John J. McCloy, United States High Commissioner for Germany, praised the work of the German seminar. He said: "The strategic place held by students of higher learning in any nation makes any attempt to stimulate democratic attitudes and practices of more than passing interest."
"From what I have learned about the seminar, the German student leaders were stimulated to continue their efforts is re-establishing and extending self-government in German universities and technical schools.
"The seminar provided opportunities is exchange experiences and practices in self-government. The personal contacts of German students with student leaders from England, Denmark, France, Swedes, Switzerland, were also of inestimable value."
A request has been made to the United States High Commission in Germany for support of the project. Members of the International Activities group also have discussed with the Rockefeller Foundation a possible grant for the extension of the German seminar and the establishment of student projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Seminars for Asia?
William R. Polk '51 went to the Middle East last summer and made a report on student conditions there, while James P. Grant 3L prepared a similar report as Southeast Asia. Conclusions from both were similar: students tended to favor democracy, yet found their countries hindered because of the high illiteracy raise.
Grant and Polk stated that seminar projects should be encouraged in keeping with the growing favor shown toward democracy. They contended that the only way the students could understand democracy would be to show them how it operates in different countries.
Other projects of the International Committee are equally important in bringing about better understanding between the United States and foreign countries. One of these is the International Student Information Service by which the Council exchanges facts on college life with foreign universities.
A final program which the committee hopes to develop soon is an international scholarship plan for the financing of students here and abroad.