***Alfred Nobel, nineteenth-century Swedish industrialist and creator of the prizes that bear his name, was the inventor of dynamite (patented 1867). This explosive has played and continues to play an important role in the industrial development of the world.

The use of dynamite has augmented the supply of iron ore and other minerals needed for the increa.sed construction of machines, locomotives, railroad cars and motor vehicles. It has also facilitated the construction of railroads and highways across the continents and thereby allowed mass distribution of goods. Through his invention. Nobel was thus a benefactor of mankind, just as he stipulated that the winners of the prizes established by his will should be.***

Experience had taught Alfred Nobel to diabkr and distrust lawyers, and late in 1895 he made out his final will without any Cofessional advice or assis-nce. This will, which replaced two previous ones made in 1889 and 1893 stipu kated that the income from tus estate, which on his death in 1896 amounted to SEK 33.2 million, should be divided an nually into five equal parts and distributed 'in the form of prizes to those who during the preceding year have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind He prescribed that th/ prizes should be distributed as follows:

One part to the person or persons who shall have made the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics: one part to the person who shall have made the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made the most important discovery in the domain of physiology or medicine: one part to the person why? shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work of an idealistic tendency, and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for holding and promoting peace congresses. His will also prescribes that in the distribution of the prizes "no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he is a Scandiriavian or not."

Legally, however, the will did not actually bequeath the estate itself to anyone, and when it was read in January 1897. ft was strongly contested by some of his relatives. Furthermore. Nobel had not approached the different institutions concerned to ascertain if they were willing to assume responsibility for awarding the prizes. Politicians criticized the idea on the whole, and King Oskar II of Sweden and Norway was sceptical of it for

various reasons.. More than three years elapsed before the matter was finally settled, and it was then decided to orga nize the Nobel Foundation as legatee and administrator of the Nobel fund capital while the variops bodies named In the will agreed to undertake the responsibility of awarding the prizes A decisive role in , securing the Unai victory by

I lie eslablisbuig in I'MX) ol the Nolx-I Foundation was played by Nobel s young collaborator. Ragnar Sohlman who was named by Nobel Executor of the Will Sohlman later became the Executive Director of the Foundation.

The Process of Selection

Those qualified to propose candidates for prizes are pre vious Nobel Laureates in their respective fields: members of the pnze-awardmg bodies and of the Nobel Committees in the relevant spheres: protein sots in the various fields either at specific universities or those selected through special invitation bv the respective prize awarding bodies: chairmen of representative authors organizations (literature!; members of certain international parlia mentary or legal organizations (peace) members of parlia merits and governments (peace). Anyone proposing himself for a Nobel Prize is automatically disqualified It should be observed that only individuals belonging to these bodies Jjave the right to propose a candidate — not the or ganization as such. Since nei ther the Swedish nor the Norwegian authorities have any influence whatsoever on the prize decisions, no official representation or support in favor of a certain candidate is of any avail.

The Committees examine the proposals which haw to be at their disposal before February 1. and by early au tumn their reports are submit ted to the respective prize awarding bodies After the merits of the candidates have been discussed the bodies an nounce their final decisions in mid-October. All proceedings of the prize-awarding bodies ■are secret.