Bertrand Russell at Keio University, July 1921, by William Snell, n.9
* Source: Kindai Nihon Kenkyu(Modern Japan Study), v.14(1997), p.171 - 192
p.01 p.02 p.03 p.04 p.05 p.06 p.07 p.08 p.10 p.11 p.12 p.13 p.14 p.15
For Russell's one lecture during his stay in Japan, Kaizo borrowed the large hall at Keio University (the "daikodo" at Mita, which was later destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake). The Asahi Shimbun for 28, July, 1921 announced that a lecture would be given at 6:00 pm at the "Large Hall, Keio Gijuku, Fee 50 sen".
Two days later, the Japan Chronicle published a synopsis from a vernacular source:
Despite the weakness from which he is suffering, Mr. Bertrand Russell, in answer to many requests, gave a lecture on Thursday evening at the auditorium of Keio University, Tokyo. So far only brief reports have been published. According to a vernacular contemporary, Mr. Russell, in the course of his lecture said that in order to bring into existence such a civilized world as was desirable the reform of the present-day national organization and the elimination of the mistaken capitalist system must first be carried out, and that none but most earnest efforts based on real Liberalism could create this ideal world under a new economic system. It was essential that efforts should be directed towards the creation of new society based on justice, world brotherhood, and equality of mankind. It might be that this ideal could not be consummated within the lifetime of the rising generation, but he felt convinced that it would witness realisation in the future. It was necessarily a very difficult thing to eliminate all rivalries and conflicts from the world, but nonetheless it was important that our earnest efforts should be directed to the attainment of this goal and the establishment a peaceful world. What had the Liberalism advocated by President Wilson accomplished? What would be the result of the Disarmament Conference proposed by President Harding?
The world must be reconstructed by the spirit of comprehensive love and by the mighty force of justice. The present-day must be transformed into a world in which mutual help prevailed. The earth could not be called civilised, so long as a State stood upon power and upon power only. The ideal world to which we must strive must be one in which happiness was the opportunity of all.*23
*23 Japan Chronicle, July 30, 1921: p. 5.