Anglo-Chinese Understanding
SIR,—We should like to have an opportunity of bringing to the attention of your readers the forma- tion of a Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding. At the present time China is acquiring a position of hitherto unparalleled importance in world affairs, though the representatives of a nation with an ancient and magnificent culture, constituting more than one-fifth of the whole human race, have not as yet been given a voice in the councils of the United Nations. There is intense curiosity on all hands about the ideas, achievements, policies and world-views of the Chinese people and their leaders. It seems necessary that there should be in this country a broadly based organisation dedicated to the task of disseminating information about all aspects of Chinese life and thought without pre- conceived bias, doctrinaire opinions or ideological inhibitions.
The Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding has therefore been founded to foster mutual comprehen- sion and friendly relations between Britain and China in many different fields—culture, trade, science and industry, the arts and sports. Having already gained the adherence as sponsors of nearly 200 persons of eminence in their various professions (the universities, commerce, Parliament, the Churches, arts and letters, etc.), it will be holding its inaugural meeting in Church House, Westminster, on May 15 next. As soon as the society is officially constituted it will pursue a policy of activities such as meetings, film shows, circulation of literature, exhibitions, arrangements for visits, exchange of personnel and many other things. In a leading article on April 18 last the Observer pleaded for a radically new start in the social and political evaluation of China. If China is the great problem of the next decade, it cannot be settled on a narrow basis. It requires a readiness on the part of all the Great Powers to reconsider with realism and an open mind the whole question of China's place in the world: . . .
All those who feel the need for a real comprehension of China and her culture are invited to take up membership by writing to Mr. Derek Bryan, OBE (Acting Secretary-General), 4 Cavendish Place, Lon- don, WI.
ERIC ASHBY, JOHN COCKCROFT, NEVILL MOTT, W. B. IIARLAND, RALPH LAPWOOD, JOSEPH NEEDHAM, JOAN ROBINSON, GORDON SUTHERLAND, E. PULLEYBLANK University Combination Room,
The Old Schools, Cambridge
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