Evening star., 1947-10-05
East Meets West
By Gurnett D. Horner

By Garnet
"a IA KHIN MYINT, a Bur-
mese girl whose name
lN means Miss Love Abund-
AV Il ant, is symbol at
George Washington University of
a development of tremendous sig
niflcance for the United States and
its relations with the Near and Far
East.
Her country, just emerging into a
full -fedged sovereign nation, is one
of many in that part of the world
turning to America for training of
their future leaders in, the demo-
cratic way of life and all that goes
with 1t.
Ma Khin Myint is graduate
student at G. W.. specializing in
business administration. She is one
of 43 young men and women sent
by her government to American
universities this year, studying
everything from veterinary science
to Journalism. All of them are
under contract to work for the gov
ernment of Burma after they COM
plete their studies.
Foreign Student Army.
Similarly learning American ways
at first hand, with expenses paid by
their own governments, are 80 stu
dents from Egypt, 491 from India,
IL from Iran, 106 from Iraq, 2 from
Saudi Arabia, AZ from Siam, 80 from
Syria, 300 from Turkey, 81 from the
Philippines and 143 from China.
These government sponsored stu
dents from the Near and Far East
are of special interest among the
approximately $4,000 foreign STU
dents from all parts Of the world in
American colleges because of the
definite programs developed by
their countries for training poten-
tial leaders here.
To them the United States is sort
of laboratory of democracy. The
emphasis is on mastering practical
techniques that have helped to make
America great, but the social sci
ences are not neglected. Perhaps
the greatest value of all comes from
something not specifically on any
students class schedule-the gain
In international understanding that
comes as by-product of the life of
the foreign youths in American
communities.
The Twain Shall Meet.
1t is a two-way benefit. Foreign
students in this country have the
of learning the truth
about America by living and work.
ing among Americans. At the same
time, they are representatives of
their own different cultures among
the Americans with whom they come
in contact. There Is no better way
than such a face-to-face relation
ship to build the understanding
among the worlds peoples that is
an essential foundation of peace.
A woman principal of junior
high school in Ankara, Turkey,
studying education at Northwestern
University, put. it this way in a
letter coming to the attention Of the
State Department:
Everywhere I 60 I meet with
people who are anxious to learn
about Turkey and who express de-
light In finding out much alike we
are. met many teachers y" "
was thrilled to notice how our hopes
and ideals conceded" ~
Given New Emphasis.
Realization Of the value of inter-
change Of students and teachers Is
not new. But it has been given new
by postwar conditions, and
the ambitious programs of the new
and old nations Of the East to gain
benefits Of Western civilization In
the quickest possible time.
The Burmese program is of special
because Burma. is one
Of the countries coming into its own
as . sovereign nation after World
War II. Burma is scheduled to be-
come fully independent from Britain
next year. The United States al
ready has recognized her inde-
pendence. announcing last month
an agreement for the exchange of
ambassadors with Burma for the
first time.
Initiation of the program for send
ing selected Burmese young men and
women to this country for higher
education coincided with beginning
If negotiations between Burmese and
British officials to work out plans
for Burmese independence. The
Burmese government plans to send
about so students to the United
States each year for an indefinite
period, as part of its efforts to equip
its outstanding young citizens for
reconstruction tasks and the new
of national leader
ship the Burmese now are assuming.
From U. Of Rangoon.
All the Burmese students here are
graduates of the University of Ran
goon, planning to work here for
their masters and doctors degrees.
Ten of the group Of 43 are women,
marking the first time unmarried