The two great scientific congresses

Title

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXX (No. 1) January 1954

Year

1954

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

The Two Great Scientific Congresses The Philippines may well take pride in the success of the Eighth Pacific Science Congress and the Fourth Far Eastern Prehistory Congress which, under the auspices of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Research Council, held simultaneous and several joint sessions, mostly on the University of the Philippines premises at Diliman, from November 16 to November 28. The congresses were attended by no less than 352 overseas delegates, many of the foremost rank, from 27 different countries and by 1076 local delegates of various scientific, professional, and cultural organizations. A total of 789 scientific papers were submitted, 115 of these in the field of prehistory, and many of these were thoroughly discussed. Many of the discussions led to the formation of special committees as well as to the adoption of impor tant resolutions with respect to continued research in geology and geophysics, oceanography, meteorology, animal improvement in the Pacific area, botany, anthropology, archeology, linguistics, social science, public health and nutrition, conservation, fisheries, forestry, the products of various specific industries, etc., all of direct value to national legislatures and government administrative departments and to industrial and business enterprises. These resolutions are too numerous to specify add those interested are re ferred to the various publications of the two congresses, among them the “Abstracts of Papers” (564 pp.) and the “Supplement” (96 pp.), published by the “Organizing Committee.” Further publications are to follow. Dr. Vidal A. Tan, President of the University of the Philippines, in the inaugural address at the opening of the two congresses, said: "The Philippines realizes greatly the importance to us of these congresses and appreciates the honor of being able to play host to these distinguished delegates from all over the world. There has never been nor is there likely going to be for a long time a similar event of equal significance in the history of science in the Philippines." Dr. Tan spoke again at the closing plenary session and said: “For all of us, the Eighth Pacific Science Congress and the Fourth Eastern Prehistory Congress have been tremendous sources of mutual stimulation, growth, and a widening of vision. The congresses have given us valuable contact and first-hand exchange of information. .. On behalf of the Filipino scientists, may I say that I know that these congresses have so inspired and challenged them that research in the Philippines will be pursued with greater zeal and just appreciation?” A n important organizational step was taken in the Pre**■ history Congress in the election on the 27th of Novem ber of an executive committee which on December 3 for mally organized the Far Eastern Prehistory Association as a permanent institution with a Council as the governing body of which Dr. H. Otley Beyer was elected Honorary Chairman, Bernard P. Groslier of Saigon as Chairman, and Dr. Roger Duff, of Christchurch, New Zealand, as Secretary. Mr. E. Arsenio Manuel is a member for the Philippines of the Council. This establishes an organization more or less parallel to the Pacific Science Council. A most interesting and to a degree amazing sequel to the great gathering of world scientists in the Philip pines was the discoveiy by the famous Dutch scientist, Dr. G. H. R. von Koeningswald, of definite proof that the Philippine archipelago was connected with the Asiatic mainland by land-bridges during the Pleistocene period. Up to that time, fossilized large mammalian remains in this country were known only from single specimens from widely scattered parts of Luzon and Mindanao—a number of fragmentary rhinoceros teeth, from a single animal; a tooth of a unique pygmy elephant, and a stegodon tooth. A few days after the close of the congresses, Dr. von Koenigswald, accompanied by Mr. Laurence L. Wilson, of Baguio, explored a number of sites unsuccessfully, but then at a site in northwestern Pangasinan found no less than 44 pieces of stegodon teeth and 1 piece of stegodon ivory (representing probably at least a dozen or more different animals); a probable new species of medium-large elephant, represented by a thoroughly fossilized piece of a large tooth; a fossil rib of a large mammal, probably a small elephant; 2 partial fossil horns and another bone, represent ing two species of deer; fossil tooth, probably Bos; several fragmentary fossils, (and also more than 400 tektites repre senting three distinct types, one of which is wholly new to tektite students). This is proof sufficient that the present Archipelago was reached at various times in the past half million years or so by large Asiatic mammals that tra veled only by land, and that such large land mammals as the rhinoceros, the stegodon, and the elephant survived in the Philippines for a considerable period of time,—long enough to develop certain pygmy forms not found on the mainland. Although no actual human fossils have yet been found, von Koenigswald’s findings agree with the view of Dr. Beyer that certain primitive stone implements found in association both with fossil remains and with tektites were actually made by early human beings con temporary with and probably resembling the Java Man. 't'rue enough, all this takes us a long way from the price of eggs,—and of sugar and copra and hemp and rice and imported food products and textiles, but where would we businessmen be if the Philippines had not fifst of all been peopled? However, as pointed out earlier in this brief editorial, a great deal of the work of the two congresses was of more direct practical significance which should not be overlooked by our government administrators and business executives. At the suggestion of Mr. J. A. Thomas, President of the American Association of the Philippines, the Journal American Embassy Interest and Duty re Protection of Interests of American Citizens is pleased to publish the following letter received by him from the American Ambassador last month: AMERICAN EMBASSY Consular Section Manila, December 11, 1953 Mr. J. A. Thomas, President, American Association of the Philippines, Manila. My dear Mr. Thomas: IT has come to my attention that there may exist among certain circles of the American community in the Philippines a misappre hension as to the interest and the duty of the Embassy in regard to the protection of the legitimate individual interests of American citizens in the Philippines. I have been informed that this misapprehension may exist to the extent that some Americans are of the opinion that there would be no point to bringing a legitimate complaint to the Em bassy because those who complain are advised to return to the United States if they do not like conditions in the Philippines. For this reason, I would greatly appreciate your bringing to the attention of all members of the American Association the fact that not only is the Embassy deeply interested in the individual welfare of all American citizens in the Philippines but it is also the obligation of the American Foreign Service to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all citizens to the maximum extent possible within the limitations imposed by law, national policy, personnel availabilities, and general conditions. More specifically, the Foreign Service operates under definitive instructions as to the representation of the interests of citizens in regard to commercial discrimination, protection of prop erty and personal rights, conservation of estates, and individual wel fare. In particular, I am most seriously concerned that the maximum effort be exerted to assure Americans adequate protection and equal treatment in the administration of justice under Philippine law. I should like to attempt to avoid misunderstanding by pointing out that it is generally not possible, for legal and other reasons, for the Embassy to act in individual cases in the manner that service might 6

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