Joining nations 1947-1990

INT E RN AT I ONAL CONFERENCES

59

Information and demonstrating the welding databases developed by members of the Group. Although only a diminishing band can have remembered them, the Governing Council learned with regret at Strasbourg of the deaths of Professor Jaeger (President 1951-1954) and Mr Parsloe (Secretary– General 1948-1966); they were the last surviving members of the Provisional Committee which had drawn up the Constitution of the IIW nearly 40 years earlier and their deaths broke the last direct link with the foundation of the Institute. The l 985 Assembly was also the occasion of the presentation of the Edstrom medal to Professor Kobayashi who had been for many years one of the leaders of the Japanese delegation and thus one of the promoters of its most important technical contribution to the IIW. Professor Kobayashi had also been instrumental in arranging that the 1986 Assembly should take place in Tokyo where appropriately the Republic of Korea was elected to membership. The principal business discussed by the Governing Council was the proposed revision of the Constitution to cover the changes agreed in principle in 1985 - namely the definition, qualifications and pri– vileges of associate-membership and the creation of a regional struc– ture. This revision, which represented an important addition to the terms of reference of the IIW, was adopted on the understanding that the text of the consequential changes in the Bye-laws would be communicated to the Governing Council at a later date. In this connection there was an optimistic report on contacts with UNIDO which appeared likely to co-operate in matters of mutual interest (training, provision of experts, contacts with de– veloping countries, etc) as well as in the organisation of the first Regional Congress which was to be held in Hobart in 1988. It was also indicated that exploratory discussions were taking place con– cerning the possibility of establishing certain regional Commissions in S America. A further important proposal submitted to the Governing Council at Tokyo concerned approval in principle for the establishment of an IIW databank. This proposal originally emanated from the Publica– tions Working Group, additional advice being provided by the Study Group Scientific and Technical Information. It was agreed that the proposal should be investigated in detail after which a final decision would be taken. Another decision of principle taken by the Governing Council at the request of Commission I was to set up a Select Committee on