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The International Congress of Orientalists, initiated in Paris in 1873, was an international conference of Orientalists. It was later renamed as the International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa and then as the International Congress of Asian and North African Studies. This material covers the interaction of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Congress in the time period 1889 to 1993.

In 1926, the possibility of an International Congress was raised again. The material in this series consist mainly of correspondence between Émile Senart and Edward S.M. Perowne. They are:

• Letter from Émile Senart to Edward Perowne concerning Senart's discussion with F.W. Thomas and the possible involvement of the Royal Asiatic Society. Handwritten in French, dated 23 October 1926.
• "re Oriental Congress, Note of Interview with Mr Émile Senart at la Ferte Bernard, 2 November 1926" by Edward Perowne concerning Senart's suggestion for the restarting of the Congress of Orientalists. Typed, dated 30 October 1926 [Note, dates do not match].
• "Translation of letter subsequently written by me from Paris to Mr Senart" by Edward Perowne, to clarify the points concerning the forming of an Oriental Congress. Typed, dated 5 November 1926.
• Letter from Émile Senart to Edward Perowne in which he responds to the proposal laid out in Perowne's previous letter. Handwritten, dated 8 November 1926. With this letter is a typed translation made by Perowne. * Translation of a letter from Edward Perowne to Émile Senart in which he writes of his discussions with Mr Thomas and that the Royal Asiatic Society has yet to discuss their views regarding an Oriental Congress and to clarify points raised by Senart. Typed, dated 11 November 1926.
• "Memorandum for a Meeting of the Entente Committee" sent out by F.W. Thomas to announce the meeting called to discuss a notice issued by the Dutch Oriental Society announcing its oriental congress in 1927 and the possibility of reviving the International Congress of Orientalists. Typed, dated 14 December 1926. With this memorandum are typed copies of the correspondence and meetings between Perowne and Senart for 2 November, 5 November, 8 November and 11 November 1926.
• Letter from S.M. Edwardes, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Secretary, Oestersch Genootschap in Nederland, to relate the concerns of the Council of the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the procedure of reviving the International Oriental Congress. Typed, undated.

At the International Congress held in Athens in 1912, it was proposed that the next Congress be held in Oxford in 1915. This was then postponed to September 1916. However the hostilities of World War One led to the discussion of the appropriateness of holding an International Congress. The material within this series consists of correspondence concerning that discussion. They are:

• "Extract from a letter from Professor Sylvain Lévi to Sir George Grierson, dated February 19th 1915" in which he writes of the difficulties of organising an international congress at that time and offers some alternatives.
• "Extract from a letter from Professor Sylvain Lévi to Sir George Grierson, dated 2 February 1916" and a note concerning Grierson's reply. The letter expresses Lévi's concerns and the possibility of a Congress with only allied nations involved.
• "Extract from a letter from Professor Sylvain Lévi to Sir George Grierson, dated April 1, 1916" in which he writes concerning the possibility for involvement of some organisations including the Royal Asiatic Society, the Pali Text Society, the Institut de France, the British Academy and the Royal Society.
• Letter from [Sir George Grierson] to potential attendees of a meeting fixed by Lord Reay of those being consulted about Sylvain Lévi's letters. Dated 10 May 1916. With this letter are copies of correspondence to Grierson from Professor T.W. Rhys Davids of Pali Text Society, Dr. J.F. Fleet, Dr F.W. Thomas, and F.E. Pargiter expressing their opinions, dated 22 March - 10 May 1916.