To the Members of the Institute

In a communication which I addressed to the members of the Institute last October I informed them that the Bureau had decided that despite the difficulties created by the outbreak of war it was the duty of the Institute to continue as far as possible to promote the study of Africa and its peoples as long as such work could be maintained in accordance with the international character of the Institute. In particular it was felt that the publication of the Journal should be continued. Recent events have greatly altered the situation. Apart from such technical difficulties as shortage of paper, it is clearly impossible now to maintain a sufficient measure of international collaboration for the Journal. It was hoped also that the Institute could continue its series of publications during the war; but, while one book has already been published and it is hoped to complete the publication of others which have already reached an advanced stage, it would be impossible in present conditions to consider any new publications. In these circumstances it has been decided by the British members of the Bureau that the Institute should suspend its activities for the rest of the war. I deeply regret that this course should be unavoidable, and I look forward to the Institute resuming its work, as soon as possible after the war is over, in accordance with the scheme adopted in principle by the Executive Council in June 1939.