"As most of the preliminary work of such a conference must be conducted by correspondence, and on account of the distance, we would appreciate your early and careful consideration of these matters and your early reply thereto. Will you also advise us how much of a delegation you believe you can send to such a conference, the majority to be Christian laymen and the balance Association Secretaries. (Signed) FRANK C. ATHERTON, Chairman, Territorial Executive Committee (Signed) CHAS. F. LOOMIS, Executive Secretary." DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN FOR A "CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC PEOPLES" It is clear that until sometime after the Portschach Meeting all the plans had been for a distinctly Young Men's Christian Association conference. Not only was the machinery of the Young Men's Christian Association being used to promote the project, but the chief interest centered in matters directly related to the Young Men's Christian Association and its work. In the letter of December 7, 1923, however, we can notice the beginning of a shifting of emphasis: "The purpose of the conference is to consider some of the problems of the Pacific peoples from a Christian view point and to formulate some practical constructive plans that will help in their solution." The eight National Committees addressed in this letter of December 7th responded by passing resolutions endorsing the proposed conference and appointing members to the General Calling Committee. Before this General Calling Committee had its meeting at Atlantic City in September, 1924, a marked evolution had taken place in the plans for the Conference. Following the organization of the Executive Committee in Hawaii a series of meetings was held to which a larger group was invited and various aspects of the program of the Conference discussed. The following topics were considered with special reference to the Pacific at six evening meetings: 1. How can Christianity become the religion of the Pacific countries. 2. How may the Christian spirit be made to prevail in economic and commercial life. 3. How may the social ideals of Jesus become effective. 4. Can the Christian spirit control international politics. 5. How can education and religion co-operate. 6. What part should the Young Men's Christian Association play in this program of Christian progress. These discussions served to stimulate and broaden the thought of those working on the program of this conference and led the group in Hawaii away from the restricted Young Men's Christian Association view point and purpose of the earlier period. The members of the General Committee in America and other countries were also active in considering the scope and program of the conference and communicated their ideas to the group in Hawaii. As a result of discussion and correspondence the Executive Committee in Hawaii prepared a statement for the meeting of the General Calling Committee held at Atlantic City on September 21, 1924, in which it appeared that the proposed conference was to deal with the problems of the Pacific peoples, to consider their contacts and conflicts and to foster understanding and co-operation. The meeting was attended by: Representing Australia, Harry N. Holmes; China, Dr. John Y. Lee, Dr. David Yui; Canada, Harry Ballantyne; Hawaii, Frank C. Atherton, Chas. F. Loomis; Japan, S. Saito, G. S. Phelps; Korea, F. M. Brockman; New Zealand, R. A. Kenner; Philippines, E. S. Turner, Hon. T. R. Yangco; United States, Fletcher S. Brockman, Dr. G. A. Johnston Ross, James M. Speers, Dr. John R. Mott, and Messrs. Jay A. Urice, Galen Fisher, E. C. Carter, E. C. Jenkins, C. K. Calhoun, C. W. Harvey, C. A. Herschleb and Herbert Manchester. The following decisions were reached: I. That the objective of the Conference should be educational, centering on the stimulation of that clear thinking which is based on more adequate facts and wider sympathies. II. That the program should be built and developed out of definite Pacific problems on which men are confused and in terms of which action must be taken. III. That the attendants should be a small select group of people of influence in forming public opinion, and that the members of the General Calling Committee from each country constitute a sub-committee to recommend names to the Central Executive Committtee which should send formal invitations. Attendants need not be Christians but should be interested in the Christian approach toward the solution of Pacific problems. IV. That the procedure be an educational process, including addresses and forums but making the central feature round tables in which attendants should study simultaneously the various phases of the same problems, with experts participating and under the leadership of able chairmen; an attempt being made to unify the work of round tables, forums and addresses. V. The statement prepared by the Hawaiian group, later printed and circulated, regarding the scope and plans of the conference was formally approved and adopted as representing in general outline the central approach of the conference. VI. That the Central Executive Committee shall consist of Frank C. Atherton, A. L. Dean, Y. Yang, T. Harada, S. C. Lee, Akaiko Akana, R. B. Anderson, Galen Weaver and Romanzo Adams, all of Honolulu with Charles F. Loomis as Executive Secretary. Mr. Atherton was appointed Chairman of both the Central Executive and General Committees. The Central Executive Committee was empowered to add to its number and to develop the plans for the conference subject to the approval of the General Committee. The above mentioned statement approved by the General Committee at Atlantic City was circulated as representing plans for the Conference as far as they had been developed. This statement follows: "A CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC PEOPLES To Be Held in Honolulu, Hawaii, July 1 to 15, 1925 To Consider Contacts and Conflicts and to Foster Understanding and REASONS AND PURPOSES OF THE CONFERENCE "Until very modern times the Pacific Ocean has been an almost insurmountable barrier to the intercourse of the peoples which it separates. In recent years this condition has been changed. The Pacific is no longer one of the world's great barriers; it is a highway of travel and commerce, and the cable and wireless unite us by almost instantaneous communication. We shall be even more closely joined in future years. The ancient prejudices and hatreds which have become historic on the continents of the old world are unknown across the Pacific. We have an almost clean sheet on which to write a page of the world's history. The Present Situation "The glamour which surrounded the countries which viewed one another across the Pacific has disappeared. We are in a period of disillusionment and readjustment of our ideas of one another. Each of us seems to be irritably aware of the shortcomings of the other nations and races. Racial antipathies are arising. Selfishness is found where generosity was expected. Little disinterested effort is being made toward genuine understanding and directing those deep-seated feelings which determine the actions of nations toward goals of mutual sympathy and cooperation. More and more the conduct of nations toward one another is being determined by the opinions and sentiments of all the people instead of the few in power. It is the time when we need to know accurately, to think clearly, and to will rightly. Objective of the Conference "It is the purpose of this Conference to bring together accurate information on those conditions in the several countries which mold opinion and feeling toward other people; to discuss these conditions, opinions and feelings, that their relations may be clearly apprehended; and to point the way to right actions which will lead to understanding and peace in the Pacific. Spirit of the Conference "The Conference will discuss the matters which come before it with entire frankness. No other attitude will enable its members to get one another's point of view. On the other hand, it is not a place merely to air grievances or dwell on the errors of others. What is required is a frank recognition of the conditions under which we find ourselves, with enough study of the causes to make the present situation clear, and then to consider how best to remedy present errors and misunderstandings and to develop better relations in the future. Jesus has given certain ideals of conduct. How do these ideals apply to the relations of the Pacific peoples in this complicated modern world? The atmosphere of the Conference should be that of enquiry, of humility, of the desire to learn, and the search for the wise and just way for the future. Scope of the Conference "The Conference is inter-Pacific. It will be limited to matters which vitally concern the Pacific peoples, which are international in bearing, and relate to the mutual understanding of the several peoples and their feelings and conduct toward one another. Thorough exposition of present conditions in the several fields of discussion is essential. The causes of present conflicts must be understood, but the goal of all our discussion is wisdom for the future. If it does not lead in that direction, it is futile. Briefly then, the scope of the Conference is the elucidation and discussion of the international and interracial relations of Pacific peoples with a view to appreciative understanding leading to wise and right action in the future. ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE Auspices "The Conference will be held under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, since this organization is international and is adapted to the promotion of such an enterprise of widely Christian purposes. The Conference is organized and called by a committee appointed by the National Councils of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, the Philippine Islands and the United States. The members of the Central Committee are: F. C. Atherton, Hawaii; Edwin G. Baker, Canada; Harry Ballantyne, Canada; F. S. Brockman, United States; Judge Manuel Camus, Philippines; S. C. Chu, China; Hugh Cynn, Korea; Dr. A. L. Dean, Hawaii; A. Jameson, Australia; H. W. Kersley, New Zealand; Dr. L. S. Klinck, Canada; Dr. John Y. Lee, China; Chas. F. Loomis, Hawaii; C. M. Luke, New Zealand; Hampei Nagao, Japan; Wm. Nash, Korea; G. S. Phelps, Japan; Dr. G. A. Johnston Ross, United States; S. Saito, Japan; James M. Speers, United States; T. Thomas, Australia; F. D. Trainor, Australia; E. S. Turner, Philippines; A. Varney, New Zealand; Hon. T. R. Yangco, Philippines; Dr. David Yui, China; T. H. Yun, Korea. Hawaii as a laboratory of racial relations, central in location, is a fitting place for the Conference. Membership of the Conference "The Conference will be limited to about one hundred and twenty members (men and women). Invitations to membership will be issued by the Executive Committee. The members will be men known to be in thorough sympathy with the spirit and purposes of the Conference regardless of religious affiliation. To be successful, this Conference must have as members leaders of thought in the various countries who can make real contributions to the solution of the problems which the Conference will study. The privilege of attendance at specified meetings of the Conference will be extended to a limited number of Guests. The Program "The most perplexing of the present problems of the Pacific seem to be found in such general groupings as the following. It is these that create serious differences of opinion and it is in progress toward their solution that forward looking leaders of the various peoples most desire help. 1. Problems involved in migration and immigration. 2. Problems growing out of the international, commercial and industrial relationships. 3. Problems created by religious, ethical and cultural contacts. The specific issues most in the minds of peoples of the Pacific seem to center in these general groupings. Each source of difficulty (the question |