THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND THE STATE 



drawn up and arrangements made for the holding of the 

 first General Assembly in Paris in 1901. 



The primary objects of the Association are the initiation 

 and promotion of scientific undertakings of general interest 

 and of universal concern to mankind, especially of such 

 matters as are outside the power of a single Academy, and 

 require for their promotion the assistance of the Govern- 

 ments represented by the Association. Indirectly, by its 

 triennial General Assemblies in different countries, it should 

 become an instrument of no mean power for the promotion 

 of the brotherhood of mankind, and for hastening the day 



"When the war drums throb no longer, and the battle flags are 



furl'd, 

 In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world." 



The Association, as now constituted, consists of twenty 

 Academies and learned Societies of Europe and America. 

 The second General Assembly of the Association was held 

 this year in London under the auspices of the Royal 

 Society, which, as directing Academy, had had general 

 charge of the conduct of its business during the last three 

 years. The Section of Letters met under the direction of 

 the newly founded British Academy. 



The Society has accepted heavy responsibilities at the 

 instance of the Government in respect of the control of 

 scientific observations and research in our vast Indian 

 Empire. In 1899 the India Office inquired whether the 

 Royal Society would be willing to meet the wishes of the 



Indian Government by exercising a general control over the 



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