Part Six 



THE MEANS TO THE END 



New Responsibilities for Government 



One lesson is clear from the reports of the several committees attached as 

 appendices. The Federal Go\'ernment should accept new responsibilities for 

 promoting the creation of new scientific knowledge and the development of 

 scientific talent in our vouth. 



The extent and nature of these new responsibilities are set forth in detail 

 in the reports of the committees whose recommendations in this regard are 

 fullv endorsed. 



In discharging these responsibilities Federal funds should be made avail- 

 able. We ha\'e given much thought to the question of how plans for the 

 use of Federal funds mav be arranged so that such funds will not drive out 

 of the picture funds from local governments, foundations, and private donors. 

 We believe that our proposals will minimize that effect, but we do not think 

 that it can be completely avoided. We submit, however, that the Nation's 

 need for more and better scientific research is such that the risk must be 

 accepted. 



It is also clear that the effective discharge of these responsibilities will 

 require the full attention of some over-all agency devoted to that purpose. 

 There should be a focal point within the Government for a concerted pro- 

 gram of assisting scientific research conducted outside of Government. Such 

 an agencv should furnish the funds needed to support basic research in the 

 colleges and universities, should coordinate where possible research programs 

 on matters of utmost importance to the national welfare, should formulate a 

 national policv for the Government toward science, should sponsor the inter- 

 change of scientific information among scientists and laboratories both in 

 this country and abroad, and should ensure that the incentives to research in 

 industry and the universities are maintained. All of the committees advising 

 on these matters agree on the necessitv for such an agency. 



The Mechanism 



There are within Government departments many groups whose interests 

 are primarilv those of scientific research. Notable examples are found within 

 the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and the Federal Secu- 

 ritv Agencv. These groups are concerned with science as collateral and 



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