International > Proceedings of the second General conference of national committees on intellectual co-operation, Paris, July 5th-9th, 1937

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After a careful discussion of all the factors bearing upon scientific research, the Committee
unanimously adopted the following recommendations :
(1) The Committee considers, in the first place, that the national committees should do
everything in their power to assist the Intellectual Co-operation Organisation in supporting all
attempts at co-ordination in the matter of scientific research.
(2) It is understood that the Intellectual Co-operation Organisation will do nothing which
might duplicate the activities of the great scientific organisations. The primary need is to
provide for liaison in regard to marginal subjects and to arrange for the necessary contacts where
such are lacking.
(3) Subject to the limitations set out under point 2 above, the Intellectual Co-operation
Organisation is invited to organise “ Conversations ” on such branches of scientific research as
are of particular current interest.
(4) The Intellectual Co-operation Organisation should invite the National Committees to
supply it with all such information as may facilitate the collaboration of scientists in different
countries who are engaged upon the study of similar problems, or desire to obtain the assistance
of other scientists and the use of their laboratories and scientific equipment.
(5) The Committee recommends the Intellectual Co-operation Organisation to investigate
means of assisting scientists in their work, particularly through congresses — e.g., for
bibliographical purposes, and also to study the question of languages, the multiplicity of which
gives rise to constantly increasing difficulties.
(6) The national committees are invited to obtain the co-operation of distinguished scientists
in their respective countries ; they are requested to inform the Intellectual Co-operation
Organisation of such facilities as the research institutes and laboratories in their own countries
can offer to foreign research workers, and also of any financial assistance which they could give
them. The Committees should notify the Intellectual Co-operation Organisation of any questions
which the latter might appropriately have examined by means either of a “Conversation” or
of a meeting between a small number of experts.