1453 



What factors favor international cooperation in science and technology? 

 What factors hinder such cooperation? 



How can the United States best use its scientific and technological resources in 

 support of its national decisions, including its foreign policy? ^^ 



The congressional interest in the broad subject of science and 

 technology aspects of foreign policy thereafter appears to have fol- 

 lowed, in apjDroximate order of emphasis, four sets of considerations, 

 as follows: 



1. The strengthening of the science office and other elements in 

 the Department of State to deal with all these matters. 



2. Broad reviews of global trends in social, economic, military, 

 and technical development as background for more specific 

 legislative initiatives; 



3. National science and technology policy, with international 

 aspects as an essential element; and 



4. Specific international issues with substantial scientific or 

 technological content. 



In the discussion that follows, these will be taken up in order, with 

 the last of the four items considered in a later chapter. 



Congressional Actions To Strengthen Diplomatic Resources in Science 



The many reorganizations of the Department of State following 

 World War II, and the many reports and studies of waj^s to improve 

 the Department's organization have, of course, been subjected to 

 congressional scrutiny in funding authorization and appropriations 

 hearings. In general, however, the Congress has elected not to pre- 

 scribe organizational forms or adjustments, but has relied on the 

 Department to maintain the modernity of its structure. 



One notable exception to this principle was the action in 1973 (see 

 page 45) to create a new Assistant Secretary of State and a new con- 

 solidated Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and 

 Scientific Affairs. This action apparently had the threefold purpose 

 of (a) requiring intensified attention to the diplomatic importance of 

 the oceans and the environment in a technological setting, (b) con- 

 solidating in one organization a number of diplomatic functions with 

 a substantial technical content, and (c) providing statutory emphasis 

 to the State Department science office as a legitimate copartner with 

 the ranking regional and functional Assistant Secretaries in the policy- 

 making hierarchy of the Department. In its new form, OES today 

 presents one organization that covers oceans, environment, non- 

 military atomic energy, population matters, bilateral science agree- 

 ments, technology, and basic science generally. Welding these ele- 

 ments into a coherent pattern seems to present a formidable as well 

 as important task. It is likely to be one that will take time and effort. 

 In the meantime, the roles of other elements of the Department in 

 science and technology may also warrant congressional consideration. 

 Such considerations as the following might come under review: 



1. Technical and policy aspects, as opposed to funding, of U.S. 

 participation in international scientific and technological agency 

 activities. (How might U.S. expertise be mobilized to enhance 

 the total effectiveness of U.N. associated agencies concerned with 



"< U.S. Congress, House, Committee on Science and Astronautics, Coordination of Foreign Scientific Policy, 

 Staff study, 87th Cong., 2d sess., November 9, 1962, p. 6. (Committee print.) 



