International > Report by the committee on the work of its ... plenary session > Fifteenth plenary session

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8. Exact and Natural Sciences.
I. The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation,
Having taken note of the chapter in the report of the Director of the Institute dealing
with what has been done in the matter of the exact and natural sciences ;x
Having heard the statements by Mme. Curie, M. Borel and M. Langevin with regard
to the possible publication of a list of physics laboratories :
Considers that the work which the Institute has begun in this matter should be continued,
it being clearly understood that the purpose of the publication will be to provide, in regard
to research institutions, information such as may prove of interest to foreign scientists and
students.
II. The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation,
Thanks the Spanish Government for the valuable assistance it has given the Institute
of Intellectual Co-operation by making possible a second meeting of the Committee for studying
the co-ordination of scientific terminology ;
Recognises the importance of this action and requests the Institute to proceed with the
work in hand, which may lead to the constitution of a permanent committee to ensure the
continuation of what is being done in this sphere.
9. “ Index Translationum ”.
The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation,
After noting the communications from M. Julien Cain and M. Ernst Reinhardt1 2 3 and the
explanations furnished by the Institute concerning the Index Translationum,
Recognises the arguments in favour of a classification by languages in the Index
Translationum ;
Is, however, of opinion that in present circumstances classification by countries is the
safest practical method, since a strictly systematic classification by languages would not be
possible;
Is accordingly in favour of maintaining the present system of classification by countries.
Nevertheless, with a view to meeting the suggestions expressed, the Committee requests
the Institute to add, as far as possible, to the classification by countries, systematic indications
concerning the original languages of the translations ; and
Instructs the Institute to decide, with M. Julien Cain, President of the Committee of
Experts for the bibliography of translations, on the most practical methods by which this end
may be attained.
10. Proposals of the P.E.N. Clubs.
The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation,
Having considered the proposals made by the Organisation of P.E.N. Clubs regarding
the following two questions :
(a) The institution under the auspices of the League of Nations of an international
prize for literature ;
(b) Means of promoting the free circulation of literary works,
Decides as follows :
With regard to the first proposal :
Requests the Secretariat to inform the Organisation of P.E.N. Clubs that, for
constitutional and budgetary reasons, the Committee finds it impossible to recommend
any measure of this kind ;
As regards the second proposal :
Notes that the free circulation of literary works, as of scientific and technical
publications, has already been considered both by the League Assembly and the Intellectual
Co-operation Organisation ;
Is of opinion that this question might with advantage be further investigated and
relies on the Institute to collect the necessary material.
11. International Museums Office.
(a) The International Committee on Intellectual Co-operation, having taken note of
the Institute's report on the work of the International Museums Office during the administrative
period 1932-33,3 endorses the proposals contained in this report with regard to the future
programme of the Office and the changes to be made in its methods.
The Committee recognises the desirability of setting up, in the International Museums
Office, an international historical monuments commission consisting of delegates of the
national arts administrations. It hopes that this scheme will receive sympathetic consideration
from the Council and the Assembly.
1 See Appendix 8 of the present document, Section IV, page 48.
2 See Institute document F. 12.1933.
3 See Appendix 8 of the present document. Section VII, page 51.