A Plea for a Scientific Quadruple Entente

Abstract

THAT result of the present war which will, without the slightest doubt, have the most important consequences for the future is the evidence it has brought to the nations of the Entente of the terrible danger that they have run of being victims of German hege. mony in all fields of human activity—economic, technical, and scientific. This danger has diminished since the war burst upon us; it was very great during the long time of peace that preceded the war, but the war warded it off just in time, and the nations of the Entente have hastened to adopt as remedies all kinds of measures of initiative—governmental and private—which will certainly be successful. Thus, new industries have been created, and we are preparing to create others, to make ourselves independent of Germany in the manufacture of certain products of the greatest importance that Germany used almost exclusively to furnish. Again, we are now seeking means to protect ourselves against the dumping of German products after the war to the detriment of our national products. Again, institutions and other means are being created expressly to make still closer that co-operation of science and technology which has worked miracles in Germany. Finally, after having become convinced of the power which, as we see by the domination of great enterprises, dwells in organisation, we have undertaken to formulate and spread abroad the fundamental practical principles of organisation for whomsoever can, and should, learn and apply them in any branch of the work of society.