1781 



purpose would seem to be well within the scope of its responsibility. 

 For example, policy toward multinational corporations, a primary 

 channel for international transfers of technology, has remained 

 uncertain and inchoate. Overseas scholarships of U.S. students do 

 not reflect U.S. needs for restoring the balance in low technology 

 expertise. Scientific missions in U.S. Embassies abroad still appear 

 to be oriented more toward "science" than technology, and toward 

 low technology least of all. And the views of the Department toward 

 domestic policy in high versus low technology needs to be deeply 

 analyzed and strongly presented in the policy councils of the Executive 

 Office of the President, 



It would be the conclusion of the author of this essay that support 

 for the development of some elements of both low and high technology 

 would be an appropriate strategy for the United States, While some 

 industries based on low technology may be fading out, as was the 

 case with the 19th century whaling industry and the carriage makers 

 before 1920, other low-technology industries continue to be basic to 

 the U.S. economy. Examples are the railroads, the automobile, 

 housing construction, and various consumer durable goods. To the 

 extent that technology lags in these "essential" industries, ways 

 need to be found to encourage more intensive application of science 

 to support them. The need is to apply support selectively, rather 

 than to adopt a general principle that all lagging industrial tech- 

 nologies should be upgraded. Similarly with high technology: the test 

 should be whether a particular item contributes more, or less, than 

 others to national goals and public needs. The achievement of tech- 

 nological spectaculars may have its place, but would need to be 

 weighed against other high technologies with a more solid utility. It 

 is not feasible for even the United States to fund every conceivable 

 technological advance; so choice is necessary. And one important 

 consideration is the contribution a candidate technology is likely to 

 make to U.S. foreign policy goals. Determination of the criteria to 

 resolve this question, and appUcation of the criteria in the choice of 

 technologies for public support to advance foreign policy goals, could 

 be a major function of U.S. foreign policy institutions. 



Some Questions -for Further Consideration 



This essay raises some of the most fundamental issues in the entire 

 project of Science, Technology, and American Diplomacy. A par- 

 ticular advantage of an examination of these issues is that it can 

 point the way to specific, tangible legislative actions that can influence 

 both the state of the American economy and the U.S. role in the larger 

 diplomatic world. Examples of some of these issues that seem to war- 

 rant examination are presented in the section to follow. 



QUESTIONS 



What kinds of useful relationships have been established between 

 the Department of State and (a) the science community and (b) the 

 technological community of the United States that could provide 

 guidance in the emphasizing of research and development programs 

 favoring U.S. diplomacy? What guidance does the Department re- 

 ceive in return from these communities as to diplomatic efforts to 

 support their programs? 



