931 



frequency of such arrangements and the nature of their orig:in3 

 indicate that they are becoming an unportant tool of foreign rela- 

 tions.^^2 



The Foundation has encountered difficulties in administering some 

 of these agreements. While the agency is charged with implementing 

 the agreements, it neither funds nor plans all activities sanctioned 

 W them. Other Federal Agencies which fund and administer some 

 of these agreements do not consistently report to the Foundation on 

 their acti\'ities. The resulting inadequacy of information on such 

 activities tends to constrain development of long-range programs. 

 Most of the bilaterals, reflecting the absence of NSF requirements 

 for reporting on foreign activities, lack continuity and frequently 

 have poorly structured scientific underpinning. While all bilaterals 

 are based on principles of mutuality, some are designed more to sup- 

 port development of foreign science than to contribute to scientific 

 endeavors of mutual benefit. These characteristics undermine the 

 quality of some bilaterals and to discourage scientific participation. 

 As in the case of some of the Fulbright-Hays activities, some of these 

 bilaterals are oriented to technical assistance ; others, as evidenced by 

 low rates of U.S. scientific participation, appear to provide inadequate 

 opportunities for fruitful research and development; and most require 

 language qualifications. The Foundation does not appear to have 

 made a comprehensive effort to assess the utility of these arrangements 

 for either science or diplomacy. 



The United States-Japan Cooperative Science Program. — The United 

 States- Japan Cooperative Science Program was established in 1961. 

 It is one of the oldest, most cooperative, and best organized of the U.S. 

 bilateral science programs. The Foundation views this program as 

 "... eminently successful in promoting the interaction between the 

 U.S. and the Japanese scientific communities."^^ Since the program 

 history illustrates some of the major difficulties the Foundation en- 

 counters in planning and administering bilateral science programs, it 

 mil be described in detail. 



Origin oj the United States-Japan cooperative science program. — 

 A joint communique by Japanese Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda and 

 President John F. Kennedy in June 1961 expressed "... their concern 

 over the unstable aspects of the situation in Asia and agreed to hold 

 close consultation ... to discover . . . the ways and means in which 

 stability and well-being might be achieved in that area." They an- 

 nounced the establishment of three joint committees to strengthen the 

 partnership: (1) the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade 

 and Economic Affairs, estabhshed at the cabinet level ". . .to assist 

 in achieving the objectives of . . . the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation 

 and Security"; (2) the Joint United States-Japan Committee on 



162 The Foundation reported to the Congress, during Fiscal year 1974 authorization hearings, that it 

 served as executive agency for bilateral agreements with 14 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, 

 Czechoslovakia, the Republic of China, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Romania, and 

 Yugoslavia.) (It serves also as executive agency for cooperative science and technology programs with 

 Spain and Iran.) It also supplies funds for NAS-administered agreements with the academies of the Soviet 

 Union and 6 Eastern European countries. (U.S., Congress, House, Committee on Science and Astronautics, 

 Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development 1971, National Science Foundation Authorization: 

 Hearings, 92d Cong. 2d Sess., 1973, pp. 315. 318. The Foundation reported in 1969 that it served as executive 

 agency for agreements with 6 countries: Japan, Italy, Australia, Romania, the Republic of China, and 

 India. It also supported NAS-administered exchanges with the academies of the Soviet Union and 4 Eastern 

 European countries. (1970 NSF Authorization: Hearings, vol. H, op. cit., pp. 575-579.) The Foundation 

 also provides primary government support for programs with Israel and the People's Republic of China. 



i^A General Review of International Cooperation in Science and Space, op. cit., p. 102. 



