RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 10

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.

Mr. Baldwin's announcement, on behalf of the Rhodes Trustees, that scholarships at Oxford will again be available for Germany, is to be greeted with satisfaction. With Germany now in the League of Nations and intellectual co-operation a definite part of its activities, this forging again of the link fashioned by Cecil Rhodes is in order. That he would approve is beyond question. In his will, after describing his purpose so far as it related to the British oversea territories and to the United States, he said particularly of the five scholarships to be allotted to Germany—"The object is that an understanding between the three great Powers will render war impossible, and educational relations make the strongest tie." While it cannot be said the existence of the German scholarships was in itself sufficient to prevent war —that would be putting too great a burden on his words, quite apart from historical fact —his object was wholly laudable and his way of contributing to its realisation well conceived. Had his example been followed in any considerable fashion by others, it is certain that a very effectual aid to peace would have been provided. As it is, his thesis remains true, and the resumption of the original administration of his legacy is a move in the right direction. The Dominions profited, as an outcome of the war, when the five scholarships were transferred to them. There will be satisfaction in the Dominions at the news that they are not to lose these additional scholarships, as the trustees are in a position to make those now allotted to Germany an extra charge on their resources ; but the satisfaction would have been greater still had it been possible to reinstate the whole five. This, presumably, will be done as soon as funds permit. In the step now taken is more than a mere gesture of friendship, and the decision is calculated to do good.