1345 



3. The science office would: 



(a) Support science missions abroad (i.e., recruit, brief, and back- 

 stop science attaches, and help them program their activities; promote 

 international exchanges of information and scientists; and maintain 

 registries of scientists and scientific activities in foreign countries) ; 



(b) Provide liaison with domestic scientific activities (i.e., serve 

 as point of access in the Department of State fox U.S. scientists; 

 relate to U.S. scientists and scientific institutions; identify main issues 

 and represent "science" in policy councils; assure appropriate repre- 

 sentation of the United States in scientific meetings abroad and help 

 arrange similar meetings in the United States; and generally support 

 international science and U.S. objectives); 



(c) Review and advise on policy and administrative decisions as 

 they relate to or affect science and technology (i.e., seek ways for 

 science and technology to interact \vith diplomacy to benefit U.S. 

 objectives; shed light on the impact of diplomatic decisions on science 

 and technology; assure competent scientific and technological advice 

 on diplomatic policv issues ; coordinate the scientific and technological 

 input to program planning; and provide access for the Department to 

 best scientific and technological advice on policy issues) ; and 



(d) Evaluate effectiveness of programs and policy in the light of 

 progress and potentialities of science and technology. 



4. Other elements of the Department should consult the office on 

 scientific and technological matters. 



5. Other elements of the Department, while consulting with the 

 Science Office, should retain responsibility for action on scientific 

 and technological issues.^* 



In sum, under Berkner's plan, the State Department's Science Office 

 would keep track of other agency progi^ms relating to overseas 

 technology. Formalized advisory procedures would be set up. Closer 

 liaison would be estabhshed with persons with higher technical quali- 

 fications. The nongovernmental science community would be involved 

 in the Government process more extensively, with particular emphasis 

 on the National Research Council. Close liaison would be especially 

 important between the Department of State and the newly created 

 National Science Foundation.^^ 



THE PLAN FOR SCIENTIFIC ATTACHES 



The report addressed at some length (pp. 103-114) the question 

 of placing scientific and technological expertise in U.S. embassies 

 abroad. It concluded that the London Mission under Dr. Evans 

 had been rendered less effective by "a limited budget, inadequate 

 supporting operations at home, and insufficient weight assigned in 

 the Department to the importance of scientific and technical implica- 

 tions in foreign pohcy." 



w Berkner Report, pp. 03-98. 

 » Ibid., pp. 101-102. 



