APPENDIX A XLVII 



matter the importance of which was fully appreciated, and no more 

 opportune time to break with the tradition of viewing Chemistry 

 "through German eyes" is likely to arise. Even if the German com- 

 pendia were impartial, there would still remain the objection that to 

 younger chemists, at any rate, the habit of consulting German works 

 of reference — in default of others — leads by mass suggestion to an 

 appreciation of German effort which is by no means warranted by 

 the facts. Moreover, the German compendia are not impartial. 



Such, in outline, is the character of the International Research 

 Council, its associated unions and some of its proposed activities. 



Carried to its present stage of development by the momentum 

 imparted to scientific investigation by the war — modeled on the 

 National Research Council of the United States which played such 

 an important role in the organization of science during the war — 

 launched at Brussels in the month of July, 1919, when the Allies were 

 celebrating their hard-earned victory in Paris, London and Brussels, 

 the International Research Council, as a co-operative organization, 

 has been well planned and sent on its way with the heartfelt god- 

 speed of the scientific organizations of all the Allies. Its executive 

 council is composed of a group of eminent scientists, who command 

 the respect and confidence of the scientific world, with Dr. Arthur 

 Schuster, of the Royal Society of England, as its Honorary Secretary. 



Let us now consider a little in detail the actual status of the 

 International Research Council, its stability, its possibilities and its 

 influence on the future development of science among the nations of 

 the world. It is obviously the beginning of a human enterprise much 

 vaster than is indicated by its present form. Its title is perhaps too 

 comprehensive, and represents not what it is, but is the expression of 

 a fond hope of what it may become in the future. It is not in a broad 

 sense international. It is now strictly an inter-allied confederation, 

 which will welcome the adherence of the neutral nations, but these 

 were not represented at Brussels and had no voice in drawing up the 

 statutes of the convention. It is at best a nucleus around which may 

 gather the scientific organizations of the allied and neutral nations. 

 It has definitely refused to admit the nationalities which formed the 

 Central Powers. 



This is a momentous decision, since it takes from the Council 

 even the outward form of complete internationalism. Before the 

 war there was extensive and fruitful co-operation with Germany in 

 research in certain fields of science through the international asso- 

 ciation of academies, and through several congresses of scientists, 



