INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC RELATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 242, 11 September 1929, Page 2

INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC RELATIONS

PROFESSOR CONDLIFFE’S WORK,

At the invitation of Professor J- B. Condliffe, formerly of Canterbury College New Zealand, a visit was paid by a member of the ‘‘Standard p prietary and Mr M. A Eliott, last month, to the Institute of Pacific Relations in Honolulu, of which the fist named gentleman is professor of all ie search work, and has associated him Mr Holland, a former student ot Canterbury College. It is three ye since Professor Condliffe left Ne w Zealand to take up his present P oaltl °” with the Institute, and since then he has witnessed its growth from a small band of enthusiasts, anxious to promote better international relationships in the Pacific, to large and influential organisation, which, through its methods in working, has brought a new era into vogue among the nation bordering on the Pacific, and inculcated among them a desire to determine vexed problems by round table discussions rather than isolated action, which was calculated in old days to lead-to serious trouble among nations. POWER OF INSTITUTE. The power of the Institute, which is manifest in its quiet and unostentatious method of working, lias niaue itself felt in several directions in the Ear East, particularly in China. At present, the Alanchurian question is under discussion and will be debateu at length at the conference to be held in Japan on October 23rd of this year. A pamphlet issued by the Institute last year contained the essential facts regarding its origin and plan, it is a research and conference body, international and inter-racial in composition, its interests being centred in the Pacific area. The constitution or the organisation briefly states its puipose as being to “study tho conditions of the Pacific peoples with a view to the improvement of their mutual relations.” In expanded form this purpose has been stated by one of the founders of the Institute as a movement to study and interpret through non-official channels the thought and cultures and institutions of the Pacific countries; to examine into and seek remedies for international and interracial friction and to promote a civilisation of mutual understanding and respect.” In pursuance of this purpose the Institute enjoys the advantages of unhampered scientific inquiry, co-operatively undertaken, and of discussion unrestricted by official attitudes or diplomatic considerations. It is an organisation of people—not governments —concerned with the discovery of basic facts pertinent to the peace of the Pacific area and with the interpretation of those facte through the frank exchange of racial and national points of view. CONFERENCE IN JAPAN. Professor Condliffe’s heart and soul is in the work in which he is engaged in Honolulu, and he informed our representative that he has spent three happy years in the Islands, and expects re-appointment for another five years. Very shortly he will leave for the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations in Japan and he expressed the hope that it would be possible_ for Sir James Allen, chairman of the New Zealand section, to be present. When the conference terminates Professor Condliffe will visit the United States, and subsequently return to Japan, from whence he will journey through Russia to Europe, visiting Rome, his plans including his attendance at the Geneva Conference.

As the Professor will he absent from Honolulu for about one year, Airs Condliffe and her children have decided to spend some months in New Zealand and with that end in view were passengers on the Aorangi which arrived in Auckland on Sunday. It may be of interest to mention that Professor Condliffe has written a book entitled “New Zealand in the Making,” being an economic history of New Zealand. The manuscript is in England, and the book will be available in 1930.