ships be granted to particular individuals and not any particular school. The student must then have full freedom to select any existing college or university in the Nation and, I might add, in the world. Going still further, the next possible method of control available to the foundation would be in the form of periodic testing of the scholar's progress. It is true that the foundation will have to test at the outset for aptitude and talent in the sundry fields of science. This is unavoidable, but, I believe that the foundation should not undertake to test the progress of the scholar, for in so doing, the test may be keyed to a particular theory of education which the student, having been tutored under another theory, could not meet. The schools might then be compelled, in order to enroll scholarship students, to conform to the official system and theory of education. To avoid these dangers of intellectual control, I would suggest that the scholarships and fellowships granted by the foundation should be granted to the particular student in such amounts as to permit him to work through to the degree for which he may be striving without further necessity for review or approval by the foundation. Students marked as failures by the school of their choice may, of course, be dropped from the scholarship roils. Also, persons who do not attend to their studies with proper diligence or who fail to continue their educational efforts in any school should be dropped without further thought. It is, however, imperative that the testing of scholars becomes no more refined than that. In this regard, Senator Kilgore's bill limits the grant of scholarships or fellowships to 1 year. I assume that he does not mean that 1 year's assistance is all that any one person may receive. And if he does not mean that, this provision of his bill serves to require annual approval of the student's progress by the foundation. I most earnestly suggest the deletion of this limitation. SUMMARY In summary, the plan to aid science and education is good. The manner in which it is done msut be carefully designed to preserve the balance of competing ideas and the intellectual freedom of student, teacher, and scientist. To these ends, we suggest that the authority of the foundation be vested in a board rather than a director, and we suggest also that, in the administration of scholarships and fellowships, no opportunity be permitted the foundation to control the details of the recipient's education. A little reflection on the history of the medieval world, of modern Germany, and of some other modern countries will remind you that ideas perverted are as dangerous as the atomic energy in a bomb. While there may be no counter-measures to the atomic bomb, the defense against wrong ideas has long been known to be more ideas. OCTOBER 30, 1945. STATEMENT BY DR. LOUIS KNOTT KOONTZ FOR SENATOR KILGORE AND THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION LOOKING TO A POSTWAR PROGRAM FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION Identifying myself, for the record, as Louis Knott Koontz, professor of American history on the Los Angeles campus of the University of California, and editor of the Pacific Historical Review, I am gratified at the opportunity, afforded by your request for this statement, to try to be of some service as regards the matter of publications and related questions in connection with the proposed research program. Like you, I sense the Nation-wide social significance implicit not only in this pending legislation but even in these hearings, for they have called the attention of the whole country-as only a series of public and publicized hearings could do— to the deeper meaning of the atomic bomb and to the urgent necessity of speeding up our social processes. The colleges, particularly the larger colleges, the universities (whether we are thinking of their social scientists, physical scientists, librarians, or administrative heads), as well as certain other research institutions, are keenly interested in a closely related matter, the importance of which you have appreciated. Not only is there a vast amount of wartime materiel, now excess equipment, which many would like to see made available for civilian use, as Director DuBridge has pointed out, but there is also, in the realm of publications, and likewise surplus, a vast amount of printed and other documentary Government material, much of it descriptive in character, which gives away no secrets, but which, if made public property, would make available to students throughout the country information of great value. Among the Government materials that are, in varying quantities, reported to be of a character suitable for civilian use are: Studies of German industries (in great detail). Studies of Japanese industries (in great detail). Studies of Italian industries (in great detail). Geographical studies that preceded the various landings (north Africa, Normandy, etc.). Maps, such as the series of air photos. Weather material: maps, charts, and interpretations. A series of major regional studies of various areas. Training manuals, on such subjects as radio and navigation. Dictionaries. (And certain associated materials, such as stereoscopes.) President Truman took the preliminary statesmanlike step in making these wartime materials available, when, on June 8, 1945, he issued Executive Order No. 9568 (Federal Register, June 12, 1945, vol. 10, No. 116). This order was designed "to provide for the release for publication by individuals and groups, insofar as it may be done without prejudice to the public interest, of certain scientific and technical data now or hereafter withheld from public dissemination for the purpose of national military security, And "to the end that * * such information may be of maximum benefit to the public, * * *"a publication board, with fairly broadened powers, was set up. These provisions were further extended by Executive Order No. 9604, dated August 25 (Federal Register, August 28, 1945, vol. 10, No. 169), which related to "enemy scientific and industrial information.' Whatever the interpretation of the foregoing provisions, there would be welcomed an additional executive order, speeding up, wherever possible, declassification of documents, specifically extending the regulations to include data in the field of the social sciences and humanities. The Librarian of Congress also has acted, and wisely so, as all will agree. Under date of October 23, 1945, he has taken the initial steps to perform a Nationwide public service, by offering to Federal agencies, the facilities of the library for the distribution of surplus stocks of printed and processed, and now declassified, documents, heretofore restricted due to reasons of national security. Even with the two following excepted bodies of material, the quantity we might say that is susceptible to distribution is, in some instances, like the language manuals, enormous. The exceptions are these: (a) The foregoing discussion regarding release for publication applies, of course, only to those cases where provision has not already been made for adequate distribution through commercial channels; and (b) It must be understood that not all of the Government documents are going to be made public; indeed, a considerable part, probably, will not be. Such a decision results from reasons that will be obvious (some documents, for example, involve the names of individuals who disclosed information of value to the allies, with the understanding that their anonimity would be respected. Disclosure of their identity could not serve any useful purpose.) Some materials, even if no longer labeled "secret" or "confidential," will have to remain in the category of "restricted." The main bottlenecks preventing a free flow of declassified materials to the proper institutions throughout the country would seem to be three: (a) The absence of a clearance committee to act on an interagency and even on an internation basis. (b) The depletion of Federal agency staffs, which, already sorely pressed for time to prepare for reconversion, are not able to take on this additional responsibility. The handling of surplus publications cannot be made “just another job” (a small staff of reader experts has been suggested, as a partial solution). (c) The absence of long-range planning, and long-range follow-up, by such institutions as the universities, whose cooperation is essential to an adequate distribution program (a permanent respresentative in Washington of such institutions, has been suggested). It would strengthen the hands of the President's Publication Board, and those of the Librarian of Congress (in addition to his authority he already possesses under 2 U. S. C. 148), as well as stimulate the educational and other research institutions, to rise to their responsibilities and their opportunity, if the Congress would pass this pending legislation (S. 1297), with its emphasis upon research in what probably will eventually include every field of human inquiry. Dr. DONALD YOUNG, AMERICAN MILITARY INSTITUTE, Social Science Research Council, Washington, D. C. DEAR DR. YOUNG: The American Military Institute is concerned with the furtherance of all that relates to the study of war, particularly as it affects the United States. The executive committee, acting for the officers and members of the American Military Institute, heartily endorses the general purposes of the Kilgore bill (S. 1297) soon to come before the Congress of the United States for debate. By its present language, however, the Kilgore bill limits the program of Federal aid to "science and the useful arts.' Mindful of the very important role played by the social scientists of all academic disciplines in the recent war effort of the United States and foreseeing the still greater role which the social scientists may be called upon to play in any further war emergency, the American Military Institute, through its executive committee, strongly recommends that the language and scope of the proposed legislation include all relevant scientific research, in both the natural and the social sciences. DONALD ARMSTRONG, President, American Military Institute. STATEMENTS RE S. 1297 AND RELATED BILLS (By I. M. Kolthoff, professor and head, division of analytical chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., October 23, 1945) Nobody doubts the national importance of the pursuit and support of applied industrial research. It is not generally recognized that support of fundamental basic research is more urgently needed than that of industrial research. Reasons for Federal support of fundamental research and some suggestions in connection with the establishment of the National Research Foundation are stated below. 1. The maintenance of a productive program in applied science is impossible without a firm foundation in and liberal support of basic science. 2. Expansion of fundamental research on a very wide scale in countries all over the world is to be expected. In the September 1, issue of The Nation (vol. 161, p. 201 (1945)), Dr. J. D. Bernal, F. R. S. professor of physics in the University of London, makes the following statement: "Put concretely, before the war, between one-tenth and one-third of 1 percent of the national income of modern industrial states was devoted to scientific research. The war has raised this figure to more than 1 percent, but a rational appreciation of the newly revealed possibilities of science cannot be content with such a limit. The figure must rise year by year until it reaches stability at some value that we cannot now assess, but may within our lifetime reach as much as 20 percent. This implies the recasting of the educational system so as to produce many times the number of scientific workers and at the same time give every citizen enough scientific knowledge to appreciate the problems of the new age.' 3. Progress of fundamental research in this country has suffered greatly during the war period. Many of the productive research scientists have put their talents at the disposal of the Government in the pursuit of the war effort. Although the scientists have done a marvelous job in this respect, the pursuit of fundamental research has almost come to a standstill during the war period The situation has been much aggravated by the draft policy of Selective Service Students in the technical sciences and young graduates in chemistry, physics, and other sciences and engineering have been drafted indiscriminately. Thus, the supply of our scientific manpower has been depleted during the war and is still being depleted, thereby creating an alarming shortage of young scientists, which shortage may last for a decade or longer. The country at large will have to pay a large price for this short-sighted policy of drafting technically trained people. Neither Russia nor England adopted this policy during the war. In these countries it was recognized that scientists can contribute incomparably more to the national defense and welfare when left in scientific laboratories than when inducted into the armed forces. Consequently, research institutions in Russia are crowded with workers. The statement that the country which is lagging behind in its development of fundamental research will also lag behind in industrial and social development is generally accepted. 4. Universities which have been a center of research cannot compete with industry in the addition of young promising scientists to their staffs, because they do not have the necessary funds at their disposal. Thus, instead of developing an intense research program in universities and instead of greatly expanding the research in the universities to make up for the loss which fundamental science has suffered during the war, the universities will be handicapped in the further development of their research programs. Moreover, young and brilliant scientists are needed in the education program of the universities in order to provide the Nation with adequately trained scientists and engineers. 5. Liberal funds should be made available to universities for the active pursuit ✦ of fundamental research and for the perfection of their educational system. Α provision should be made that all the universities which have a reputation of being a research center share in a reasonable way in the distribution of the funds. A statement to this effect should be incorporated in the bill concerning Federal support of research. 6. No restrictions should be placed in the act in regard to the fundamental research which would limit the freedom in the selection of the research projects. No requirements should be made as to the practical usefulness of such fundamental research. Fundamental research can flourish only under a system of complete freedom. New discoveries made in fundamental research always have proved to find wide applications in applied research. In brief, fundamental research is the source of applied research. 7. Funds made available for fundamental research should be distributed and administered by a group of scientists. Whether these scientists should be appointed upon nomination by the National Academy of Sciences or by the National Research Council or in any other way is a matter of internal organization and administration of the foundation. 8. The results of fundamental research carried out with Federal support should be published in appropriate scientific journals. The recommendation made by President Truman in his message of September 6 to Congress to "make fully, freely, and publicly available to commerce, industry, agriculture, and academic institutions, the fruits of research financed by Federal funds" is fully endorsed as far as Federal-supported research to nonprofit institutions (colleges and universitics) is concerned. 9. The folowing additions are proposed to section 8 of the "National Research Foundation Act of 1945" to be proposed by Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Magnuson, dealing with the international development of science. (a) The foundation may render financial aid in the organization of translation services which would make available and distribute translations of scientific articles, abstracts, and books published in foreign languages, especially those languages, which, as a rules, are not being taught to scientists during their education. (b) The foundation shall take an active and financial interest in inviting foreign scholars for a limited period of time to this country, in arranging for a temporary exchange of professors and scholars between this country and foreign countries and in making available scholarships and fellowships for graduate students and recent recipients of the doctor's degree to study abroad. 10. Provided that adequate representation of recognized scientists in the board of the foundation is assured and subject to minor changes and suggestions like those contained in some of the above statements, the "National Foundation Act of 1945" to be proposed by Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Magnuson may reasonably be expected to fulfill an urgent national need. Hon. SENATOR Kilgore, THE NATIONAL GRANGE, Washington 6, D. C., October 11, 1945. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I am attaching herewith a statement by Albert S. Goss, master of the National Grange, on the science bills. Mr. Goss asked me to express his regrets that because of prior commitments on his time he was unable to accept your invitation to appear before the subcommittee personally. Sincerely yours, FRED BAILEY. STATEMENT BY ALBERT S. GOSS, MASTER OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE TO THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WAR MOBILIZATION OF THE SENATE MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON BILLS S. 1285, S. 1248 AND S. 1297 The Grange has long advocated ample funds for research in various fields designed to promote our national welfare. Modern warfare has not only demonstrated what well coordinated scientific research will do, but also how it is essential to our national progress and safety. We are not authorities on the method of conducting such research, or the amounts needed, but our feeling is that ample funds should be provided to do a worth-while job. To assure continuity of policy, and guidance by qualified men, we believe that the administration of such a project should be under a board of sufficient size to cover the administrative field of scientific research; that the members should serve for staggered terms of office of 6 years or more, and that they should be chosen without regard for their political affiliations, and solely because of their experience and accomplishments in the field of science or research administration. They should serve without pay other than expenses. They should be empowered to employ an administrator and staff sufficient to carry out the purposes of the bill. We feel that much of the success of such a project would depend on keeping it on a purely scientific basis, divorced from politics, and with a high degree of continuity of policy. Hon. H. M. KILGORE, ALBERT S. Goss, Master, the National Grange. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington 25, D. C., October 31, 1945. Chairman, Subcommittee on War Mobilization, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: At the conclusion of my testimony before your committee on October 15 you requested certain information relating to development contracts entered into by the War Department during the fiscal years 1940 to 1945, inclusive. During the available time we have been able to assemble only the following information, and it includes data only with respect to development contracts financed from research and development appropriations (many supply contracts contain patent rights license clauses but such contracts are not included in this tabulation): Fiscal years 1940 through 1945 Type of patent clause Number of contracts with educational and nonprofit organizations Number of contracts with individuals and profit organizations 1. Royalty-free license under foreground inventions 1. 2. Assignment of foreground inventions 2. 3. Royalty-free license under both foreground inventions and patents owned by the contractor before he entered into the contract 3 1 "Foreground inventions" means inventions, improvements, and discoveries conceived in the performance of the contract. (See, for example, license clause of attached P. R. 335.1.) 2 Agreements to make assignments in trust (see attached P. R. 335.8 and 1116.13) are not included in this category. Agreements to make an outright assignment similar to attached P. R. 335.3 are the type included. 3 See, for example, license clause of attached P. R. 335.2. This tabulation does not include any data from the special Manhattan District project. Ordnance Department data will be furnished within 1 week. |