1656 



to one widely traveled U.S. scientist, Roger Revelle, the cause of 

 this shortcoming is that the Department of State is constrained from 

 taking the initiative in designing policies for science and technolo^. 

 RevelTe states that "one reason for this deficiency may be a feeling 

 among the leaders of the Department that the changes "brought about 

 by [scientific] developments will be slow to take effect and can be 

 [managed] as they emerge by conventional diplomatic means." Another 

 critic, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 

 "faults the Bureau with concern for minor tasks and deferring respon- 

 sibility for guiding major international scientific and technological 

 policies and programs to the White House. . . ." ^*" 



FCST EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF U.S. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS 



FCST, composed of representatives of all relevant Government 

 agencies, was established in 1959 ". . . to promote closer cooperation 

 among Federal agencies, ... to irrrfM-ove planning and management in 

 science and technology, and to advise and assist the President regard- 

 ing Federal programs affecting more than one agency. The Inter- 

 national Committee of the FCST was created, also in 1959, to recom- 

 mend "measures to promote and enhance U.S. participation in and 

 support for international scientific activities compatible with our 

 foreign policy." ^" The Committee made several abortive attempts to 

 improve and coordinate governmental activities relating to foreign and 

 international exchanges. For example, in 1961, at the request of 

 Presidential science adviser George Kistiakowsky, it undertook a 

 review of the international scientific activities of all Federal agencies 

 which resulted in a report. International Scientific and Technological 

 Activities, which called on the NSF to provide better information on 

 exchange activities. The Foundation never responded to the recom- 

 mendation. In 1968 the IC, FCST, prepared, in collaboration with 

 the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, a set of guidelines 

 which contained the recommendation that "each agency concerned 

 provide the IC, FCST, with an annual report on its exchange programs 

 and the steps which are consistent with these Guidelines." ''^ The 

 agencies failed to respond and the effort was dropped. 



The IC, FCST, made another attempt beginning in 1970 to catalog 

 U.S. Government relationships in international science and tech- 

 nology. The committee requested agencies to supply it with: 



(a) Brief description of agency's international scientific programs and projects; 



(b) Their relation to past size during the 1960s and to the vigor, need and 

 demand for programs; 



(c) . . . Missed opijortunities which might have been developed under more 

 favorable circumstances; 



(d) Legislative authorities and restrictions within which programs-projects are 

 carried forward; 



(e) The ngency [view of thel programs' utility. Identification of specific instances 

 in which the cooperative programs with other nations have resulted in savings of 

 time or money or in other direct benefits to the U.S.; and 



(f) Observations which may serve to clarify the data given.*'* 



"• Ibid., p. 1020. 

 2" Ibid., p. 1027. 

 2" Ibid., p. 1030. 

 sn Ibid., p. 1031. 



