Evening star., 1950-06-05
Acheson Is Expected
To Set Up Exchange
For Scientific Ideas
BY the Associated Press

SECRETARY OF SCaUe AcneS0n Is
expected to move quickly to sci
up a team Of scientific diplomats
who would exchange non-secret
research information with other
nations.
His immediate problem in this
connection was said to be finding
scientists to direct the operation
from within the State Depart
ment.
The idea of such an exchange
with other nations - including
Russia-was laid down in detail
yesterday in a set of recommen-
dations from DR.. Lloyd v. Berk-
ner, a special consultant to Mr..
Acheson.
Only Acheson's Approval Needed.
DR.. Berkner, a 1927 electrical
engineering graduate Of the Uni
versity of Minnesota, headed the
electronics material branch of the
Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics in
1916. He has been at work on
the information exchange project
since last October.
State Departmentsohicials said
DR.. Berkner's recommendations
will be carried out. This will re-
Quire only the secretary's ap-
proval.
DR.. Berkner has told the State
Department that:
Cd This country needs to keep
In touch, so far as possible, with
research developments in Russia.
90 Foreign scientists should be
permitted to enter the United
States much more freely even
when individual scientists are sus-
pected of Communist leanings.
On the second point, DR.. Berk-
ner argued that excluding a scien-
tist because of his political beliefs
has the effect of turning whole
groups of foreign scientists against
the United States.
DR.. Berkner's argument follows
the idea Of giving -and-receiving
based on his contention that in
the past this country has received
more new ideas from others than
1t has developed itself.
The report does not go into the
matter of exchanging atomic in
formation.
DR.. Berkner's recommendations
were compiled after intensive
studies of his own and in con-
junction with leading American
scientists. The State Depart
ment published the report yester-
day.
Raised by Hoover Commission.
The question had been raised
by the commission of former
President Herbert Hoover on Gov
ernment reorganization two years
ago. The commission said the
State Department should deter
mine how freer flow of informa-
tion in science could be developed.
DR.. Berkner lays down a blue
print to answer that question.
His major recommendations.
which top State Department
officials say definitely will be
carried out. are:
l. "A. science Office" should be
established in the State Depart
ment under a Science adviser"
His staff would include three
scientists representing the physi-
cal. life and en- gineering sciences"
plus liaison of fncers from other
Government agencies interested
IN international science.
2. Science staffs, with compe-
tent and, respected scientists,
should be/ set up in the American
EMBASSIES in key cities beginning
wltfIondon for Western Europe,
johannesburg for South Africa,
Ho de Janeiro for South Amer
lea and Sydney or Canberra for
Australia. AS soon as those
offices are organized, thought
should be given to opening similar
area Offices in New Delhi for
South Central Asia and Cairo for
the Middle East. Then as rapidly
as possible stats should be at
tached to the United States dip
lomatic missions in Ottawa, Paris,
Berne. Rome, The Hague, Brus-
sells, Oslo or Copenhagen, Stock
holm and Lima, and should also
be established as part of the oc-
cupation Offices in Germany and
in Japan.
3. The State Department should
establish close relationships with
scientific agencies in this country
and particularly should urge the
National Academy of Sciences to
appoint a committee to advise the
department concerning scientific
questions and their relation to
important aspects of foreign
policy.
In general, the report follows
the theme that the United States
In important respects lags behind