XL THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The potential energy of the abstract sciences has long been 

 recognized by a small minority of the people, but it required an 

 upheaval such as we have experienced to demonstrate to every class 

 in the community their value in action. The world at the close of the 

 war was ringing with appreciation of what science had accomplished in 

 the great struggle. It was perhaps a revelation even to those filling 

 the posts of higher command in science, to find how capable of 

 inventive achievement and initiative the ordinary laboratory man 

 became when the incentive was great and when he acted under the 

 stimulus of co-ordinated effort and personal contact with a master 

 mind. 



The attitude of England's men of science during the war is most 

 eloquently expressed by Dr. Arthur Schuster in his address, as Presi- 

 dent of the British Association, in 1915. He says: "Mightier issues 

 are at stake to-day; in the struggle which convulses the world, all 

 intellectual pursuits are vitally affected, and science gladly gives 

 all the power she wields to the service of the state. Sorrowfully she 

 covers her face because that power, accumulated through the peaceful 

 efforts of the sons of all nations, was never meant for death and 

 destruction; gladly she helps, because a war wantonly provoked 

 threatens civilization, and only through victory shall we achieve a 

 peace in which once more science can hold up her head, proud of her 

 strength to preserve the intellectual freedom which is worth more than 

 the material prosperity, to defeat the spirit of evil that destroyed the 

 sense of brotherhood among nations, and to spread the love of truth." 



Not only was the science of each nation of the Allies mobilized 

 and concentrated on military problems, but there was the closest 

 confidence and accord among the scientific organizations of the several 

 Allies. Communication by secret code kept the investigators in 

 France, Italy, the United States and England in closest touch with one 

 another regarding the vital problems they were studying in common. 



The achievements in science, resulting from this international 

 organization and co-operation during the war, were so outstanding 

 that it seemed highly desirable to continue it in a modified form when 

 the scientific efforts of the Allies would be directed to purposes other 

 than military. Early in 1918 there was centered in Paris a group of 

 those in charge of the international organization of science for the war. 

 Men of greater eminence in their special fields and representing a 

 greater diversity of expert knowledge had never been gathered at any 

 international congress of science. The Conference offered a great 

 opportunity. At the suggestion of the National Academy of Sciences 

 of Washington, its distinguished president. Dr. Geo. E. Hale, launched 



