1374 



It concluded that science and technology were inherently interna- 

 tional in scope and impact, that they would grow in importance for 

 diplomacy, and that programs of the Department in these areas needed 

 to be executed vigorously and effectively. It also noted that dissolution 

 of the President's Office of Science and Technology was generally 

 recognized as imposing an added burden of responsibility on SCI. 

 The four goals suggested by Mr. Pollack in his recent testimony 

 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (see p. 41) were 

 noted with approval. Clearly the Department of State needed a 

 vigorous focal point for science and technolog}^, especially for inter- 

 agency cooperation, policy development, and interpretation of 

 technological issues and options. 



WEAKNESSES OF SCI 



The IG report identified weaknesses to be corrected, as well as 

 strengths to be commended. Among the former were: 



— Too remote relations with client activities in the Department; 



— The need for more in-depth analyses of policy issues; 



— A lack of continuity ("short institutional memory") because 

 of personnel mobility; 



— Poor communication with the private sector on matters of 

 mutual interest (incomplete, untimely, frustrating, poor chan- 

 nels, key policy lacking) ; 



— More bilateral and other tasks were started than could 

 be managed; some were kept alive to avoid termination re- 

 percussions ; 



— SCI was weak in staffing — personnel review and long-range 

 planning were needed ; 



— Problem areas were well identified but priorities of effort 

 were neglected; 



— Liaison with other agencies on foreign technical matters 

 was weak; 



— The series of departmental science lectures had been excellent 

 but there had been too few of them ; 



— Attaches needed more guidance on top priority problems and 

 departmental needs for information ; and 



— There was evidence of a lack of confidence in SCI elsewhere 

 in the Department. 



STRENGTHS OF SCI 



Among the favorable comments offered in the report were : 



— The shift in emphasis of attaches from science to technology; 



— Management of U.S. participation in the Stockholm en- 

 vironmental conference; 



Development of the U.S.-U.S.S.R. science cooperation 

 secretariat; 



— A study of technology transfer ; 



— Negotiation of the Great Lakes water qualit}" agreements; 



— Service of atomic agreements; 



— Work in weather modification polic3\ 



— On meeting the obligations of law and follow-up on Presi- 

 dential statements SCI rated a "very good"; 



