LETTER TO MR. MATTHEW BAIRD FROM PHILIP W. THAYER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00017A000300010008-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 7, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 30, 1954
• Content Type: LETTER

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25 YEAR RE-REvitvv
SC1iOOL OF ADVANCED AT 1DIHAL STUD 7
OF
THE J4 HUMS UZIURSM
1906 Florida Avenue,, LLL
J aaehingtonn 9,, D 0 C 0
OFFICE OF TIE DEAN
Mr. I .tthew Baird
Director of Training
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington,, D 0 C 0
Dear Mx. Bird s
November 3?9 1954
In 1952 the School of Advanced International Studies
sponsored a sir session and conference on "Southeast Asia in the
Coming World0 t0 As indicated by the titles the aim of the Program
was to focus attention on the problems inherent in the transition
from colonialism to sovereignty in this critical area of the world.
That this objective was satisfactorily acconp1iahed was evidenced by
the widespread interest shorn in the substantive course offerings and
conference meetings,. as well as by the cordial, reception of the sub-
sequent publication in book form of the conference paapers0
Since 1952 tt0 similar programs have been held under the
auspices 'f the School0. The 1953 sessions rwe concerned with The
Threat of Soviet lac ialism9 ca and in 1954 the subject was PDConte ra
Problems of Afrrica0 to Both sessions met with outstanding success. The
published volume of conference papers resulting from the 1953 meetings
has had an extensive sale0 The papers presented at the 1954 conference
are now in page proof and publication is expected early in 19550
:?.t the present moment the picture in Southeast Asia has taken
on new and urgent tones- In planning for the summer of 3.955 ,9 it
therefore seems desirable to hold a session and conference someehaat
sorer in topical scope than the 1952 pro sam9 but within that scope
including consideration of the adjacent area of South Asia. The extent
to which the developments in these regions Interact and result In co'
zn trends and impacts cannot and should not ba ignored0 In line with
this thinking,, a 1955 suer session and conference are projected on
"Nationalism and Progress in South and Southeast Asia." Appropriate
substantive courses uill be offered during the eight weeks aession9
and there is attached a tentative draft of the conference prrograam0
The conference papers will be published,, as before,, by the Johns
Hopkins Press 0
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A unique feature of the planning for a 1955 program involves the
holding In Rangoon at a slightly later date than the meetings in Washington
of a coordinated conference. This is made possible by the e. istence in
Rangoon of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies which is operated jointly
by the School and the University of Rangoon. In order to prevent duplication
and overlapping., the Rangoon conference., which will be attended by repre-
sentatives of other South and Southeast Asian universities., will be concerned
largely with problems of economic development,, regional cooperation and
education. The Washington conference will deal more specffioal with
political and social factors in the development of nationalism., and with the
menace of communism. In this way,. it will be possible to include in the same
published volume the papers presented at both conferences. An incidental
advantage of the Rangoon conference will be the greater ease of attracting to
Rangoon important personalities who might not find it feasible to make the
longer journey to Washington. It should be emphasized that the plans for the
Rangoon conference are quite distinct from those for the Washington program.,
and will be separately financed.
The =perience and w-how which the School has acquired In the
conduct of these summer program for the last three years cannot fail., to give
value to subsequent sessions. It is believed., morsovera that the program en-
visaged for 1955 is one of great significance. In addition to the positive
benefits to be gained through presentation and publication of papers by the
eminent authorities who will, attend the conference,, the program should be of
definite value in certain other respects, as follows-.
1. It will bring together at the graduate level a group of students
many of whom be potentially emeful~
2 Most of the leading A ican mperts on the areas In question will
be present during the week of the conferences
3o The program will ftke it possible to bring to this country in a
perfectly natural way foreign =perts and others whose presence
here may be especially desired
4o The summer session., as well as the conference, will provide a
unique opportunity for the intensive study of problem of unusual
significance for the free world.
Sincerely yours a
a/ Philip W o Thayer
Philip W V Thayer
Dean
IMT apm
Enclosure
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C 0 P Y
k nd r, August 8
ITAT IONAL ISIS AN PRO= SS A AS IA.
Introductory Remarks
President Louell J. Reed
The United States looks at Free Aai
Speaks-. George Allen
Comentat?rs Ferdinand Kuhn
Tuesday,, August 9
Wednesday, August 10
P-M Free Asia looks at the United Staten
Speakers k', Pandit
Coxaentator s Jays Barrington
The Background of Colonialism
Speakers D.G.E. Hall
Conmentastc s alt in Aung
The If int of Colonialism
Speaker8 R. Supomo
Cos entator s J05 0 FurnivaU
The Progress of 11ationa 1 ieffi
Speaker.- Rupert Emerson
Commentators Richard L. Park
Problems of Sovereignty
Spzeke s Claude Bus
Commentator s Philip W. Thayer
The Int'lwmee of Racial Minorities
Speaker o Victor Purcell
Coamentators Pain. Linebarger
Backgrounds of Co ism in Asia
Speaker.- Arnold Toynbee (alt O William longer)
Commentator,
Poetd,! ar Development of Com=ism
Speakers R OS O S O Guneaene
Commentators Virginia Thopaon
25- Current Techniques of Co mist Aggression
Speakers Adam Watson
Commentator s Doak Barnett
Anarera to Corm
Speakers Charles Thomson
Co entator s W O C O Johnstone,, Jr.
Thursday,, August 11 Problems of Public Administration
Speaker s Paul, Appleby
Cos entators G.L. Nehtas (R0KO Nehru)
Political Parties
Speaker; keoe to Noto'sidagd
Commentator .0
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Policy Choices of Free Asia
Speak&a U Nu (Carlos Rowlo)
C? entators Nicholas Roosevelt (lie
Mansfield)
Policy Choices of the Weetwn World
Speaker s col Macdonald
CoM?ntators Cheater vies
Banquet, Thursday Rveningz S eg Adjal St anson
It is Weswt y planad to offer the following courses in
connection with the 1955 au ien prognan of the School of Advanced
International Studieaa o
Problems of Co met .pans ion in Southeast Asia
Colonia1ismg NationaliaAe and Co sm in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian Economic Problems
Contemporax-j Problems of South Asia
Geographic Factors in the Development of South and Southeast Asia
Professors Paul Li ne ger and T?Uia C. Johnstone of the
School Faculty will offer respectively the courses on "Colonialism,,
Naltionalisffie and Co nism in Southeast Asia" and ?4Cont raj emblems
of South Asia."
Others being considered as Faculty s s arcs
Victor Purcell (University of London)
D. G. E. dial. (University of %cndon)
S el Van. ValkenT g (Clerk University)
Dash Barnett (Am rican Universities Field Service)
Charles Thom on (The Rtooki a Institution)
Shannon McCune (Colgate University)
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