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Show -2- Although both Prof. Harris and Prof. North have said in their letters that their interest in the project, tneir desire to nave Stanford sponsor it, and their hopes t: at it vould develo into a sort of nucleus for further and more stable expansion into some sort of an institute, were partly caused by my own pcrso al involvement in the project, I am nev rthelcss trying for a moment to isolate myself from these prospects and to viev thera impersonally (as far as is hunanly possible) 4n their own merits. I think you will agree that, from such perspective, it would a pear that the sponsorship of an outstanding university like Stanford for a project of this scope, the agreement to have this project undertaken by a non- Zionist sympathizer (contr ry to the trends which we all know), and the anticipation, even at this pre-natal stage, that the project might grov into something much bigger and more permanent, are assets which any wisher of better American understanding of tne crucial issues of the Middle East would readily recognize as such, ye ell knov that, if such interest were to be expressed by Stanford to organizations with Zionist afiillations, the response vould be instantaneous and far beyond the needs. These considerations, plus your initial interest, have prompted me to write to you, inquiring about the possibility of AFHJS making the contribution of $5,000 - o r as much of it as possible, the balance to be raised possibly from private sources, if need be- to make these prospects realizable. Dr. Berger, whose initial approach to Prof. Harris has touched off all these developments, and who has been in constant touch vith all stages of the discissions, was also favorable to the idea of my writing you and, through you, the competent authorities of AFME, witn a viev. to exploring the possibilities oi interest and assistance in this matter. I have taken the liberty of asking Professor North either to write you directly or to vrite Dr. Berger or myself authorising us to forward his letter -or, if he is reluc ant for any reason to do so, ki a paraphrased version of his letter- to you. I informed him that it would be desirable to have the material before April 5, vhich, I unders and, is the date of your forthcoming Board meeting. If there is any further information on this subject which you wish to nave before the meeting, please let me know. The students at Detroit and I are hoping very much that you will be nble to appear on the panel of the "Arab Week" at Wayne on April 7 or 8. If so, we'll h ve another reunion then. Sincerely, |
