it is well, indeed, to be reminded that the struggles by which academic freedom was established in the past are by no means over, for to re-"M cognize the threat of a harsher bondage of learning to politics is a Jong step towards rallying forces to
conditions today tend to hinder the meet, the danger. Moreover, the free exchange of ideas between scholars of different countries, through which the universities can function as agents of international appeasement. On one hand, eminent men of cleaming are liable to be excluded from certain totalitarian countries, "While on the other, the utilization of academic and scientific activity for the advancement of national political ends characterizing those countries has in turn led to a more cautious attitude in other countries in ex—panding facilities for the movement Of professors, lecturers or students from such countries, except under most express guarantees.
Discussing the position of research in international relations, Mr. R. S. Bailey, in a publication issued by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, points, out that the principal obstacle to objective investigations is not the inadequacy of the financial resources, the dearth of trained personnel or the absence of adequate materials, but the encroachments upon intellectual freedom. The full admission of the principle of intellectual freedom is a vital condition for the objective study of international rel: tions, no less than for scientific work of any kind. The twist which has been given to the minds of many in the authoritarian State who carry the responsibility for guarding the scientific tradition makes it difficult to rely upon the objective value of the work of institutions im thos countries. Even in scientific work, it is almost impossible to estimate at any given moment the pressure of the unseen hand of an authoritarian and the Royal national Affairs.
Institute of Inter-
It is as necessary as with the universities that such institutes should be independent of political or other affiliations, and be precluded from expressing a corporate opinion if the research conducted by them is to be of real value.
Besides outlining the essential conditions for research institutions in this field, Mr. Bailey's notes on the development of the study of international relations in higher education deserve attention. He comments on the devastating effect in the social services of intensive specialization and the need for a general view for the comprehension of social phenomena—and the increasing difficulty of obtaining it—the tendency of students in one branch to overlook the contributions which workers in other fields can make to their work, and on the obstacle which is presented by preoccupation with professional training.
In both the sphere of research and in the university, the emphasis on the need for objective investigation and objective teaching is unmistakable. In Germany, Italy and the U.S.S.R., the educational policy tends not to prevent the study of international relations but to subordinate it to the immediate political needs of the regimes in power.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.