OCEANOGRAPHY 



27 



all hoped that in the near future perhaps we could resolve some of 

 these things internationally and then there will be a decrease in the 

 emphasis on the defense phases in our national interest. 



This, of course, will have to take place worldwide. 



On the other hand, because of the things that the ocean has to give 

 us, the interest in its more peaceful uses, this biology, this chemistry 

 will, as the populations go up, increase ; is that true ? 



Mr. Wakelin. This is entirely true. 



Mr. Miller. Now then, if we tie our efforts to a department of 

 Govermnent, no matter how^ well established it is, that has no statu- 

 toiy base, with the pressures that will come in the future, may we not 

 lose time in getting at the pi'oblem or in its continuing success'^ 



That is the thing that concerns me. Do you understand what I 

 mean ? 



Mr. Wakelin. Yes, sir. 



Mr. ISIiLLER. In other words, it is not a question of who is going to 

 be elected President next time and w^ho is going to be elected after 

 that and after that. This is a thing that we are starting. 



We say a 10-year program and we know that at the end of 10 years 

 it has to be continued for another 10 years. 



Should we or should we not then set up some agency responsible to 

 the Congress? After all, when, by order of the President, this is set 

 up, it becomes administrative. What he can do today he can undo 

 tomorrow. Yet it is a subject of such importance that the Congress 

 of the United States should take cognizance of it and by fiat law set 

 up some agency and designate that agency as the one that must be 

 responsible for this work. 



Then, of course, if we can answer that question, then the question 

 of whether we should put it in the Hydrographic Office or in the 

 Geodetic Sui"^'ey is the second question and it has to be analyzed again. 



How about the first question ? 



Mr. Wakelin. This is a veiy good question to ask, Mr. Chairman. 

 The purpose of my remark was not to counter suggestions of the 

 Congress. 



Mr. JSIiLLER. I appreciate that. I want to congratulate you on the 

 forthright manner in which you gave your statement. 



Mr. Wakelin. It was merely to present to you the opportunities 

 that we feel we have through interagency cooperation of generating 

 on our own an oceanographic program commensurate with the sugges- 

 tion made by the National Academy. I think we all agree that the 

 level of support and in general the distribution of that support in 

 oceanography as recommended by the National Academy-National 

 Research Councirs conunittee is good. 



On the question of permanency, sir, I do not feel that I am capable 

 of answering in a long term sense, particularly the question about the 

 dissolution of such a conunittee by executive order, by the same kind 

 of executive order that established it. 



The problem I think that we are all trying to solve, in the executive 

 branch and in the Congress, is the problem of giving the pix)per 

 balance to oceanography as a national program among all the other 

 scientific efforts that desire sponsorship and require sponsorship, 



I think that H.R. 9361 is an excellent vehicle to bring to the atten- 

 tion of the public and perhaps to provide a permanent mechanism 



