of study in our Universities. The pioneer path was blazed by such societies as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, and the American Council on Foreign Relations. The activities of these insti- tutions are, as is well known, confined to the gathering of information about current events, and to discussion between specialists who make up their membership. A further stage in the development was reached when the League of Nations Institute in Paris conceived the idea, through the instrumentality of Professor Alfred Zimmern, its Deputy Director, of convening .international conferences of such groups. Valuable as the work of these societies was found to be in their respective countries, they fell far short of the requirements of the time. Activity in the university field was felt to be imperatively necessary. The fact cannot be denied that in the past Universities in general have contri- buted little to international understanding ; they have tended rather to emphasize national characteristics and accentuate differences than to create a technique of intel- lectual adjustment between one people and another. As centres of international learning, they can play an invaluable idle. Indeed, unless contemporary history forms the subject matter of organic study, such as can alone be provided by Universities, it is doubtful whether the statesmen of the future will be any better than their predecessors.
The haphazard gathering of scholars under the auspices of this or that international Institute, though useful in its way, is not sufficient for the purpose, and it is significant that Professor A. Zimmerli has decided to leave the Institute of Intellectual Co-operation in order to fill the Oxford Chair. The history of this organization set up under League auspices is too long to relate here. It is sufficient to say that in spite of the reforms undertaken by a Committee of Inquiry set up recently, we cannot help but feel that the funds generously placed at the disposal of the Institute by the French Govern- ment would be much more worthily spent. It is known that French scholars themselves show little or no interest in this venture ; they feel that circumstances call for other means of achieving the desired end. At least one distinguished French Professor has suggested to the writer that if some of the funds contributed by the French Government were diverted to the creation of a Chair of International Relations at the Sorbonne, no greater service could be rendered. It would show that France, no less than Great Britain, the United States, and Germany, where such Chairs have been created, is ready to recognize the great value of the discovery of ten years of experiment in the field of international thought and education. Indeed it is essential to the success of the discovery that every great country should apply it, and form the necessary organic link with every other.—I am, Sir, &c.,
T. P. CONWELL-EVANS.
9 Rue Jean Calvin, Geneva, Switzerland.
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