1284 



extent in the case of the Agency for International Development's 

 technical assistance programs.'''^ 



In the mid-1960's Dr. Charles Frankel, Assistant Secretary of State 

 for Educational and Cultural Affairs, in his capacity as chairman 

 of the Interagency Council on International Educational and Cul- 

 tural Affairs, was 'the principal spokesman for the administration on 

 brain drain matters. Formed in 1964 to improve coordination of 

 Government educational and cultural programs which were inter- 

 national in purpose and impact, the Interagency Council was com- 

 posed of representatives from AID, the Defense Department, Peace 

 Corps, HEW, Bureau of the Budget, and the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, in liaison wnth the Federal Council on Science and Technology. 

 Other agencies worked with the Interagency Council when problems 

 arose relating to their interest. '^^ 



The Interagency Council made a significant contribution to the 

 literature on brain drain with the publication of its proceedings of a 

 workshop and conference on "The International Migration of Talent 

 and Skills," held in October 1966. The present study has drawn heav- 

 ily upon the work of this conference. 



Declining Interest in Executive Branch Since Late 19G0''s. — Interest 

 in the State Department seemed to wane after 1968 with the diminish- 

 ing interest in the brain drain problem in Congress and apparently 

 elsewhere in the Western w^orld. Reduction of immigration by tight- 

 ening direct controls was not considered to be imperative. Perhaps, 

 Mr. Baldwin best expressed the view of the Johnson Administration 

 on brain drain when he summarized the official position set forth by 

 Dr. Frankel : 



In sum, Frankel objected to all the major specific changes that had been 

 proposed [in regard to immigration legislation] and came forward with no new 

 •ones of his own. The main "causes" of emigration from developing countries, 

 he felt, lay in the "push" factors found in those countries, and the most im- 

 portant thing the United States could do to help was to continue and to expand 

 its foreign assistance for the institution-building, particularly the building of 

 research and educational institutions capable of attracting and holding profes- 

 sional people. As for the special problem of medical doctors, Mr. Frankel 

 acknowledged that the United States should indeed expand its own training 

 programs.''*'' 



The present administration has shown little interest in immigra- 

 tion as a whole, much less in the specific problem of brain drain. 

 If the judgment of Rep. Joshua Eilberg, Chairman of the House 



738 Staff studv. House Government Operations Committee, Brain Drain Into the United 

 States of Sci^tists, Engineers, and Physiciana. 1967. p. 15. The State Department has 

 tended to minimize the extent of brain drain through Government-sponsored programs. 

 For a discussion of AID'S assistance programs In scientific fields, see U.S. Congress. House, 

 Committee on Science and Astronautics. Subcommittee on Science, Research and Develop- 

 ment, The participation of Federal Agencies in International Scientific Programs, Report, 

 90th Cong., 1st sess., 1967, pp. 40-42. (Committee print). The report noted that m 

 fiscal year 19fi4, 965 foreign educators were trained in the United States under AID 

 auspices and 299 American professional experts were working abroad. ?109 niUllon was 

 committed in the field of education in fiscal year 1966. (p. 41.) 



"»Dr. Franliel discusses the organization and functions of the Interagency Council in, 

 Hearings, Senate Judiciary Committee, International Migration of Talent and Skills, 1968, 

 p. l.S. 



'lo Baldwin, op. clt., pp. 369-370. 



