936 



Difficulties with the program. — The current NSF contribution to 

 the program averages approximately $500,000, down from a high of 

 approximately $700,000 when the program first started. See Table 11, 

 wluch also illustrates lack of consistency in reporting on the program. 

 According to the Foundation, "some problems have arisen in the 

 administration of the . . . program from language difficulties, different 

 fiscal years, and different internal organizations for support of science. 

 There has also been opposition to the program in Japan by some 

 scientists for political rather than scientific reasons." ^^ The Joint 

 Committee has consistently criticized the low rate of American 

 participation : 



At each annual meeting the . . . Committee has urged that more American 

 scholars and students, especially young scientists and engineers, should partici- 

 pate . . ., [especially] for meetings and . . . the visiting scientists [program.] ^^^ 



The Committee also notes that the program has suffered because 

 American scholars who come to Japan generally want to study the 

 social sciences or humanities, topics not of special benefit or interest 

 to Japanese science: 



i'< 1970 NSF authorization. Hearings, op., cit., p. 575. 



iM The United States-Japan CommitUe on Scientific Cooperation: The First Five Years, 1961-1966, op. cit., 

 p. 7. 



