Attending the conference were representatives of ten countries: Australia, Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaya, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Delegates from Burma and Vietnam were invited, but unable to attend. There were two students from each country, plus observers from Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines. Also observing were an American student studying in Tokio, and Isaac Omolo, an East African student, at present an Associate Secretary of COSEC (the administrative arm of the International Student Conference).

Friendly Atmosphere

Looking back on the conference, there is no doubt about its success. Delegates were housed in a student dormitory close to the conference site—the splendid, modern and air-conditioned auditorium of the Law School of the Ateneo de Manila, one of Manila's catholic universities. [unclear: Staying] together the delegates had the [unclear: advantage] of getting to know one another. This was significant, for good personal relations, formed outside the conference room, were important, not only in contributing towards the success of the conference itself, but also in laying the foundation for future increased cooperation and friendship between the national student unions the delegates represented.

Apart from the actual business of the sessions, it was this factor that provided the conference with much of its usefulness: a group of students from ten different countries discussing among, themselves, quite informally, general and mutual problems of all kwinds, everything from local student affairs to the present world situation. It is certainly true that there is no real substitute for personal contact; it was soon found that a great many misunderstandings could be removed when people come together in the friendly atmosphere that the conference provided in Manila. It would indeed be surprising if there were any delegates who came away without having gained a greater understanding and knowledge of the others' problems and aspirations, or having found that young people everywhere share similar hopes and fears.

Asian Problems

This was the background to the work of the conference—in many ways a pioneering effort in that it was the first of its kind. Because of this, it was natural that much time was taken up in investigating the situation of the student press in the various countries represented, and in formulating a number of principles, thus clearing the way for future meetings to tackle some of the more difficult problems that face the student press in Asia.

And many problems there are, for the students of Asia are vitally aware that their countries look to them for guidance, not only in the future, but, in many cases, even now. Thus the theme of the conference was "The responsibility and problems of the Asian Student Press, and its role in national development." To facilitate thorough discussion of this theme, the conference split into two commissions on the second and fifth days, each presenting a report to a plenary session in between. These reports proved very informative, and provided the basis for the various recommendations the conference as a whole was asked to adopt. The student press in each country has its own set of problems, although inasmuch as many of them are related to the larger problems besetting the young nations represented, there were similarities.

David Stone

Students to the Fore

In most cases, the student press, as part of the student movement, played an important role both inside and outside the campus, in the struggle for independence. Thus the basis was therefor the student papers to contribute, in the same spirit, towards the national development of their respective countries. This they do by way of dissemination of significant news and informed opinion on matters of national importance, and by stimulating student thought on a wide variety of subjects.

An outstanding example of this can be [unclear: seen in] the work of the "Gadjah [unclear: Mada"] Publishing foundation in Djogdjakarta, Indonesia, where students translate foreign text books for local study, and in the "Gadjah Mada" magazine, which publishes monthly a number of articles on economic, agricultural, technical, social and political subjects, contributed by senior students specializing in these fields. This publication has a considerable public circulations and in this way, the students are making a very worthy contribution.

In India, student publications have made their contribution in lengthy discussions of the Five Year Plan, and in fighting various social evils; in Pakistan, the student press is playing a part in the fostering of spiritual, economic and cultural unity between the two great geographic "wings" of that country; in Malaya, student publications are working with sections of the student movement in efforts to fight the "white collar" [unclear: tendancy] and to instil a pioneering [unclear: spirit in] the younger generation; [unclear: and in] the Philippines, the student [unclear: press,] along with other student [unclear: groups] represented on the Consultative Council for Youth and Student Affairs, an organization set up by the late President Magsaysay, which has a permanent secretariat in the Presidential offices.

These are not isolated examples, but are typical of the important role that Asian students are playing in their countries' development. The immense problems they face are all connected, in one way or another, with the attainment of independence, and efforts to achieve advancements in all fields after a long period of colonial domination. These are very real facts to the Asian students, and it is in this light that one must view their political opinions. In the majority of cases they are very much better informed in such matters than their counterparts in Australia and New Zealand, as discussions with them very soon show.

In many cases, however, the student press is hampered by poor facilities and finance, while censorship, or indirect pressure, exist in certain cases in Ceylon, Malaya, the Phlippines and Hong Kong, stemming either from government or university administration quarters. Nevertheless as education expands, so do student movements and the student press, and although national organizations are lacking in several of the countries represented, it was clear that attainment of these was an immediate objective, and in some cases, negotiations are now in progress.

Positive Programme

Au Revoir

The last of these resolutions is highly significant, and as the International Student Conference has already approved of the project in principle, it seems likely, finance permitting, that a press and information bureau, centrally situated and with a full-time editor, will he established within a year. This will be a great boon for relations between students of the area, providing fortnightly bulletins on current student affairs in the various Asian countries, thus giving local student papers up-to-date news. It will be one more step in the direction of greater and mutual understanding.

Before closing its final session, the conference resolved that there should be be a second Asian Student Press Conference next year, more representative and leading with more specialist topics. The way is now open and there seems every chance that the meeting in Manila will be the first of many more.

New Zealand has indeed been fortunate to have become a "foundation member", as it were, of an association of nations such as this. The New Zealand delegates at Manila were greatly moved by the warm friendship extended to them, and were honoured when Derek Round was elected Secretary to one of the plenary sessions, and the present writer was elected Chairman of one of the commissions. The other delegates also showed great interest in student conditions prevailing in New Zealand, and in the country's affairs generally. It would be a happy situation if they derived as much benefit from our attendance at the conference as we did. In any case, student hospitality in Manila provided by the host organizations, the Students' Councils Association of the Philippics and the College Editors Guild, was quite overwhelming, and on visiting Singapore and Djakarta on the way home, the writer was given such a warm welcome by the students in both cities, and cared for so diligently, that his experiences can never be forgotten.

Many of the students dislike certain aspects of New Zealand's foreign policy, but given the chance to meet young people from this country, their hospitality never fails. It is to be hoped that the opportunity will arise before very long for us to be their hosts here in New Zealand. Should more of our students be able to have greater contact with their fellows in Asia, and should they show genuine sympathy with their aspirations and a sincere effort to understand their problems, then much will be gained. Their friendship is an experience to be treasured in itself.