5 3 4 D O C . 331 O N B R E A OF M E T E O R O L O G Y 59 The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation will not be able to take a decision before its January session, and any action on the part of the League would be deferred for a whole year. With a view to obviating such delay which, in the opinion of the experts, would be highly undesirable the undersigned have the honour to propose the following line of action : The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation might forthwith decide in principle to co-operate with the International Meteorological Committee for the creation of an international Bureau of Meteorology in accordance with the suggestions set out above. It might authorise the present Sub-Committee to act on its behalf as soon as the International Meteorological Committee has formally approved the scheme drawn up by the experts, so that the recommendations in question may be submitted to the Council of the League at its December session. As regards the question of premises, a decision might be taken by the Committee of Directors of the Institute. The representative of the International Commission for Air Navigation has promised to see that, at the next (October) meeting of the Committee, that organisation takes action on the same lines to secure the creation of the International Bureau of Meteorology. (Signed) M. Cu r ie . (Signed) H. A. Lo r En t z . (Signed) A. Ein s t e in . Annex 3. WORLD SYNCHRONISATION. Proposal of Professor Korn, submitted to the Committee on Intellectual Co-operation by M. Einstein on July 27th, 1926. [Translation from the German.] A very close synchronism, such as would be desirable for many purposes, not only for accurate comparative astronomical measurements but also for purposes of telegraphy (television, bell-telegraphy, tape-telegraphy in general), might be organised throughout the world by means of wireless telegraphy transmitted by a high-power transmitting station. The frequency i.e., periodical signals with a period of from 1/200 to 1/500 seconds might be taken from a precision pendulum by means of a television apparatus the length or duration of the signals might be graded so as to mark seconds and tenths of seconds. An agreement should be arrived at as to which wireless transmitting station should undertake this duty and as to the wave-length. These signals should be received by relay stations in the various countries and broad- casted over smaller areas. Such stations need not be particularly powerful 5 kw. would be sufficient. The synchronism might, if necessary, be transmitted further from these receiving stations by means of wires. In the case of comparative astronomical measurements, when distances are great the station responsible for the frequency will have to take into account the time which the signals from that station will take to reach the receiving station. Such a wireless transmission of world synchronism would at first sight appear to be costly, but would probably be amply compensated for by the considerable saving which the elimination of the individual synchronising apparatus of telegraphic installations depending on close synchronism would represent. Since it would probably not be easy to reach a practical agreement in these matters between the great wireless companies, the Governments should themselves intervene and, in order to reach an agreement at an international conference, should bring pressure to bear on the companies. The League of Nations Committee would be doing very useful work if it took the initiative in this matter. (Signed) Arthur K o r n .
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