Chauvinism and internationalism in science: the International Research Council, 1919-1926

Abstract

The International Research Council, founded in 1919 by representatives of the leading scientific academies of the major Allied nations, was intended to promote international co-operation in science, through the formation of a series of International Unions, each covering a separate branch of science. Its international basis was, however, deliberately restricted: the former Central Powers were excluded by statute from both the I.R.C. and its Unions, while former neutral countries were to be admitted only by a three-quarters majority vote. The I.R.C. was thus quite openly part of the general post-war policy, whose spearhead was the Treaty of Versailles, of isolating the Central Powers, of demanding from them expressions of penitence, and of ensuring that Germany in particular never regained her old dominance in military affairs, industry, trade or science. Opposition to the exclusion of Germany and her former allies was soon expressed, especially in former neutral countries, and eventually, after two successful attempts to change the statutes, the offending clause was repealed in 1926, and all the old Central Powers were unanimously invited to join. (I shall henceforth refer to groups of states simply as the Allies, the Central Powers and neutrals, ‘former’ being understood. I shall also often write ‘Germany’ when strict accuracy would demand ‘the Central Powers’. This is justifiable to the extent that the exclusion imposed by the I.R.C., along with governmental policies and popular feeling, was directed primarily against Germany, with German-speaking Austria standing next in the hierarchy of villains.)