Scientific Study of Foreign Policy

THE report on the work of the Intellectual Cooperation Organization submitted by the Sixth Committee to the Assembly of the League of Nations refers to the way in which the scientific study of problems of foreign policy is obtaining recognition as a new branch of learning. The International Studies Conference has devoted two years to the preparation of the study of peaceful change, and as a result of research in many countries a series of works on demographic problems, the distribution of raw materials and colonial questions which would offer reliable contributions to the solution of such problems is about to be published by the Institute of Intellectual Co-operation. The next two years are to be devoted to the study of economic policies in relation to world peace. An international conference on higher education held at the Institute dealt with such problems as the organization of various university faculties, scientific research and higher technical education, overcrowding in the universities and international collaboration. A Permanent Committee on Higher Education was appointed by the Conference to keep in touch with these questions. The report directs special attention to the programme of activities drawn up by the Intellectual Co-operation Organization and the Executive Committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions, which is directly connected with the advancement of all branches of science. The Organisation has also been requested to consider what steps might be taken to enable writers to continue to carry out their work with full freedom of thought and expression and a guarantee of material security. Reference is made to an international inquiry into the reorganization of secondary education, the key to the problem of overcrowding in the universities and liberal professions, and finally the report outlines a draft Act to set up and maintain National Committees on Intellectual Co-operation and to grant financial contributions to the International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation.