「歷史是什麼？」英國著名歷史學家卡爾（E. H. Carr）曾經這樣回答：「歷史是過去與現在的對話。」那麼，根據這個定義，我們能不能從ICLP的史料中重建這樣的對話呢？

    “What is history?” The famous historian E. H. Carr once answered, “History is a dialogue between the past and the present.” Then, according to this definition, could we recreate this dialogue using ICLP historical documents?

早期IUP的學生以從事中國研究的學者占大多數，在臺灣尚未解除戒嚴的時代，他們所需要的研究材料或是參考書往往被列於禁書之列，不論是送來臺灣，或是寄往國外，都必須通過政府檢查許可。政府許可以後，所方會把這一類資料放在圖書館裡一個特別的區域，叫做「禁書室」，這個「禁書室」裡又有四間教室，平常是鎖起來的，只有經過申請登記以後，師生才可以進去查資料或上課，不是什麼人想看就可以看的。為了配合檢查，所方申請了一個編號13-199號的郵政信箱，專門收寄這一類的參考書。從這封寄給臺灣警備總司令部的信裡，我們知道要用郵寄的方式把參考書寄往國外，費用很高，對學生來說是不小的負擔。因此，當時有個學生想試試看用航空包裹的方式，跟著自己的行李一起把資料運回美國，學校為了這件事特別寫信給有關當局請求許可。在臺灣開放幾十年後的今天，看到過去受限制的情形，誰能不為自己如今所享受的言論、出版、傳播、思想自由感到慶幸呢？

In the early days of IUP, most students pursued fields related to Chinese research. In a time when martial law was still in effect in Taiwan, the relevant government authorities often banned research material or reference books that the students needed. Whether they wanted to send the material to Taiwan, or abroad, the government must first inspect and approve the material. After the government approved the material, IUP would place the material in a special area in the library called the “Room for Banned Books”. Inside this “Room for Banned Books”, there were four classrooms. Often locked, teachers and students could get in and browse through the material only after submitting an application and signing in. Not just anyone could get in for a peek. In order to conform to inspection regulations, the program applied for a post box numbered 13-199, which they used for sending and receiving reference material of this kind. From this letter (above) to the Taiwan Garrison Command, we can see that one had to mail reference material abroad and pay a hefty fee, which added a significant financial burden on the students. Thus, one student once wanted to try putting the material in an airmail package, and take it with his luggage all the way back to the United States. To do this, the school had to write a letter asking permission from the relevant government authorities. Living in a Taiwan where martial law has been lifted for several decades, when looking at the restrictions in place in the past, how could one not rejoice to have the ability to live in a society where we can enjoy freedom of speech, the press, communication, and thought?

 

1970年至1971年就讀於史丹福中心的白志昂先生(Berninghausen, John D.)在當時的聯合副刊開闢了一個別緻的專欄：《一個美國人在臺灣的雜感》，用中文寫作，談他在臺灣的所見所聞，引起許多讀者的迴響。

Mr. John D. Berninghausen, a student who studied at the Stanford Center from 1970 to 1971, started a unique special column called “Random Thoughts of an American in Taiwan” in the United Daily News. Written in Chinese, he talks about his experiences, which gave rise to plenty of feedback from the readers.

其中，第四期〈我在臺灣的日式小屋〉談到了他租房子的經驗。白先生到了臺北以後，就想租一個有「亞洲味道」的房子，當他好不容易租到理想的小屋時，卻發現原來這個「有味道」的日式小屋其實也是蟑螂、小爬蟲、蚊子等各種各樣生物和平共處的「大樂園」。不但如此，當傍晚家家戶戶開始洗米燒飯時，因為太多人用水，水壓不夠的關係，水龍頭一打開，不是沒有水，要不然流出來的就是黃黃的泥土水。雖然生活條件不好，但是白先生久而久之也習慣了，還能自得其樂，想像屋樑上跑來跑去的「老鼠哥哥」正在做健身運動，而「貓先生」從不找他們麻煩。如果白先生40年後回到臺灣看看，他會不會羨慕現在ICLP的學生可以住在窗明几淨、寬敞舒適的宿舍呢？或者他會莞爾一笑，輕輕讚嘆臺灣生活水準一日千里，發展之快呢？

In the fourth issue of his column, Mr. Berninghausen wrote an article entitled “My Small Japanese-style Home in Taiwan”, in which he talks about his experience renting apartments. After coming to Taipei, he hoped to rent an “Asian-style” apartment. He went through a great deal to find the ideal apartment, yet later found out there were all sorts of animals including cockroaches, lizards, and mosquitoes living happily together in what they took as their “paradise”. Additionally, come night time, everyone would start washing rice in preparation for dinner and since too many people would be simultaneously using the water, the water pressure would drop dramatically. Thus, if one tried to turn on the faucet, what came out was either nothing at all or a yellow, murky water. Despite the unforgiving conditions, Mr. Berninghausen eventually adjusted to it. He could still derive pleasure from imagining “Brother Mouse” exercising and running around on the rafters, while “Mr. Cat” would never bother him. If Mr. Berninghausen could come back to Taiwan forty years later, would he be jealous of the bright, clean, and spacious dormitories of the ICLP students? Or would he smile, and let out a sigh in admiration of the rapid progress in Taiwan’s standard of living?

透過ICLP所保存下來的史料，我們當然能了解學校的歷史，不過，這些史料也記錄了今昔生活的變遷，透露了臺灣新舊時代的交替，這不正是過去與現在的對話嗎？

Through the historical records kept by ICLP, we can without a doubt understand more of the school’s history. They have also kept record of the changes in lifestyle over the years, and revealed the reality that the old Taiwan has been replaced by a new Taiwan. Are not these historical records a dialogue between the past and the present?