Evening star., 1927-05-29

experiment in the building ur
of friendly relations between
Il nations will be taken al
Honolulu in July, when more
than $50 unofficial delegates from
countries bordering the great Pacific
Ocean assemble for another meeting
Of the Institute of Pacific Relations.
The goal toward which this infant
organization has set itself is to save
the people of the Pacific from the
bloodshed and warfare that has
marked the history of the Atlantic
Ocean in past centuries, by bringing
about better understanding of problems
that lead TO international irritation
when not understood, according TO
DR. Ray Lyman Wilbur, president of
Leland Stanford Junior University,
California, chairman and one of the
founders of the institute.
DR.. Wilbur, when in Washington
for the meeting of the American
Medical Association, painted a
bright picture of the possibilities for
good in this movement, which had
IFS inception only two years ago at
a similar gathering in Honolulu of
educators, business men and other
leading men and women from the
various lands whose interests are
tied geographically by the broad eX-
panse of the Pacific.
Aim Is Understanding.
One of the unique tenets of
the institute, and one that is likely
10 save it from internal discord, is
that it passes no resolutions, pre-
scribes no definite cures for problems
although its members devote two
full weeks to frank discussion of the
most troublesome economic and polit-
ical questions existing among the ma
tions represented.
As described by DR.. Wilbur, its aim
is to effect mutual understanding of
the problems of the Pacific by show
ing others our viewpoint and listening
to their viewpoints in return. The
person who approaches this confer
ence table with a definite solution
ready to offer for a problem probably
ond time, DIR. Wilbur said, because
they will find that the institute does
not strive to decide anything.
The agenda of the forthcoming
meeting is expected to include the
following topics:
From America - Laws of various
kinds affecting Orientals, and the atti-
tudes of the different States of the
Union on Pacific Coast questions.
From Japan-The question of food
supply in it's relation to the popula
tion of the island.
From China-The question of extra
territoriality and tariff.
Wins Oriental Support.
DR.. Wilbur said it also would be
within the realm of the institute to
delve into and exchange views on
such fundamental questions of the
Pacific as immigration. race preju
dices and Philippine independence.
'"The Orientals have taken to the
idea of the conference whole-hearted
ly," DIR. Wilbur declared. "One Japa.
nese expressed his attitude toward the
institute to me in these words: 1T is
the first time we have been approach.
ed except to buy, sell, beg, teach or
preach.
DR.. Wilbur regards the unofficial
and informal character of the insti.
tute as of great advantage in sowing
the seed of mutual understanding
among the different races and nation.
alities involved i'm the affairs of the
Pacific.
He pointed out that diplomats,
dealing through official circles, are
naturally thinking of advantage for
their own country, while trade repre-.
sentativeS concentrate their attention
on the commercial aspects of interna-
tional issues.
English Medium of Speech.
Although the institute is made up
of delegations of educators, business
men and other leaders from more than
a dozen lands, it is interesting to note
that the English language has been
accepted as the medium for discussion.
1t was found at the first meeting two
years ago that nearly all of the dele
gates were familiar with the English
tongue and the few who were not were
assisted by interpreters.
At the first meeting two years ago
there were groups from the United
States, Canada, New Zealand, Aus
tralia, Japan, China, the Philippines
and Hawaii. AS evidence of the prog
ress already made. DIR. Wilbur said
the Forthcoming meeting, which will
last from July Is to 30, is expected
to include also delegations from the
British commonwealth, Java, Su-
matra, Mexico and Russia.
Among those who are scheduled to
go to the meeting this Summer from
the United States are Miss Grace
Abbott, chief of the Children's Bureau
NJ the Dena rtment of Labor: Rev. DIR.