1339 



His long-term staff of four professionals and two secretarial personnel 

 was in operation, and two short-term scientists were expected early 

 in March. Contacts had been established with 40 senior scientists 

 and science administrators in England. In addition: (a) a report was 

 in preparation on the structure of British science in universities, 

 government, and industry; (b) special reports were in preparation 

 on the current status of British research in organic chemistry, bio- 

 chemistry, surgery, and metabolic diseases; (c) arrangements were 

 being made to supply the U.S. Information Service library in London 

 with current U.S. scientific publications; (d) attention was being 

 given to exchanges of science students; (e) various requests had been 

 received for him to participate in British science functions; (f) dis- 

 cussions were in progress wdth the Dutch Embassy in London regarding 

 enlargement of Dutch scientific representation in Washington; and 

 (g) cordial working relationsliips had been established with the 

 ONR London office. 



On November 8, 1948, Dr. Evans submitted his first annual report. 

 In it he recapitulated the rationale for setting up his office. (It was 

 based on the propositions that scientific research and technological 

 application were an essential factor in the economy' of any nation and 

 that the formulation of foreign policy required an on-site mechanism 

 to acquire expert information for this purpose.) The report listed the 

 many "despatches" generated from the new office and oft'ered a num- 

 ber of recommendations to strengthen the operation. In particular, 

 Evans suggested the need for an "office or officer at a high level in the 

 State Department to bring together all the activities of all its scientific 

 and technological experts." Such an office, he suggested, could direct 

 information to appropriate users, analyze it, and give guidance to the 

 various (hypothetical) field offices.' He also suggested that when 

 short-term scientists had completed their tours in embassies abroad 

 they be detailed (or called back) to serve in the proposed home office, 

 or as members of an advisory committee to that office, or for additional 

 tours abroad. Dr. Evans urged establishment of posts similar to his 

 own in embassies in other Western European countries. And, signif- 

 icantly, he urged that the emphasis of the London office be changed 

 from basic science to industrial technology, as being of more immediate 

 value. 



PROBLEMS IX RECRUITING SCIENTISTS 



jMeanwhile, back in the Department of State, the flood of cor- 

 respondence associated with' finding -outstanding scientists for short- 

 term and long-term appointments for this small offi.ce, confirming 

 their qualifications, their recruitment, and arranging for their travel, 

 was becoming onerous. There were many applicants who had to be 

 tactfully turned SLway, and many regretful refusals from desired 

 candidates. When his year was up in London, Evans was replaced 

 b}^ W. R. Woolrich, dean of engineering at the Universit}" of Texas, 

 who had already served for 6 months under Evans. Woolrich, in a 

 "semi-annual" report, April 5, 1949, repeated the recommendations 

 of his predecessor, urged that scientists be "briefed" before going to 

 their posts, and complained that for much of the year the "scientific 

 personnel of this office was reduced ... to the Chief of the Section and 

 the essential secretarial assistance. . . ." Moreover, he said, "It is 

 most confusing to both the personnel and to the British scientists to 



