28 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



as to become a serious tax on the time of those who attend them 

 and some who used to look with favor on international work are 

 beginning to be frightened. 



Perhaps w r e may look forward to some arrangement to com- 

 bine the meetings of the different associations in the manner of 

 the different sections of the British Association, for instance. 

 But this would require some central authority to act as a bond 

 between the bodies which at present are separate and inde- 

 pendent. 



Economy of working, both financial and administrative, points 

 in the same direction, and we are driven to the conclusion and 

 that, I think, I should like to make the moral of this paper- 

 that the present policy of establishing a separate association for 

 each new extension of international work should be reconsidered 

 and an effort made to economize time in working and admin- 

 istration by some larger scheme including the various separate 

 international institutions on related and similar subjects. 



Realizing that it is necessary to take some action in this direc- 

 tion, yet perhaps not understanding correctly why the action is 

 necessary, an ambitious undertaking has been evolved in Bel- 

 gium, where it is proposed to erect an office uniting all inter- 

 national associations, whatever their object or character may 

 be. The promoters have drawn up their statutes, one general 

 congress has already been held, and another is now being organ- 

 ized. No success can, however, be expected from a scheme 

 launched by a self-constituted and irresponsible body, unless its 

 program commands general respect. 



Is this the case in the present instance? 



I do not know whether you realize the number of associations 

 which exist. I shall not call them " international associations," 

 but associations which call themselves international. (Laugh- 

 ter.) The number to be united in this Belgium scheme is 279, 

 and each of them, if I understand the proposals correctly, may 

 have an office in a large building to be erected for the purpose. 

 If you read through the list of these associations, I do not know 

 what your feeling would be, but I can describe to you what mine 



