1948–1958; Flourishing Science and Disturbing Politics
The 1948 Zurich General Assembly consolidated the measures prepared at the 1946 Copenhagen Conference, and marked the revival of activities interrupted by the war. The IAU was very fortunate that the Swiss invitation, issued many years ago, was still valid. Switzerland had been neutral territory, and had a long tradition of hospitality and facilities for tourism, factors that alleviated the problems of organizing such a conference in postwar Europe. An alternative possibility, suggested from American side, to have the Assembly in the United States, would have met much interest but the costs for participants from overseas would have been prohibitive.