NATURK 
as : 
JUN @ 1915 | 309 

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 
IQIS. 

SCIENCE AND THE STATE. 
N the Chemical News of April 30 there is a 
very moderate article emphasising what has 
been frequently preached in vain: the necessity 
of a close connection between the public Services 
and men of science. It is argued that the present 
is a special opportunity of again advocating the 
necessity of intimate co-ordination of effort; the 
societies have been willing to render 
gratuitous service; the Royal Society, for 
example, has for long put at the disposal of 
the Government the knowledge and advice of 
The writer of 

ever 
experts in all branches of science. 
the article, however, directs attention to the com- 
parative scarcity of young men trained in research, 
and points out that it is by no means easy for a 
young graduate to obtain employment otherwise 
than by teaching. To rectify this state of affairs, 
he suggests the foundation of research institutes, 
where such young men could find employment 
(remunerative, it is to be presumed). These insti- 
tutes should, it is remarked, be directed by men 
of eminence in their own branches, free from 
the irksome duty of teaching. The writer of the 
article further points out that while the average 
quality of German research is not high, still its 
quantity is great; and that British inventiveness 
is relatively higher. It is questionable whether 
his statement holds that the result of the German 
methods of scientific education has been the pro- 
duction of men of resource, men who are able to act 
promptly and on their own initiative in emergency ; 
this power he believes that we British lack in the 
present crisis. I do not agree; it isnot that power in 
which we are deficient, but the faculty of organisa- 
tion, where each man is willing to do only the 
share which is allotted to him. That is the 
essential characteristic of the German; he lacks 
originality, but is content to form a cog in a 
system of wheels directed from above. Nor are 
the brains of this human machine original; they 
have learned how to appropriate and render com- 
mercial the ideas of inventors, chiefly those of the 
non-Germanic nations. 
The deputations to Mr. Runciman and Mr. 
Pease of members of the Royal and the Chemical 
Societies, and of the Societies of Chemical In- 
dustry and Analysts, reported on in Nature of 
May 13 (p. 295), urged the appointment of a 
Standing Committee, serving the purpose of an 
intelligence department, and also helping the large 



and growing chemical industries of the country ! 
NO. 2377, VOL. 95] 
in the sane Neay, 1068, mmercial Intelligence 
Department servés~ merchants and traders. It 
was pointed out that the expansion of the chemical 
industries of the country requires co-operation 
between science and manufacturers, and that an 
increase in the number of research workers is 
desirable. The speakers also insisted on the need 
of a more intelligent appreciation of the signi- 
ficance of original scientific work by the Govern- 
ment. To these remarks Mr. Runciman and Mr. 
Pease made sympathetic replies. 
On the evening of the same day on which the 
report appeared in Nature, Mr. Pease announced 
in the House the intention of the Government to 
create an Advisory Council on Industrial Research 
—a committee of experts who would be able to 
consult with other expert committees working in 
different directions, and associated with leaders 
of industry. ‘‘He was now considering names.” 
Now, we do not doubt the good will of the 
members of the Cabinet, but we distrust their 
judgment in this matter. The handling of the 
dye scheme was, to say the least of it, very unfor- 
tunate. There are two German works, one the 
Mersey works, a branch of the “ Badische,” and one 
at Ellesmere Port, a branch of the German works 
at Héchst, which might have been associated 
forcibly with this combine with advantage to the 
country; moreover, the total lack of chemical 
talent on the directorate does not argue for its 
success, as the public has testified by failing to 
subscribe the issue. The two “eminent chemists ”’ 
who advised the Government on the dye scheme 
doubtless do not thank the member of the Cabinet 
for their unsought publicity. These and other 
similar instances lead us to mistrust the judgment 
of Mr. Pease and his colleagues on questions 
involving science. 
There is certainly room for a chemical council, 
and I had already prepared a draft scheme about 
two months ago, which has been submitted to, 
and has had the general approval of, several of 
our leading industrial chemists. Perhaps it might 
help were an outline of the scheme to be given 
here. It is headed “A Draft Scheme of a 
Chemical Council of State.”’ The clauses are as 
follow :— 
1. The dependence of the welfare of a country 
on its chemists is obvious. Chemistry lies at the 
basis of practically all manufactures. Continental 
nations and the United States have long acknow- 
ledged this. 
2. Great Britain is behind no nation in the 
eminence of its chemists. But inducements are 
lacking to persuade young men to accept minor 
N 
