EIGHT HUNDRED MILLIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 17

EIGHT HUNDRED MILLIONS.

THE PEOPLES OF THE EAST.

INVOLVED RACE QUESTION.

"WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN CHINA."

RE PAX PACIFIC CONFERENCE,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, April 8.

Recent events in China, the changes in Russia since the revolution, the awakening of Asia, show that much of the future history of mankind lies westward across the Pacific, judging by a statement issued in San Francisco by Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, president of Stanford University, California, who was the first chairman of the Institute of Pacific Rela-, tions and is at the head of the organising group for the coming conference in July.

He stated that some eight hundred millions of the billion or more population of the world inhabit the nations that front on the Pacific, for these include the countries of Central and South America, the islands and continents of the South Pacific, as well as North America, China, Japan, Korea, and Russia. The calling of a Pan-Pacific conference to meet In .Honolulu is one attempt to influence the destinies of the Pacific peoples; the organisation of the Institute of Pacific Relations, which met in Honolulu in July, 1925, and will meet again in July this year, is another attempt.

There is no connection between these two organisations, although both were called on an initiative from the United States, and both will be presided over by American chairmen. The Pan-Pacific Conference, authorised by an act of the United States Congress, and organised by the United States Department of the* Interior, is an official gathering in which the representatives of other governments bordering on or having interests in the Pacific will participate. The Institute of Pacific Relations is an unofficial gathering called by individuals, groups or organisations for the purpose of discussing mutual problems in a friendly manner, and is in the nature of an open forum, says Dr. Wilbur, in his statement explaining the nature and purpose of the Institute.

For Better Understanding. "The Institute of Pacific Relations is a forum for the frank and open discussion of common problems among the countries and peoples of the Pacific Ocean," said Dr. Wilbur. "It is a voluntary organisation for the airing of all questions of vital interest to these nations, but without attempting to arrive at any final decision on those problems. Merely to discuss them is useful end clears the way for a better understanding on disputed subjects that in itself may lead to an eventual solution.

"Our results are definite, though intangible. There has been an astonishing change in the thinking of a great many influential people since they attended our 1025 conference, and this change in thought and emotion reflects itself in innumerable subtle ways in the nations as a whole.

"The problems of the Pacific are like those of any other part of the world, except that more people are involved and issues are on a vaster scale. Of coarse, the race question runs through every phase of international relations, and there are already many artificial barriers between thte various people that confront one another across the ocean. There are differences in race, language, and civilisation to complicate matters, as well as great difference in economic development. Perhaps the greatest problem of all is one of mutual understanding, as the purely physical barriers grow less on account of the growth of transportation and communication.

"One of the outstanding questions of the Pacific is, of course, what will happen in China. How long » it going to take her to stabilise her government, and to begin to develop a modern civilisation? It is inevitable that the Chinese question will occupy an important place at our July conference.

"The Japanese will undoubtedly bring up the question of population and the economic pressure that exists as a result of its rapid growth- This involves large questions of immigration, and again the racial issue crops up.

"Although the Institute has not met as a whole since 1925, it has continued to function through its national councils. These act as local organisations of the Institute in each country to spread information that is gathered by research bureaus; to ascertain the facts on disputed questions, to draw up the subjects for discussion at the next conference, and to select members who will act as representatives. These national councils exist in all countries represented at the 19*25 conference of the Institute, and 1 have attended meetings of them during the last year in such widely separated places as Vancouver, Tokyo, Peking and New York.

Good Work Performed. "Their membership includes some of the most representative leaders in every sphere of life in the various countries, and the fact that these men interest themselves in the work of the Institute is a good indication of the results that may be expected from their meeting for consultation and discussion.

"Professor Condliffe, of New Zealand, has been appointed director of research of the Institute of Pacific Relations, to bring together all the results of the research work done in the different countries during the year. A strong Japanese and Chinese delegation has been selected to attend the conference, and we expect to have equally good respresentatives from other Pacific countries, including some of those not represented in the previous conference. The agenda is in process of being drawn up, but it is not yet ready for publication.'