The  German  Hydrographic  Institute  in  the  year  1963

129  -

E.  Summary

THE  GERMAN  HYDROGRAPHIC  INSTITUTE  IN  THE  YEAR  1968

On  1  January  1968,  one  hundred  years  had  passed  since  Wilhelm  von
Ereeden  founded  the  Norddeutsche  Seewarte  as  a-private  enterprise,  which,
from  1871  onwards,  was  named  Deutsche  Seewarte;  in  1875,  it  "became  an
Imperial  Authority  (Reichsbehörde),  Georg  von  Neumayer  being  appointed  its
Director.  After  1945,  the  hydrographic  tasks  of  the  Deutsche  Seewarte  went
over  to  the  DHI  (German  Hydrographic  Institute)  and  the  meteorological
tasks  to  the  German  Weather  Service.  In  a  number  of  celebrations,  the
history  of  the  Deutsche  Seewarte  as  well  as  its  scientific  importance  were
commemorated  (See  page  9).
The  importance  of  oceanography  was  emphasized  in  1968  by  the  considerable ­
  political  attention  it  received.  The  Resolutions  Nos.  2172  and  2340
adopted  in  1967  by  the  United  Nations  call  for  investigations  into  the
natural  resources  of  the  sea  and  their  exploitation,  and  that  the  deep
ocean  floors  beyond  the  continental  shelves  be  reserved  to  peaceful  use
only.  As  a  result  of  these  resolutions,  the  subsidiary  bodies,  expecially
the  Intergovernmental  Oceanographic  Commission  (IOC),  attached  to  UNESCO,
will  be  charged  with  considerable  tasks.  The  other  United  Nations'
Specialized  Agencies  concerned  are  expected  to  co-operate  more  closely
than  so  far  with  the  IOC  (8th  Session  of  the.IOC  Bureau  and  Consultative
Council  from  10  to  14  June  1968,  London;  15th  General  Assembly  of  the
UNESCO  from  4  to  9  November  1968,  Paris).
The  GHI  frequently  took  an  active  part  in  the  respective  preparations,
especially  as  the  German  IOC  Secretariat.  Repeatedly,  the  President  or
other  members  of  the  Institute  had  to  represent  the  Federal  Government
at  intergovernmental  meetings.
On  3  January,  the  Commission  of  the  European  Communities  and  its
Working  Group  "Politik  auf  dem  Gebiete  der  wissenschaftlichen  Forschung"
(Politics  in  the  Fields  of  Scientific  and  Technical  Research)  set  up  a
Working  Group  "Oceanography"  under  the  chairmanship  of  the  President  of
the  GHI.  This  Working  Group  proposes  to  co-ordinate  the  activities  in
the  fields  of  oceanographic  research  and  technology,  not  only  among  the
six  member  states  but  also  together  with  Great  Britain  and  other  countries
willing  to  join.
The  Federal  Minister  of  Scientific  Research  (Bundesminister  für  wissenschaftliche ­
  Forschung)  established  the  "Deutsche  Kommission  für  Ozeano-