Genesis of IUB

societies about details and during these the awkward question arose about the participation of German biochemists. On 10 October 1948 Dickens reported that because of objections from continental biochemists very understandable at the time the decision had been reached by the sub-committee to exclude Germans domiciled in Germany. I felt very strongly that the exclusion of former enemy countries could not continue for ever; that this would be not only morally wrong but that it would also be a great political mistake to cold-shoulder decent German scientists a mistake because it would give strength to ex-Nazi elements in Germany. I also felt that there was a special reason why I should take a stand against this discrimination. My fellow Committee members might have assumed that as a refugee from Nazi Germany I would have strong feelings against the resumption of contacts with Germany. So in a sense I felt that I was in a special position to advocate the re-establishment of normal international relations. Frank Happold strongly supported my plea and the Committee as a whole was sympathetic. After further negotiations with continental societies a compromise was reached and it was agreed to invite a small number of selected German biochemists, after careful screening of their political antecedents. The outcome was a formal invitation to four German biochemists. They were Kurt Felix, Emil Lehnartz, Theodor Wieland and Hans-Joachim Deuticke. Benno Hess managed to attend informally, thanks to a personal invitation from friends. The effect of their participation was quite out of proportion to the small number. Once the principle had been established, contacts with German biochemists rapidly became normal. Forfurther information on the First International Biochemical Congresssee R. A. Morton, ‘The Biochemical Society, its History and Activities 1911-1969, published by the ,Biochemical Society, 1969 and ‘First International Congress of Biochemistry, Report of Opening and Concluding Sessions and Three Lectures delivered to the Congress’, published by the Biochemical Society. 1950.