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Show 52 The author qualifies this as a modest attempt to supply documentary proof to counteract the avalanche of false information that has sought to defame the figure of Las Casas, and to situate him in his proper place in history so that others with preparation in specific fields, such as the historic, legal and philosophic, can continue with scientific honesty the critical interpretation of the two tendencies and theses that, in regard to the Spanish conquest and colonization of America, are symbolized by Juan Gines de Sepulveda and Bartolome de las Casas. He explains that he does so to comment on the anti-las Casas position adopted by Don Ramon Menendez Pidal, leaving it to the reader to judge both on the basis of the valuable contributions of specialists concerning the role played by las Casas in the theory and practice of Spanish colonization in America. By means of these documents the author shreds and refutes with evidence the writings of Menendez Pidal. He ends by quoting from the resolutions of the XXXVI International Congress of Americanists held in Spain in 1964: "The Congress ratifies the resolution unanimously adopted by the XXVI International Congress of Americanists, held in Seville in 1935, and that was not published in its minutes to the effect that the men who embody Spanish critical philosophy, Montesinos, Las Casas, Vitoria, Soto and so many others, are glorious figures and authentic representatives of the Spanish conscience in the New World." Bonfil Batalla, Guillermo. "Tareas de la Investigacion Antropologica en Indigenismo," America Indigena, XXVIII (October, 1968), pp. 919-927. English Summary: In this article on the duties of anthropological investigation on Indianism, the author maintains that in addition to the convenience of decidedly stimulating all types of studies on the Indian situation in America, the organizations charged with promoting or carrying out Indianist activities should reexamine periodically the orientation and purposes of anthropological investigation they require, doing so within a framework of priorities established on the basis of their changing needs as well as the advance in scientific conceptualism of the Indian problem, all of which will open up new perspectives to Indianist practice, bringing it up to date constantly. It will therefore be necessary from time to time to adjust the orientation of anthropological studies, and to define explicitly their objectives to bring them into line with new situations, new needs and new resources. This, of course, cannot be an individual task. Therefore, the ideas presented here are of a preliminary and tentative character, attempting above all to stimulate a broad |