Document (Organisation, 2012)
Year
2012
Text
MacMaster Library, The Bertrand Russell Archives, Hamilton, Canada (MML)
Type
Organisation
Mentioned People (1)
Russell, Bertrand
(Trelleck, Monmouthsire 1872-1970 Plas Penrhyn bei Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales) : Philosoph, Logistiker, Mathematiker, Literaturnobelpreisträger ; Dozent Cambridge, Oxford, London, Harvard University, Chicago, Los Angeles, Beijing
Subjects
References / Sources
Chronology Entries (8)
| # | Year | Text | Linked Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1920.06.30 |
On June 30 1920 Bertrand Russell was back in Battersea from his tour through the Soviet Union and found the Invitation to Bertrand Russell to lecture at Beijing University. Sponsored by the Jiang xue hui [Lecture Society], sent under the name of Fu Tong, Zhang Songnian and Liang Qichao. The invitation enclosed a letter from the Government University, Beijing to John Henry Muirhead : "Fu Tong would like Muirhead to ask Bertrand Russell to come to China for a year to give some lectures. Bertrand Russell would be paid 2000 pounds and his travelling expenses". The invitation seemed to express primary interest in Russell's theory on mathematics and logic and suggested that although the writer did not know precisely what Russell's social and political views were, he would be welcome to lecture on them as well as on his theoretical philosophy. The invitation was being sent primarily in recognition of Russell's achievement as philosopher. But it made explicit at least a secondary interest in Russell's view as a social reformer, and other Chinese connected with the invitation were clearly more concerned with social problems than with logic and epistemology. Russell required to address two different groups in China : 'social' and 'political' intellectuals, and philosophers. He had come prepared with 'purely academic lectures on psychology and the principles of physics'. Thus he was surprised to find upon his arrival in China that those who had invited him 'insisted' that he also lecture on social questions, and especially on Russia's experience with Bolshevism. Liang Qichao was as much interested in Russell's political views as in his theoretical philosophy. He was committed to bringing men such as Russell to China to talk about politics, even though he also hoped that Russell's concept of scientific method would have a beneficial impact on China. |
|
| 2 | 1962.11.16 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 16.11.1962. [Extract]. The Chinese attacks on the border with India were in self-defence and that it is hoped that Bertrand Russell can use his influence to promote a peaceful settlement. Zhou Enlai appeals for Russell to use his influence to promote a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary question. Zhou Enlai comments that so long as there is a ray of hope China will continue to work towards a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian border dispute. He also urges Russell to use his 'distinguished influence to promote a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary question. Zhou Enlai tells Russell that the Chinese government will continue to strive 'for a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary question'. He hopes Russell will use his distinguished influence to promote a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary question. |
|
| 3 | 1962.11.24 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 24.11.1962. [Extract]. Zhou Enlai states that the Chinese government hopes that the Indian government will be willing to change its past attitude and sincerely settle the Sino-Indian boundary question through friendly negotiations. Zhou Enlai hopes that Russell will continue to use his distinguished influence to urge the Indian Government to respond positively to the Chinese governments. Zhou Enlai welcomes Russell's support of the Chinese cease-fire proposal. He notes that the Indian government has repeatedly rejected any Chinese proposals, and hopes that the Indian government will be willing to change its past attitude and sincerely settle the Sino-Indian boundary question through friendly negotiations. |
|
| 4 | 1963 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 30.5.1963. [Extract]. Zhou Enlai expresses China's view on the border dispute with India. China wants an amicable settlement of its boundary questions through peaceful negotiations on the basis of equality. |
|
| 5 | 1963.06.05 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 5.6.1963. [Zusammenfassung]. Zhou Enlai makes reference to the fact that China has successively taken a series of important measures on its own initiative in order to promote Sino-Indian negotiations. Zhou Enlai would warmly welcome Russell's personal visit to China, if health condition permits it. He comments that he would welcome the visit by Russell's representatives, and gives an outline of the steps China has taken towards securing a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary dispute. He also pints out to Russell that facts about Tibet contained in unarmed victory are inconsistent with the historical facts. He said he had been reading a summary of 'Unarmed Victory' in Chinese. (This was presumably prepared specially for him : no Chinese translation was ever published). He seemed quite pleased with the book, which at the time was one of the few Western documents which attempted to put China's case sympathetically, though Russell made no bones about his detestation of Chinese communism or his immense respect for Nehru and the Indian policy of non-alignment. Zhou thought, that Russell had made mistakes about Tibet, the McMahon Line, and China's foreign policy. (He sent the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires to Wales to put him right). He also dismissed the differences between India and China over the Colombo proposals as unimportant matters could be resolved in negotiations. |
|
| 6 | 1963.07.21 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 5.6.1963. [Extract]. Zhou Enlai states that the Chinese and Indian armed forces have disengaged and the border situation has eased. |
|
| 7 | 1965.10.22 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 22.20.1965. [Extract]. Zhou Enlai agrees with Russell's condemnation of U.S. imperialism for its criminal aggression in Vietnam. Zhou Enlai agrees with Russell that the chief threat to world peace is U.S. imperialism. He also comments that the struggle against U.S. imperialism is at present the key to the cause of the people of the world defending peace. |
|
| 8 | 1966 |
Letter from Zhou Enlai to Bertrand Russell. 4.1.1966. [Extract]. Zhou Enlai thanks for the confidence and support Russell have shown in the Chinese government and people. Zhou Enlai praises Russell's noble efforts in opposing U.S. imperialist policies of aggression. |