Apeil 15, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



365 



pointment of close times, and the protection 

 of breeding areas require cooperation. 



Many minor problems, such as the study of 

 variations in human anatomy, can be ad- 

 vanced most quickly if all the opportunities 

 in different countries are employed simulta- 

 neously on a selected object. Such examples 

 could be multiplied indefinitely. International 

 team-work is required sometimes merely as 

 the quickest means of attaining the object, 

 sometimes because no other method is possible, 

 sometimes because common practical interests 

 are involved. 



Before the war international scientific co- 

 operation was obtained in several ways. As 

 many as 40 to 50 international bodies had 

 come into existence in response to the need. 

 Some were sustained by formal conventions 

 arrived at through the usual diplomatic 

 channels; others were due to the efforts of 

 individual scientific societies or interests; 

 many were the informal result of personal 

 effort directed to a common purpose. All 

 these were rudely interrupted by the clash of 

 arms, and much water will have to pass 

 under the bridges before the healing process 

 has been completed. But it has already 

 begun. 



Through the booksellers work published 

 during the war is creeping across the fron- 

 tiers; the impersonal exchange of publications 

 has been resumed between many of the 

 learned societies; there has even been a little 

 furtive correspondence between individuals. 

 Science could not wait. The theory of Ein- 

 stein, the German Jew, was put to the test 

 by British astronomers; physiologists and 

 doctors here and in Germany had to use the 

 same methods of research in struggling 

 against the same problems of altered nutri- 

 tion and of damaged men, and could not let 

 their service of humanity be restricted by a 

 local patriotism. Had it been allowed to take 

 its natural course, this cold, almost stealthy 

 redintegration would have offended no one 

 and would, indeed, have assisted towards the 

 open internationalism which we must all hope 

 for our sons or sons' sons, although we can 

 not even wish it for ourselves. 



But there were the formal conventions. 

 On these descended a little group of diplomat- 

 ists of science, almost as aloof from the real 

 feelings of those whom they claimed to repre- 

 sent as the big men of the Peace Conferences. 

 They held a conference in London in October, 

 1918, when every one except themselves knew 

 that the war was almost over. They resolved, 

 good people, that it " was desirable that the 

 nations at war with the Central Powers should 

 withdi-aw from the existing conventions re- 

 lating to International Scientific Associations 

 in accordance with the statutes or regulations 

 of such conventions respectively, as soon as 

 circumstances should permit," and that " new 

 associations, deemed to be useful to the 

 progress of science and its applications, be 

 established without delay by the nations at 

 war with the Central Powers with the even- 

 tual cooperation of neutral nations." 



Then came the armistice and then, after an 

 interval so long that impersonal relations with 

 our former enemies had begun to be resumed, 

 came the Peace Treaty. By that the Germans 

 undertook to withdraw from most of the 

 scientific conventions. Nevertheless, so far as 

 the Allies and neutrals were concerned, these 

 remained in existence. The same group of 

 amateur diplomatists called a conference at 

 Brussels larger in numbers but equally un- 

 representative in character. This conference 

 proceeded to destroy the last remnants of 

 existing international cooperation. First they 

 withdrew themselves from all the conven- 

 tions; next they excluded all the Central 

 Powers ; thirdly they excluded all the neutrals. 

 Having thus created chaos, they proceeded to 

 the elaboration of a scheme of superorganiza- 

 tion almost pathetic in its sterile incompe- 

 tence. 



The basis of the wonderful edifice is an 

 International Research Council. This is to 

 be the supreme body in all the affairs of sci- 

 ence, to coordinate international efforts, to 

 initiate new international unions, to direct 

 international activity and to negotiate with 

 governments. Its constitution is to remain 

 in force for ten years and all subordinate 



