REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 17 



cooperation with national scientific societies. The Research Council 

 has since become a part of the Council of National Defense and 

 operates in coordination with that body. In the membership of the 

 Research Council are several of the scientific staff of the United 

 States National Museum, your Secretary being vice chairman of the 

 council and chairman of the military committee. 



With the preparations for actual participation by the United 

 States in the world war, the council became an important factor in 

 the scientific work of the Government. On February 29, 1917, the 

 Council of National Defense adopted the following resolution : 



Resolved, That the Council of National Defense, recognizing that the National 

 Research Council, at the request of the President of the United States, has organ- 

 ized the scientific forces of the country in the interest of national defense and 

 national welfare, requests that the National Research Council cooperate with 

 It in matters pertaining to scientific research for national defense ; and to this 

 end the Council of National Defense suggests that the National Research Council 

 appoint a committee of not more than three, at least one of whom shall be located 

 in Washington, for the purpose of maintaining active relations with the director 

 of the Council of National Defense. 



Since that time the National Research Council has served as the 

 department of science and research of the Council of National 

 Defense and in such capacity has been charged with the organization 

 of scientific investigations bearing on the national defense and on 

 industries affected by the war. 



Shortly after this action Dr. George E. Hale, chairman of the 

 council, initially undertook the organization of research activities 

 in direct cooperation with the United States Government and its 

 various departments. Office accommodations were provided for 

 chemistry, engineering, medicine and hygienic, and physics commit- 

 tees of the council, and arrangements were made to provide such 

 accommodations also for the agriculture and psychology committees. 

 Dr. Robert A. Millikan, chairman of the physics committee, was 

 appointed vice chairman of the council and consented to give his 

 entire time, upon leave of absence from the University of Chicago, 

 to work in Washington as the executive officer of the council. Offices 

 in New York were retained with the secretary, Dr. Carey T. Hutchin- 

 son, in charge. 



Particular mention may perhaps be made of the appointment of 

 a foreign service committee of the council and of its important 

 mission and work as a direct aid in acquainting investigators in this 

 country with the scientific problems which have been confronted both 

 in military and industrial pursuits in England and France. 



Two other committees of the council have been especially organized 

 as the result of the cooperation brought about with the Council of 

 National Defense ; one a committee on navigation and nautical instru- 



