1950 Hanover Holiday
Four-Day "Alumni College," June 12-15, Will Take Up General Subject of Russia
HANOVER HOLIDAY, operating in the modern fashion like political parties and soap manufacturers, has taken a poll to determine what its program should be this coming June 12-15. As a result of a thoroughly partial and unscientific survey, we have come to the sound conclusion that it ought to consider Russia. Now that the bi-partisan foreign policy is looking shaky, most unfortunately, and decisions are to be made that will determine, as few decisions have, the future existence of this country, there seemed to be a general feeling that every opportunity ought to be seized to talk about, and learn more about, our most important problem as a nation. After some consultation and deliberation, a program began to shape up that looked like one of the best the Holiday has ever had.
Here in Hanover we have grown familiar with the excellence of the Dartmouth faculty—perhaps too familiar—so that at times we forget how good it is. (Here I take pleasure, as a minor cog in administration, in praising the body to which I really belong!) At any rate, when we began to look over possible topics and speakers, the supply of good ones was large, too large for the time available for the Holiday. Just as our freshmen are told to feel a glow of satisfaction at being selected from so many, so may our speakers feel this year; and you who are thinking of taking in the Holiday have all the more reason for doing so.
RUSSIAN ECONOMY AND SCIENCE There are perhaps two big questions in everybody's mind so far as Russia is concerned—what are its economic possibilities, and how good are its scientists? These two are of course closely related. Prof. Earl R. Sikes, of the Economics Department, has spent many years finding out about the Russian economic situation, and what he has to say is likely to be off in nothing more than detail. What the United States should do about Russia will depend very much on what Russia can do, and as citizens we ought to have these potentialities pretty clearly understood. Professor Sikes, long at Dartmouth, and author of Contemporary Economic Systems, should require no further introduction.
As for the topic of Russian science, there are several things we'd like to know. Again there is no certain answer, at least available to us, but careful reading discloses a significant amount of information, not only on such things as die atom bomb, but on die general level of scientific activity, which is fully as important. The Chemistry Department keeps up its reputation of supplying good speakers to the Holiday, through Prof. John Hulton Wolfenden. He came here from England in 1947, after teaching at Oxford since 1925. In this country he had been a visiting lecturer at Oberlin, Wesleyan, and Rochester, and had served in Washington during the war as Principal Scientific Officer of the British Commonwealth Scientific Office. Among his many other honors and activities there should be noted preparation for life at Dartmouth in serving as president of the Oxford University Mountaineering Club. Currently he is noted as one of the better lecturers in Great Issues.
MCLANE '41 A SPEAKER
What a nation does depends not wholly on its resources; its ideas are often as important, as a guide to action. The Holiday, always interested in alumni as well as faculty speakers, was delighted to discover that one of Dartmouth's recent graduates, Charles B. McLane '4l, has been working at Columbia's Russian Institute on just such a topic. There he has been studying particularly the Russian press, as an editor of the weekly CurrentDigest of the Soviet Press, and so has been asked to talk on "Soviet Opinion of the United States." If I identify him as one of the Manchester McLanes, most of you will know him or one of the many relatives who have gone to Dartmouth. After a college career noted for a high scholastic record and four years on the ski team, he served in the Mountain Infantry and rose to the rank of Captain. He has been studying at Columbia since the fall of 1946. This talk is one we are all looking forward to with interest. Turning next to a consideration of what Russia seems actually to be doing, the Holiday has selected three areas. Prof. John W. Masland, of the Government Department, will talk on "Communism in the Far East." Already a topic surrounded by the greatest difference in American opinion, I expect it will become steadily more important and more controversial. Professor Masland, a thorough master of his subject and a former member of the Mac Arthur government in Japan, will provide a real opportunity for us all.
PROF. BRUCE ON PROGRAM
This week the Berlin blockade seems to be on again. What is happening in Germany anyhow, and what are Germany's prospects? Prof. Harold R. Bruce, also of the Government Department, seemed to be the man for this, with his deserved reputation as a clear and interesting speaker, and his course on current European governments, which he has taught at Dartmouth for these 25 years. Here is the battlefield where conflict is now the most open, where the struggle for Europe will be decided. (It is fun to make such statements for somebody else to discuss.)
The third area is the Balkans, where Tito is alternately a subject of damnation and praise by America. What is going on—and, so far as an historian may prophesy, what is apt to happen? Prof. John C. Adams, of the History Department, has been doing that in class in his course on Russia and the Balkans. That's in the mornings. Afternoons he listens to Russian radio programs; evenings I believe he reads Serbian newspapers. In brief, he is one of the top authorities in the country on this area, and a colorful speaker as well.
LAUTERBACH '35 TALKS ON KREMLIN
Richard E. Lauterbach '35 probably knows more about Russia than any other Dartmouth graduate. He was chief of the Time-Life Moscow Bureau, and was with Eric Johnson on his trip through the Urals and Central Asia. In 1945 he was in Japan, Korea and China, and crossed Russia from Siberia to Moscow. He is the author of These Are the Russians, Danger from the East, and Through Russia'sBack Door. He will talk on "The Kremlin's Hopes and Headaches." In view of his crowded schedule and the demands made upon him, we are extremely fortunate to have him on the Holiday program.
The final session on the evening of Thursday, June 15, will be a joint affair, for all these experts. Miscellaneous knowledge is all right, but it should be directed to a purpose. What should be the policy of the United States toward Russia? That is the question we have to answer; it will not do to let Russia answer it for us. That is the question up for discussion that evening, with everybody, on both sides of the table, taking part—you included.
There is the program. You ought to consider coming this year; it will be well worth while, and a lot of fun besides. The talks will come mornings and evenings, leaving plenty of time in between for golf and tennis and swimming, or sitting on the Inn porch.
Rooms will be available at the Inn, or at low rates in one of the better dormitories. The expenses as usual will be very low—a bargain among vacations. The Library and other college buildings will be open for use. Baby sitters can be provided. The Holiday is decidedly a coeducational institution. It is the very thing for those who want to see something more of Hanover and of their friends than is possible in a brief class reunion. Take a little more time and make the return to Hanover doubly enjoyable. See if you can't arrange a small reunion of your own with a few old friends. The Old Farmer suggests rain for each reunion week-end but"some good days" in between. There's the final reason for coming to Hanover Holiday.
PROF. HERBERT W. HILL, director of the Hanover Holiday, June 12-15, which deals with Russia.
