Notes

Abstract

WE are informed that the council of the Royal Society has nominated representative committees to deal with national questions connected with the international unions which it is intended to form under the International Research Council. The committee for astronomy will consist of the Astronomers Royal for England, Scotland, and Ireland, the Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac, six members nominated by the Royal Society, six members nominated by the Royal Astronomical Society, two members nominated by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, two members appointed by the Royal Irish Academy, and two members appointed by the British Astronomical Association. The committee for geodesy and geophysics will consist of the Astronomers Royal, the Director of the Meteorological Office, the Director-General of the Ordnance Survey, the Hydrographer of the Navy, two representatives of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, two representatives of the Royal Irish Academy, two members nominated by the British Association, and two members nominated by the Royal Society. Since their formation these committees have advised the council of the Royal Society on the formation of the international unions in their respective subjects, and nominated the delegates to the recent meeting at Brussels. The Federated Council for Pure and Applied Chemistry was also recognised as the national committee on that subject. As regards other subjects, similar committees will no doubt be established, but, no definite proposals having been submitted by any country, no action has hitherto been taken, and the powers of the delegates attending the meeting at the invitation of the council of the Royal Society were limited to the obtaining of information with regard to the views of other countries concerning the establishment of international unions. The recommendations made only express the personal views of delegates attending the conference, and will, no doubt, be submitted to the proper authorities before any action is taken.