DELEGATES MEETINGS
51
change at this moment, and he elaborated on some of the difficulties that might
ensue were they to do so.
Dr Harry said that the same problem had arisen in the Geodetic Union. They
had been just as cautious in making changes as our own Past-President was now
being.
Dr Fagerholm said that he was absolutely of the same opinion as Prof Scher-
merhorn that alteration must not be sudden. After the President’s meeting it would
be clear whether it was necessary to set up a committee on this question or not.
3rd Delegates Meeting held on Saturday, 10th September, 1960 at the Institute
of Education
In opening the meeting the President said that, as he expected a vote to be
necessary, he would ask the Secretary-General to read out the names of the countries
entitled under the Statutes to vote. This was done, and there being a few delegates
absent the President asked for them to be advised on the loud-speakers.
He said that the matter now before the meeting was the choice of a host
country for 1964. The Council had discussed this with the delegates of the five
countries who had offered invitations and each now quite understood the others’
point of view. They were not unanimous on who should act as host in 1964, but
there was no doubt at all that all wished to do what would be in the best interests of
the Society. He proposed therefore to ask each of them in turn to speak again and
then immediately to take a vote. He explained that all had agreed in advance that in
the event of there being a simple majority in favour of one country the others would
withdraw in order that the Delegates Meeting might bring a unanimous recom
mendation before the General Assembly.
He thought that other delegates had sufficiently expressed their views at the
earlier meeting and he hoped they would not find it necessary to express them again,
though of course he would afford the opportunity if the meeting so wished.
Each of the five delegates then spoke, renewing and elaborating their in
vitations as necessary. The President thanked them and said that the Society should
be extremely gratified that five countries had taken such trouble to examine in so
much detail the possibilities of undertaking the responsibilities of host. It was, indeed,
no simple task to do so. In effect, from what had been said, France and Italy had
now withdrawn in favour of Portugal, so he would ask for a simple vote as between
the other three.
A paper ballot was taken, scrutinized by the Council, and declared to show a
clear majority in favour of Portugal.
Prof Schwidefsky and Dr Harry each congratulated Portugal most cordially
on the result and, according to agreement, withdrew their invitations in favour of
Portugal.
The President then called for a final vote by show of hands which was
unanimous in favour of Portugal.
Dr Paes Clemente thanked the delegates and undertook to do everything
possible to make the next four years and the 1964 Congress successful for the
Society.