5 3 8 D O C . 3 3 2 S T A T E M E N T S A T I C I C — 1 9 — M. Lu c h a ir e desired to know for his own information, and in case he was asked to furnish explanations, whether the Committee intended to suggest, at least implicitly, the conclusions to be drawn from its letter. Obviously, it was merely a question of asking the Council to adopt a very general proposal in which it would state that it would welcome the establish- ment of an International Bureau of Meteorology, but unless the letter contained other suggestions regarding possible solutions put forward by the Committee in an advisory capacity, it was to be feared that the Council would do no more than refer the question for investigation to the Committee. Thus, the very delay which it was desired to avoid would occur. The Sec r e t a r y pointed out that it would be difficult to foresee immediately the attitude of the Council which might either wish to see more or less close relations established between the proposed Bureau and the League of Nations or would simply decide that the Governments should be consulted. The Ch a ir ma n thought that the letter should be so drafted as to show that the Committee wanted something more from the Council than moral support. The scheme was so important for science and for the relations of peoples that it deserved to receive the attention of the Council, which could usefully reflect on the means by which it could contribute to the realisation of the scheme. Professor Gilbert Mu r r a y proposed that the Council should be left entire freedom of action and that the Committee should point out that, if the Council desired to receive more definite suggestions from the Committee, the latter would be ready to furnish them. The Ch a ir ma n agreed. Further, he saw no objection to saying immediately, without placing too much emphasis upon it, that the Committee had considered the question of Government contributions, subsidies from organisations or private companies, etc. M. L u c h a ir e said that his point was entirely met by the observations of Professor Gilbert Murray and the Chairman. The Sec r e t a r y proposed that the members of the Committee belonging to countries represented on the Council should raise the question with the representatives of their countries on the Council in order that they should have knowledge of the scheme when it came before the Council for discussion. On the one hand, the apprehensions to which the scheme might give rise must be dissipated on the other hand, the international effect of the realisa- tion of the scheme from the scientific, and mainly from the economic, point of view should be clearly explained. The Ch a ir ma n asked the members of the Committee to whom the Secretary had referred to take account of his suggestions. The Committee approved the procedure suggested by the Chairman as amended during the discussion. 225. World Synchronisation : Proposal of Professor Korn. The Sec r e t a r y read a memorandum by Professor Korn, presented by M. Einstein (Annex 3). From the note submitted by M. Haas, head of the Transit Section of the Secretariat, it appeared that before placing this proposal on the agenda of the Washington Conference the Advisory and Technical Committee on Communications and Transit would probably desire to have the preliminary views of the Committee on Intellectual Co-operation as to the scientific value of the proposal. M. E in s t e in said that he had discussed the proposal with Professor Korn, who had informed him that sooner or later, but probably sooner, definite synchronisation would be established, but that it was necessary to prevent the adoption of solutions which would not be uniform throughout the world, owing to jealousy between the different radio-telegraphic companies. An organisation of the League of Nations seemed the best qualified to bring about an international understanding on a uniform system of synchronisation. The efforts made should therefore be in the direction of reducing the psychological resistance which might be encountered towards the realisation of universal synchronisation. The Ch a ir ma n recalled that at the moment the wireless station on the Eiffel Tower announced the time once a day. The proposal of Professor Korn was to the effect that a kind of world clock should be established giving the exact time down to the fraction of a second. The realisation of this proposal might be of interest in various respects — for example, as far as the telegraphic transmission of photographs was concerned. It would also be of interest to a great extent to astronomers. After an interview which he had had with M. Einstein, the Chairman felt prepared to propose that the Committee should state that to put into effect the proposal of Professor Korn would undoubtedly be a means of making progress from a scientific point of view. The Committee might take a general decision to this effect but should draw attention to the fact that astronomers were perhaps better able to judge of the scope of the scheme and that it would be useful to obtain their views. These views should be forwarded to the Washington Conference. The Committee decided that a draft resolution in this sense should be submitted to it at the afternoon meeting. [5] [6] [7] [8]