REFERENCES TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23848, 18 January 1943, Page 4

REFERENCES TO RUSSIA

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DR. J. C. pEAGLEHOLE

LETTER TO UNIVERSITY SENATE

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, January 16. The Senate of the University of New Zealand this morning discussed a letter from; Mrs Denton Leech, of Dunedin, about an article written for the “Y.W.C.A. Review” by Dr. J. C. Beaglehole, of Victoria University College, entitled “What the Charter Leaves Out.” Mrs Leech said that such an article by an examiner of the University called for the Senate’s censure, being disloyal and contemptuous. Mrs Leech added that one contention in the article was that the Atlantic Charter was valueless because Stalin was not present, whereas actually when the negotiations for the Charter were proceeding Russia was in the Axis camp. She thought the tone of the article was calculated to discredit Britain and enhance Russia. Dr. R. Sylvia Chapman, chairwoman of the educational committee of the Y.W.C.A., said that one statement that gave offence apparently was “Many millions of people do not look upon Churchill but upon Stalin as the right man, and millions on our side look not to Britain and America, but to Russia.” That, however, was not an opinion but a statement of fact. After considerable discussion Mr A. H. Johnstone said that if there was any question of disloyalty it was a matter for the college and not the Scildtc The Chancellor (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) said he did not know whether Dr. Beaglehole was still an examiner, but he thought the article was one which would stir disunity when unity was needed, apd he thought the Senate should raise' its voice against such a sneering, jeering article. The question of freedom of speech for members of teaching staffs outside the colleges was largely discussed, and ultimately the letter was received.