The Conference on the Role of Higher Education in International Understanding, at Estes Park, Colo., June 19-22, was undoubtedly the most comprehensive effort higher education has made since the conclusion of the World War to examine its responsibilities in world affairs. Practically all the major national organizations in higher education were represented when more than 50 national organizations responded to the invitation of the American Council on Education to cooperate in sponsoring the affair.

The achievements of the conference were greatly enhanced through working papers which had been prepared in advance by panels of specialists. These papers presented carefully considered but tentative proposals to the following sections of the conference: aspects of the United States governmental program calling for the cooperation of universities; programs of international organiza⚫tions and the universities; the training of personnel for professional international service; the curriculum in international relations; extracurricular activities; universities and adult education; administrative and financial aspects of the individual university's program; and the Utrecht proposal for an international organization of universities.

The first day was devoted to plenary sessions for the consideration of the part the universities. should play in the international programs of the national Government, the United Nations, and other international governmental organizations and private agencies dealing with world affairs. The excellent papers presented by William C.

'Mr. Cherrington, who was general chairman of the Estes Park Conference, is director of the Social Science Foundation, University of Denver. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

Johnstone, Jr., Director, Office of Educational Exchange, Department of State; Charles A. Thomson, Director, UNESCO Relations Staff; and Howard E. Wilson, of the Carnegie endowment for International Peace, on the programs of the national Government, international organizations, and private agencies respectively enabled the conference to identify the more important ways in which higher education may effectively participate in these areas.

The second and third days were devoted to the sectional groups listed above, which met simultaneously and prepared reports for the plenary sessions on the last day. Their reports as amended in the plenary sessions will be edited by Howard Lee Nostrand, the executive secretary of the conference, and it is expected that they will be ready for distribution in the early fall of 1949.

Among the more important recommendations of the conference are the following:

First, it was recommended that there should be a central coordinating committee representing higher education at the national level to serve as a fact-finding and information-furnishing committee rather than an operating committee. It would be available for consultation and for the function of information to governmental, nongovernmental, and intergovernmental bodies and to educational institutions.

It was recommended that the American Council on Education should be requested to appoint the coordinating committee after obtaining the official approval of appropriate national organizations interested in international education.

As a corollary to the proposal for a coordinating committee at the national level, it was recommended that each college or university consider

the establishment of a similar committee to undertake for the institution as a whole the coordination of information and activities relating to all phases of the international activities of the institution. Functions of the office would include relationships with governmental and intergovernmental bodies, voluntary organizations, and other organizations.

Third, the conference unanimously recommended that a world association of universities be formed in line with the proposals of the Utrecht Conference held in August 1948. Some of the purposes of the world association of universities would be to provide a center of cooperation at the international level among institutions of higher education; to promote international understanding through the universities of the world; to convene international and regional conferences on problems of higher education; to promote research and investigation of problems of concern to universities in different countries; and to administer an international universities bureau which would collect and disseminate information relating to institutions of higher education throughout the world. It was brought out that a temporary international universities bureau had been established in connection with the Utrecht gathering, and the conference recommended that UNESCO be requested to continue its support.

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The conference appointed a continuing committee to supervise the preparation and dissemination of its findings and to take such action as later developments would prove necessary to bring the conference recommendations into effect. The continuing committee is composed of Ben M. Cherrington, Association of American Colleges, Chairman; Francis J. Brown, American Council on Education; A. Burns Chalmers, American. Friends Service Committee; the Very Reverend Vincent J. Flynn, Association of American Colleges; Robert W. Goss, Association of Graduate Schools; Algo D. Henderson, New York State Department of Education; I. O. Horsfall, National University Extension Association; Francis S. Hutchins, Association of American Colleges; Howard Lee Nostrand, American Council on Education; Helen Dwight Reid, United States Office of Education; Donald J. Shank, Institute of International Education and American College Personnel Association; Russel I. Thackrey, Asso

ciation of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities; George F. Zook, American Council on Education.

Theatrical Groups Urged

To Promote Understanding

International application through the International Theatre Institute will soon be given to the appeal of the U. S. National Commission for UNESCO that theatrical groups present performances dedicated to world peace, human rights and international understanding.

The original appeal to 2,000 professional, school and community groups throughout the United States, was made through Miss Rosamond Gilder, representative of the American National Theatre and Academy on the Commission, who also presented the plan to the IT at its July meeting in Zurich.

The IT approved the plan, and adopted it as part of its program for the coming year. The Institute will urge its member nations to request their theatrical groups to give similar productions, with emphasis on a concerted series of performances in March 1950, the month suggested for presentation of such plays in the United States on a nation-wide basis.

Reports from ANTA headquarters in New York indicate that wide and enthusiastic response throughout this country is being received to the appeal. Replies to the questionnaires show that dramatizations based on international understanding have already been presented by quite a few local groups. Another encouraging indication of the popular appeal accorded the project is shown in numerous commendatory letters which ANTA has received as a result of press notices on the plan.

In urging groups to participate in "this nationwide expression of the UNESCO "idea"," Miss Gilder pointed out that there are many channels through which international understanding can be increased—including the borrowing of plays from other countries.

"Some groups might wish to do a performance built around the basic tenets of human freedom as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Miss Gilder said.

Groups which already have staged performances on such themes were asked to send the information to ANTA, 138 West Forty-fourth Street, New York City, to aid other groups planning pro

grams.

"The Past Is Prologue," a talk by Milton S. Eisenhower, the retiring Chairman, will climax the fall meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, to be held in Washington, September 9 and 10. In his address Mr. Eisenhower will tell of the growth of the UNESCO idea in this country, pointing out how on these beginnings the future hopes and aspirations of the organization are pivoted.

A successor to Mr. Eisenhower will be elected on the final day of the meeting. The Chairman and Vice Chairman may serve only three consecutive years, and Mr. Eisenhower has been Chairman of the Commission since it was first organized in the fall of 1946. He agreed to serve his present term only after an appeal from the members.

The theme of the meeting will be "UNESCO-Its First Three Years and Its Next Three Years." George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, will address the meeting.

Highlighting the program on the opening day will be a series of ten-minute talks on UNESCO-related activities by Commission members. The following talks will be given by members who have recently visited UNESCO House in Paris: "Youth Educates UNESCO," by Donald F. Sullivan, now in Europe gathering material for a publication on youth's participation in UNESCO's program; "UNESCO Plans for Adult Education," by Herbert C. Hunsaker, member of the U.S. Delegation to the recent UNESCO Seminar on Adult Education in Elsinore, Denmark; and "The Graphic Arts and UNESCO," by Daniel Catton Rich, who recently held consultations with members of the Arts and Letters Division at UNESCO House.

Other talks will be given by Ben M. Cherrington, leader of the Universities Conference at Estes Park, Colo., on "The Role of Colleges and Universities," and Erwin D. Canham, who will speak on "The Fight for Freedom of Information," from the vantage point of a U.S. leader who has had a prominent part in that fight.

Other features of the program will be a talk, "The UNESCO Program Goes Forward," by Waldo G. Leland, chairman of the Program Committee, and a résumé of "The Policy of the National Commission on Copyright," by Luther II. Evans, who

recently returned from a meeting of copyright experts at UNESCO House.

The evening session on September 9 will be devoted to a discussion of the general topic for the Paris conference (as rephrased by the Executive Committee): "What should be the role of the states now members of UNESCO in promoting a better understanding among all people through education, science and culture, under the conditions which now obtain in the world and in view of the existence of the obligations imposed by the UNESCO Constitution?"

Fourth General Conference of UNESCO,
September 19-October 4

The Fourth General Conference of UNESCO Will be held in Paris, September 19 to October 4. At Beirut it was decided that this should be a "short business session," and, therefore it is not planned to restudy the UNESCO program as a whole, but only to examine new proposals or those which require new authorization for their continuance.

A budget increase of about one million dollars is proposed, but this does not necessarily represent plans for new activities. Indications are that an effort will be made to reduce the cost of carrying out the program, rather than to reduce the budget by eliminating program items.

Three days have been added to the twelve originally scheduled for the Paris Conference, so that a full discussion may be held on proposals for UNESCO's part in the Technical Assistance Program.

Three evening sessions will be devoted to discussion on the general topic: "What are the duties of the state in regard to education, science and culture for the purpose of ensuring a better understanding between peoples and what practical steps should it take in order to discharge these duties?"

Little publicized and meagerly financed, UNESCO excites more interest in this country in more unexpected places than any other specialized agency of the United Nations.-Anne O'Hare McCormick

"Round Table" Session on Concepts of Democracy Now in Pamphlet Form

"Democracy-World Hope" was the topic discussed by the University of Chicago Round Table of the Air on one of its late spring programs. Basis for the discussion was the recent meeting of experts in Paris convened by UNESCO to Consider the Fundamental Concepts of Democracy, and the declaration on the subject issued by the experts.

Participating in the Round Table discussion were Richard P. McKeon, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, member of the U. S. National Commission for UNESCO, and one of the seven experts from as many different countries, attending the Paris meeting; Herman Finer, professor of political science, and Louis Wirth, professor of sociology, also faculty members of the University of Chicago.

A complete transcript of the Round Table discussion, together with the report of the Committee of Experts, the questionnaire on which its deliberations were based, and the declaration, has been printed in pamphlet form by the University of Chicago, where copies may be obtained for 10 cents each.

In referring to questionnaires on democracy that were sent to scholars, experts, and men of affairs in the 46 member nations of UNESCO, Mr. McKeon said that of the 85 answers received, "not one... professed to be anti-democratic!" He added: "Thus, for the first time in history, we have arrived at a position in which every outstanding state says that democracy is the highest form of political and social organization . . . But more striking . . . is the fact that all the answers insisted upon the equality of men-no discrimination against races, groups, or sects."

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In discussing the divergent concepts of democracy as held by peoples in the East (i. e. the Soviet Union) and those of the Western democracies, Mr. McKeon said: "In the West, tolerance means permission for any person to have any opinion, however dissentient, even contrary, to democracy. That, in the East, is looked upon as a weakness and, therefore, a lack of faith in democracy and even possible fascism."

Agreeing that there is a "genuine difference" between the Russians' view of democracy and our own, Mr. Wirth added: "Perhaps just looking at it rather superficially, certainly one difference would

be that we attach much more significance to personal liberty, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and protection under the law and the Constitution; and they attach much more significance to social and economic well-being."

Mr. Finer, replying to this statement, said: "The difference goes much deeper than that. The essential difference is the extent and the machinery of participation of the people themselves in deciding what their welfare, their liberty, and the rest shall be. It would seem to me that democracy must mean what the origin of the word makes it mean— it is government by the people. We have the Lincolnian phrase 'government by the people, for the people' ('of the people' we can regard as just a hostage to rhythm). For the people' is provided by the Russians. That is all right, and I agree, but 'by the people' seems to me to be the real guarantee of any progress, economically or otherwise, to which any people can look forward."

Brazil Seminar Is Convened

The Seminar on Illiteracy and Adult Education, which was convened in Rio de Janeiro on July 27, will continue through September 3. All nations in the western hemisphere were invited to send delegates to the seminar, which is jointly sponsored by UNESCO, the Organization of American States and the Government of Brazil. Each member nation of UNESCO outside the western hemisphere was invited to send an observer.

The U. S. Delegation is composed of Lloyd S. Tireman, University of New Mexico; Homer Hadley Kempfer, U. S. Office of Education; and Mrs. Ann Nolan Clark, Institute of InterAmerican Affairs.

The program outline contains five main sections: Documentation and Statistics of Illiteracy; Organization of Illiteracy Campaigns; Methods and Materials; Adult Education; and Primary Education.

Colby Plans Student Exchange

Julius S. Bixler, president of Colby College, Waterville, Maine, has expressed the hope that Colby will be able to send one student to the American University in Beirut and another to a university in Israel, next fall. He will also attempt to have two students from Israel enrolled in Colby for the same period-one Jew and one Arab. Mr. Bixler was at one time lecturer at the American University in Beirut.

The Executive Committee of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO has voted full support to the program for technical assistance for underdeveloped areas, as proposed by President Truman and the United Nations.

The following statement was issued by the Committee, following its meeting in Washington, June 24-25:

"We believe that the Program of Technical As sistance for Economic Development as proposed by President Truman and by UN can make a real contribution to the establishment of permanent peace and strongly support the general principles of the Program as outlined to date.

"In the development of this program the Executive Committee has these observations and recommendations to make:

"In so far as possible, the work should be carried on through UN, but it is recognized that bilateral agreements may be necessary in the early stages.

66 "Technical assistance' must be more than technological assistance if the objectives of the Program are to be met; namely the 'achievement of peace, plenty and freedom.'

"Economic development and greater wealth per

capita must be accompanied by greater freedom, knowledge and participation by the individuals concerned. We suggest the UNESCO proposals that a steadily rising level of education concerned with more than technological efficiency must go hand in hand with economic advance if the sustained ability of a people to use its instruments of progress, without the domination of the few, is to keep pace with the opportunities which technology and economic aid unfold.

"This program must avoid all forms of imperialism and be built entirely on the principles of mutual aid and competent self-government without exploitation from within or without.

"Successful execution of this economic program requires full cooperation of educational, scientific and cultural institutions and groups in all participating countries and these groups should be called upon to help in planning as well as in carrying it

out.

"The very means and methods by which this program is advanced must contribute to greater understanding and lessening of tensions and the Executive Committee and the National Commission propose to observe this program carefully to help insure that it does not fail in this respect."

LEFT: Seated around the conference table, left to right: Robert S. Smith, Archibald MacLeish, George N. Shuster, C. J. McLanahan, Merle A. Tuve, Nelson H. Cruikshank, Charles S. Johnson, Ben M. Cherrington, Waldo G. Leland (all Commission members), and Effingham P. Humphrey of the UNESCO Relations Staff. The camera failed to catch Luther H. Evans, who was seated directly back of Mr. Cherrington.

RIGHT: Milton S. Eisenhower, center, Chairman of the National Commission, presided over the sessions. Others, left to right, are George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs; Ross Whitman, who addressed the Committee in the absence of Willard Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs; Charles A. Thomson, Executive Secretary of the Commission, extreme right; and Max McCullough, Deputy Director, UNESCO Relations Staff, back to camera.