1402 



Purposes, Advantages, and Disadvantages of BilateraZs 



SCI analyzed the purposes and advantages of bilateral science pro- 

 grams in 1970. In general the diplomatic purpose was to provide 

 tangible evidence of rapport between the two participating countries, 

 especially on the occasion of a meeting of their political leaders. A 

 further diplomatic purpose was to increase the interaction among 

 their peoples in a professional and noncontroversial field. It was ob- 

 served, 'however, that the political purposes of such programs are 

 unlikely to be well served unless there are substantial scientific benefits 

 to be shared. And the Inspector General's report on SCI, cited earlier, 

 notes that discarding worn out bilateral science agreements is politi- 

 cally awkward. The scientific purposes were to exploit the principle of 

 pooled expertise and exchange of knowledge. 



ADVANTAGES 



Among the "built-in advantages" of "scientific and technological 

 agreements" as seen by SCI were the following: 



a. Provides an impetus for cooperation. — A governmental agreement stimulates 

 and encourages cooperation which might otherwise never occur. It focuses atten- 

 tion on and publicizes the opportunities for collaboration. Some cooperation with a 

 country probably will take place spontaneously. This is largely a random, hap- 

 hazard process depending upon accidental coincidence of interests, acquaintance- 

 ship, etc. An international agreement forces a more searching and systematic 

 review of potential cooperation. Generally speaking, the success of an agreement 

 can be measured roughly by the new collaboration it stimulates beyond that 

 already taking place. 



b. Gives local scientists greater prestige. — A formal agreement calls the attention 

 of governmental officials to the scientific community. The participation of local 

 scientists as equal partners with outstanding scientists of other countries pro- 

 vides a visibility and a stature not previously enjoyed. 



c. Increases likelihood of local support. — Closely related to h above, is the in- 

 creased financial support from local governmental agencies engendered by an 

 agreement. An agreement represents a commitment by the government to hold up 

 its end of the bargain. If the scientists cannot perform their agreed portion with 

 existing support, this provides powerful leverage on the government for additional 

 assistance. 



d. Facilitates exchange of personnel and information. — Although exchanges of this 

 type are possible informally, a formal agreement provides a useful mechanism 

 for more extensive exchange. In fact, provision for exchange of persons and infor- 

 mation is an integral part — and one of the most effective features — of all agree- 

 ments now operating. 



e. Allows simpler and more expeditious exchange of materials and equipment. — 

 Cooperative research between countries inevitably involves shipments of speci- 

 mens, laboratory equipment, instruments, etc. Agreements facilitate such ex- 

 changes by simplifying and standardizing customs clearance and related 

 diflSculties."* 



One particular diplomatic virtue of the bilateral science program was 

 identified by Secretary Rogers, January 26, 1971, in a keynote address 

 to the 12th meeting of the Panel on Science and Astronautics of the 

 House Committee on Science and Astronautics. It was the "general 

 policy of this Administration," he said, "to permit the exchange of 

 unclassified scientific and technical information with the scientists 

 and institutions of any countr}', regardless oj the state of our diplomatic 

 relations with that country.^' (Emphasis supplied.) He went on to 

 identify bilateral scientific agreements as the vehicle for such ex- 



"« U.S. Department of State, "U.S. Scientific and Technological Agreements wltli Other Countries," 

 International Science Notes, no. 25 (September 1970), pp. 2-3. 



