Vol. 6, 1920 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 347 
One of the fundamental objects of the International Research Council 
is to encourage the creation of international unions representing, respec- 
tively, the chief divisions of science, in so far as such unions may be con- 
sidered desirable and necessary. Simultaneously with the completion of 
the organization of the Research Council in Brussels three affiliated unions 
were definitively established, as follows: 
The International Astronomical Union. 
The International Geodetic and Geophysical Union. 
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. 
A Union of Biological Sciences and a Union of Scientific Radio-Teleg- 
raphy were organized, though somewhat less definitively; constitutions 
were formulated at Brussels, but it was decided that the plans proposed 
should be submitted to the different academies for their consideration. 
Proposals were made and carefully considered for the establishing of 
unions of the mathematical sciences, of the physical sciences, of the geo- 
logical sciences, of the geographical sciences, of bibliography, etc., but 
organic decisions were not reached. The expectation is that these unions 
will take definite form at or before the time of the next triennial meeting, 
in 1922. The mathematicians have decided, for example, to meet in 
Strasbourg in the year 1920, and the subject of an international union will 
at that time receive their consideration. 
Engineering science and patent laws, both from the international 
point of view, were considered in Brussels by delegates representing these 
subjects. 
A detailed report on the organization of the International Astronomical 
Union will have been presented to the National Research Council by the 
Secretary of the American Section. 
The Secretary of the American Section of the Geodetic and Geophysical 
Union will have presented to the National Research Council a detailed 
report on the organization of the Union. 
The Secretary of the American Section of the International Union of 
Pure and Applied Chemistry will have presented to the National Re- 
search Council a detailed report concerning the Union. 
The International Union of Biological Sciences made progress in the 
direction of definitive organization. It is proposed that this Union shall 
be composed of six sections, as follows: General Biology, Physiology, 
Zoology, Botany, The Medical Sciences, Applied Biology. 
The International Union of Radio-Telegraphy, which made progress 
toward definitive organization under the able leadership of General 
Ferrie, Inspector General of the Service of Military Telegraphy, Paris, 
proposes to concern itself chiefly with the study of radiometric phenomena 
as a pure science. 
The activities of each union require that financial resources be avail- 
able, as in the case of the International Research Council. It is proposed 
