Joining nations 1947-1990

JOINING NATIO S

US MEMBERSHIP

A peculiar feature of the early years of the IIW was the position of the US delegation. In 1947 the industrial dominance of the US was generally recognised and it was therefore natural that the American Welding Society should have been invited to be represented on the Provisional Committee. It is perhaps not surprising that no representative in fact attended though the USA was represented at the inaugural meeting of the IIW in 1948 when the AWS became a founder member. Invited to nominate one of the first three Vice– Presidents, it duly did so but its nominee was never able to attend though at the 1950 and 195 1 Assemblies he was represented by Dr Howard Biers who succeeded him as Vice- President in the latter year. Dr Bicrs was an exceptionally anglicized American who held a senior position with Union Carbide. He had numerous contacts with the European iron and steel industry and was thus in a position to make frequent visits to Europe at a time when, as we have seen, trans-Atlantic travel was a great deal less convenient than it is today. A firm believer in the IIW, Dr Biers did his utmost to encourage active participation by the AWS and the Welding Research Council. Similarly, it was largely as a result of his efforts that a European team of welding e:Kperts from 1 1 countries visited the US on a study tour in 1953 . This tour, which included participation in an AWS convention, was sponsored by the Organisation for European Econ– omic Cooperation, its secretary being the Secretary-General of the IIW. Dr Biers also promoted the presentation and publication of European papers in the US at a time when Americans tended to discount the importance of welding research and practice abroad. His success in these endeavours made it fitting that he was elected to the Presidency for the term 1954-57 during which US participation was consolidated. A somewhat similar pattern was seen in connection with the chairmanship of commissions. Initially, the US was invited to nom– inate the Chairman of Commission III Resistance Welding and Commission XII Brittle Fracture, members of European delegations being appointed Vice-Chairmen. Neither Chairman was able to attend and in 1951 the US delegation proposed their withdrawal as Chairmen . This occurred at the same time as Dr Biers was becoming involved in the IIW, thus ending a period of difficulties which was perhaps inevitable in the circumstances.