In accordance with the terms of my appointment of October 4, 1949 as Special Consultant, I have surveyed the Department's responsibilities in international science, and herewith present my report entitled "Science and Foreign Relations".

The report describes the nature and significance of basic problems in international relations raised by scientific and technical developments. It examines the principal activities of the Department affected by these problems. It sets out certain recommendations which, if put into effect, will in my judgment enable the Department effectively to meet its responsibilities in the scientific and technical aspects of foreign relations.

The report has been reviewed by the Steering Committee of the Department and has been unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee of the National Academy of Sciences, the creation of which you requested in your letter of October 22, 1949 to Dr. A. N. Richards.

Respectfully,

Consultant to the Secretary.

Mr. James E. Webb,

Acting Secretary,

Department of State.

iii

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

May 1, 1950

Honorable James E. Webb
Under Secretary of State
Washington 25, D. C.

My dear Mr. Webb:

In your letter to me of October 28, 1949, you requested that the National Academy of Sciences, in its capacity as adviser to the United States Government, should make its facilities available to assist the Department of State in an effort to determine the role of the Department in the field of national and international science. You suggested the establishment of a committee which should consider the findings of the Department's study, review its recommendations and advise concerning proposed implementations in relation to the interests of U. s. science.

Conversations were at once begun with your adviser, Dr. Berkner, which led gradually to fuller understanding of the intent, the scope, and the development of the Department's plan.

On January 18, 1950, I appointed the following members of the Academy to serve as the Committee which you envisaged: Roger Adams, Chairman; V. Bush, I. I. Rabi, Alexander Wetmore, R. E. Wilson; the Chairman of the National Research Council, D. W. Bronk, and the President of the Academy undertook to participate ex officio in the work of the Committee.

The findings of the Department's study in the form of a semifinal report, distributed to the individual members of the Committee early in April, were given careful study by each member, with the result that a number of suggestions were made to Dr. Berkner and utilized in the drafting of the final report.

The final report was given to the committee members on or about April 20. The Committee met on April 26, discussed the recommendations and conclusions item by item and instructed the Chairman to embody their judgments in a brief report to be given to the President of the Academy for transmission to you.

That report I now have the honor to send to you and with it the assurance that the services of the Committee and the facilities of the Academy will continue to be available to you for such further assistance as you may desire.

Respectfully yours,

/s/ A. N. Richards

Alfred N. Richards, President

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington 25, D. C.

April 26, 1950

Dr. Alfred N. Richards

President, National Academy of Sciences

Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Dr. Richards:

The National Academy of Sciences Committee on International Science Policy has considered the report submitted to it by Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner, Consultant to the Secretary, and unanimously approves in principle the report as submitted.

During the preparation of the report, individual members of the Committee have been consulted and their suggestions have been utilized in the construction of the final draft. At its meeting on April 26 the attention of the Committee was directed chiefly toward the recommendations and conclusions. The Committee does not consider itself qualified to pass judgment on the details of internal administration of this plan within the Department of State.

The Committee recommends that an appropriate digest of the report be published and distributed, so that the scientists of the United States may become aware of this important new activity.

The need for a man of extraordinary caliber to serve as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary and as head of the Science Office is recognized. Difficulties may be anticipated in obtaining such a person, so that action in implementing the report should be initiated as soon as possible.

It is believed that strong emphasis should be placed on the non-political aspect of science; accordingly, in order to preserve its non-political character, private institutions should be utilized in conjunction with governmental agencies. It is recognized, however, that in present dealings with Iron Curtain countries certain positive actions and even control may be required.

Policies formulated by the Department of State should involve the cooperation of both social and natural scientists.

The Committee was impressed with the evidence of extraordinary effort and careful study made by Dr. Berkner and his associates in formulating this report.