194 
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
less formally constituted which dealt with various questions relating to as- 
tronomy and its applications. The International Research Council adopted 
a resolution requesting the National Academy of Sciences, or the correspond- 
ing organization in each of the countries represented, to take the initiative 
in organizing the section to represent that country in the International As- 
tronomical Union. The tentative plan of organization of the American Sec- 
tion of the Astronomical Union, as approved by the President of the National 
Academy of Sciences, involved the representation of the various interests con- 
cerned as given below. 
Upon the call of Dr. George E. Hale, acting for the National Academy of 
Sciences, the organization meeting for the American Section of the proposed 
Astronomical Union was held in the office of the National Research Council, 
Washington, D. C, March 8, 1919. The delegates who had been appointed 
by the presidents of the respective societies, or by the government, were as 
follows: 
National Academy of Sciences, 5. — H. D. Curtis acting for W. W. Campbell, G. E. Hale, A. 
A. Michelson, F. R. Moulton, Frank Schlesinger. 
American Astronomical Society, 10. — C. G. Abbot, S. I. Bailey, E. W. Brown, E. B. Frost, A 
O. Leuschner, S. A. Mitchell, W. J. Humphreys, H. N. Russell, Joel Stebbins, (absent, 
J. F. Hayford). 
American Mathematical Society, 3. — Frank Morley, (others to be appointed).* 
American Physical Society, 3. — Henry Crew, (absent, J. S. Ames, Theodore Lyman). 
U. S. Naval Observatory, 1. — J. A. Hoogewerff, accompanied by W. S. Eichelberger, Asaph , 
Hall, F. B. Littell. 
U. S. Coast Survey, 1. — ^William Bowie. 
The meeting organized by appointing Mr. Hale as chairman and Mr. Steb- 
bins secretary. There followed a general discussion of the present inter- 
national situation of science, and it was agreed that the Union should take the 
place of previous international bodies in astronomy. 
It was voted that the organization of the Section should be considered 
temporary until after the proposed conference in Paris in July 1919. 
The Section voted that the chair appoint a Committee on Committees, to 
act temporarily as an Executive Committee, which should consider the gen- 
eral matter of business, appoint all committees, and add additional members 
to the Section. Appointed: W. W. Campbell, chairman; C. G. Abbot, E. W. 
Brown, Frank Schlesinger, Joel Stebbins, secretary. 
The Committee added the following to the membership of the Section: W. 
S. Adams, R. G, Aitken, E. E. Barnard, L. A. Bauer, Benjamin Boss, W. S. 
Eichelberger, W. J. Hussey, V. M. Slipher. 
In regard to membership of enemy nations in the Union, the Section voted 
to adopt as representing the sentiments of the meeting the Declaration of the 
Interallied Conference on International Scientific Relations, held at the Royal 
Society in London on October 9 to 11, 1918. (See appendix to this report). 
* The following representatives have smce been nominated: George David Birkhoff, 
W. D. MacMillan, R. S. Woodward. 
