The German Hydrographic Institute in the year 1963 
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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 consider 
able 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 wis 
senschaftliche Forschung) established the "Deutsche Kommission für Ozeano-