NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH COMMITTEE I5 



not of a confidential nature, in connection with which secrecy would be of 

 relatively little importance. They would also be of a nature that the research 

 need not be undertaken under great pressure and a reasonable amount of 

 time could be allowed for the completion of the study in question. 



As an illustration of the type of study which the Committee requested 

 of the National Research Council there may be cited a resolution passed 

 by the Committee at its meeting on August 29, 1940, requesting the Coun- 

 cil to set up a special committee or committees to make a study of eutectic 

 diagrams of ammonium nitrate and other substances, and of ammonium 

 perchlorate and other substances, a study of the problem of finding a plastic 

 that could be used as a substitute for optical glass, and a study of protective 

 coatings to take the place of tin. 



After a number of specific studies had been requested of the Council, the 

 Committee at its meeting on January 17, 1941, authorized a general contract 

 with the Academy for the preparation of reports by the Council upon sub- 

 jects to be agreed upon by the Committee and the Council, the cost of such 

 reports to be defrayed by the Committee in a total amount not to exceed 

 a specified sum. Under this contract, reports were called for from time 

 to time and the amount of the contract was adjusted accordingly. In addi- 

 tion, specific contracts were made for more extended studies. The Council 

 called innumerable meetings of specialists in particular fields to assist the 

 sections of NDRC in focussing upon particular problems the attention of 

 competent men. 



The relations between the Committee, the Academy and the Council 

 were cordial and profitable. Especially close relations were established and 

 maintained between the Committee on Medical Research and the Council 

 after the creation of OSRD. To help defray the indirect costs of the 

 Academy in meeting these requests as well as the constantly increasing 

 requests of the Army and Navy, the OSRD appropriation bills carried an 

 item specifically for the purpose. 



Scope of Activities 



The respective jurisdictions of the NDRC and of the National Advisory 

 Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) were clarified by a memorandum 

 joindy signed on behalf of the two organizations in February 1941. The 

 memorandum stated that the NACA was definitely engaged in research on 

 aerodynamics, on power plants, on materials and on structures, and that 

 the work on power plants included aeronautical fuels and lubricants. It 

 further recited that the NACA had not engaged in research on ordnance, 

 on radio communications or on medical problems in connection with aero- 

 nautics. The general scope of NDRC jurisdiction was noted, and it was 

 agreed that the language of the order creating it contemplated that the 



