In August 1982 the Australian government refused entry to two Soviet scientists who wished to attend the International Congress of Biochemistry in Perth. In response the remaining 25 Soviet registrants boycotted the congress. More to my present point, the international Union of Biochemistry, organizers-of the meeting, responded to Australia's action with outrage. Moreover, the IUB did so publicly, in several different ways. Special meetings were held. Attempts were made to change the government's decision, using the media as well as making direct representations to local and national authorities. Repeated expressions of sympathy for the Soviets were made. Officially. Publicly. A Soviet message to the congress was received with applause from the delegates.
The 1988 International Congress of Biochemistry will be held in Prague. The IUB accepted the Czechoslovakian invitation after being assured that Prague had been the host for numerous international congresses, so far without visa problems.
That depends upon whom you ask. In August 1981, a year before the above-mentioned invitation was accepted, the Federation of European Microbiological Societies sponsored a meeting in Hradec Kralove. Many microbiologists from America and western Europe attended, and greatly enjoyed the experience, scientifically and socially. To their astonishment, no Israeli scientists were present. They had been denied entry into the country at the last moment. There was no public outcry, during or subsequent to the meeting. It is remarkable and unfortunate that none of these facts were brought to the attention of those who chose Czechoslovakia as the venue for the 1988 IUB Congress
As a direct personal reaction to the Hradec Kralove affair, some U.S. microbiologists anticipated with some concern the then upcoming International Biotechnology Symposium scheduled for New Delhi in February, 1984. In the parlance of diplomacy, they requested 'assurances' that their colleagues from Israel would experience no difficulty in obtaining Indian visas. Receiving such assurances, they made plans to attend, and in one conspicuous case, to deliver an important address to the Symposium.
Scientists are trained to be careful observers. Data is like experience. We examine them to learn from them. The scientific reader is, therefore, probably well ahead of me; perhaps it isn't necessary to tell the rest of the story. So 1'11 keep it brief.
During the days before the opening of the New Delhi symposium, it became clear that scientists travelling directly from Israel to India would not be able to attend. The U.S