Joining nations 1947-1990

33

CO SOLIDATION, 1954-1961

delegation to ask the IIW to hold its 1970 Assembly in Tokyo - an invitation which was neither accepted nor refused. Apart from the election to membership of Israel, which perhaps characteristically took place in New York, and also of Bulgaria, the l 96 l Assembly was marked by the creation of Study Group 2 l 2 . This was done on the initiative of Professor Rykalin, who felt that arc physics could best be studied within the IIW by a select group of scientists chosen by, and answerable to, the Executive Council but maintaining links with Commissions II and XII. This was a new constitutional formula for the IIW whose member countries had so far had the right to nominate a delegate and experts on each Commission. The innovation pro– posed by Professor Rykalin and accepted by the Governing Council was significant for its implicit recognition that some countries are more advanced technologically than others and because it was to serve as a model for the future. Another significant innovation adopted at New York concerned the term of office and appointment of the Chairmen of Commissions who, up till then, could remain in office indefinitely. After 1961 the term of office was fixed at five years but the appointment could be renewed by the Governing Council if such was the wish of the Com– mission concerned. In consequence of this decision, four Commis– sions were consulted in New York about their Chairmanships with a view to appointments being made or renewed in 1962. So began a procedure which, although criticized, was maintained for want of a better alternative.