APPENDIX A XLIII 



At the Brussels convention a number of international unions or 

 associations submitted their statutes of convention, applied for ad- 

 mission and were received. 



The twelve or thirteen unions, now forming part of the general 

 council, may conveniently be divided for description into two groups, 

 one of which requires units constantly recording observations at differ- 

 ent points on the earth's surface. In this group conclusions of value 

 to science can only be drawn by collaborating and integrating the 

 results obtained from a very large number of centres. The other 

 group of unions consists of the associations of the experimental 

 sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry and Biology. 



Many of the unions of the first group, such as Geology, Astron- 

 omy, Geophysics, etc., existed as international associations in the 

 pre-war period. Their activities, as national and international 

 organizations, were interrupted during the war, and the most 

 important work of the International Council was to bring about 

 their re-organization. 



The sciences allied to Astronomy and Geophysics were very 

 strongly represented at the congress, not only in the number, but in 

 the scientific standing of the delegates, who were the leaders in this 

 field of research. 



To avoid detail, I shall summarize the organization and field of 

 work of the largest of this group of unions, viz: that of Geodesy and 

 Geophysics. The purpose of the union is, to quote from the statutes : 



"1. To promote the study of problems relating to the shape and 

 physics of the earth. 



"2. To initiate and organize the conduct of researches whidi 

 depend on co-operation between different countries, and to provide 

 for their scientific discussion and publication. 



"3. To facilitate particular researches, such as the comparison 

 of instruments used in different countries." 



A national committee is to be formed in each of the countries 

 belonging to the union. The Royal Society of Canada is asked to 

 nominate at this meeting the Canadian national committee. The 

 function of these committees will be to promote and co-ordinate in 

 their respective countries the study of the various branches of Geodesy 

 and Geophysics, more especially in relation to their international 

 requirements. 



As the result of preliminary informal meetings at Brussels of the 

 various national delegations, discussion soon developed practical 

 unanimity in the proposals to have each main branch of Geophysics 

 represented by an independent section. Six such sections were 



