58 



essence. But a failure to meet the transcendent need for such a con- 

 solidation and the building of strength — a failure to take bold and 

 major actions will in my own judgment be disastrous to the best in- 

 terests of our country and condemn us to another decade of studies 

 and debate. 



Gentlemen, that is my formal opening statement. We are prepared 

 to respond as best we can to your questions, and as I said earlier, I 

 would like to refer these as much as possible to my associates here, 

 because they wall bring out different points of view. You have heard 

 me before on this, and I am at your pleasure. 



Mr. Lennon". Thank you. Dr. Stratton, for a very interesting infor- 

 mative, and concise statement. It is a very sincere statement with re- 

 spect to your recommendations particularly as it is related to the gov- 

 ernmental structure which I am conjfident is sincerely shared by the 

 12 members of the Commission who are not associated or connected 

 directly with the Federal Government. 



The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Mosher, who has been interested in 

 this from the very beginning. 



Mr. MosHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Dr. Stratton, I think you will remember that several of us in the 

 House at the very start of your deliberations urged that the Commis- 

 sion produce an exciting, provocative and inevitably controversial re- 

 port. Personally, I think to a large degree you have produced a report 

 and recommendations that are provocative, yes controversial, but very 

 useful. I am sure I speak for myself and I think I speak for the other 

 minority members of this subcommittee in saying that we want to as- 

 sociate ourselves with the opening remarks made by Chairman Lennon 

 in welcoming you here at the start of these hearings. 



On page 3, and in other places in your comments this morning, you 

 referred to the need, the crucial need to move from an era of study 

 and discussion now to one of organized effort with adequate plans and 

 funding of a range and magnitude to meet the Nation's needs and the 

 opportunities in the seas. 



On page 6 of your comments you make it clear that this can be 

 achieved only through a major Federal reorganization in the domain 

 of marine affairs. And on page 8 I note the phrase you use indicating 

 that this reorganiz'ation must give us a capacity for major initiatives 

 and for effective f oUowthrough. 



Now, speaking of major initiatives, I get the impression from the 

 Commission's report that a very important initiative or a very impor- 

 tant need for major initiatives results from the lack of fundamental 

 technology, and that much hope for the future depends on our creating 

 an agency or a place in the Federal Government where there will be 

 the responsibility and the opportunity and the funding and the capac- 

 ity^ to be an initiating center of research and development for the cre- 

 ation of fundamental technology in the uses of the seas. I believe I am 

 correct, am I not, that no such center now exists, no such capacity or 

 authorization from the Congress now exists, except as it lies in the 

 Navy or in the Department of Defense ? Your emphasis is on the need 

 in the nondef ense area, the ciAdlian area, and would you agree with me 

 that this is one of the very crucial things that we have to have in mind, 

 that need for technological development capacity and responsibility 

 located definitely in the new agency ? 



