1372 



See the accompanying tentative organization chart (figure 1, p. 49) 

 for a description of the way in which it was proposed — as of May 

 21, 1975 — that the elements of OES were to be assembled. 



The Inspector General's Assessment of SCI 



At about the time the Congress was deliberating the question of 

 reorganizing SCI, the Office of the Inspector General of the Depart- 

 ment of State was completing a study in de])th of the State Depart- 

 ment's science office. The study culminated in an internal inspection 

 report, "Science, Technology, and the Environment in the Conduct 

 of Foreign Relations," in September 1973. The substance of the 

 report was in four categories: (1) importance of the function for the 

 mission of the Department, (2) weaknesses in the present system, (3) 

 strengths of the present sj^stem, and (4) recommendations for 

 improvements. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE FUNCTION 



The report identified five reasons why the Department ought to 

 involve itself in science and technology : 



1. International science and technology was a vehicle of co- 

 operation to enhance U.S. foreign relations. 



2. With respect to both economic health and military security, 

 science and technology were yielding developments that were 

 significantly altering U.S. bilateral and multilateral relations. 



3. Legal obligations required the Department to deal in techni- 

 cal subjects. 



4. The foreign technical activities of other U.S. agencies affected 

 the Nation's relations abroad. 



5. The Department was called on to assist U.S. technical 

 agencies with overseas support, guidance, and cooperation. 



