U. S. INFORMATION AGENCY

U. S. Information Services Buildings, Damaged Through Mob Violence April 1, 1969 Through May 22, 1970

Haus.

Demonstrators smeared front windows and
walls of Amerika Haus with red paint and
posters.

N.A.

N.A.

Dollar Amount Damages: $14,594

U. S. INFORMATION AGENCY

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR TRADE NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT OF CARL J. GILBERT, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ACCOMPANIED BY:

THEODORE R. GATES, ASSISTANT SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR INDUSTRY AND LABOR

MRS. RHODA GORMAN, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

BUDGET REQUEST AND HOUSE ALLOWANCE

Senator MCCLELLAN. The next request is for the special representative for trade negotiations.

The budget estimate is $757,000. The House allowed $550,000, a reduction of $207,000.

APPEAL LETTER

The appeal letter and justifications will be inserted in the record. (The letter and justifications follow :)

(65)

I am enclosing our appeal document requesting restoration in full of the $207,000 reduction effected by H.R. 17575.

In connection with our appeal, I should like to make several general comments. First, the $550,000 allowed by the House is not only $207,000 below our request, but below what is required to maintain the staff of 28 employees which we now estimate will be on board June 30, 1970. If it is not increased, this appropriation will, therefore, force a reduction in personnel in 1971. Our appropriations in recent years have been below the requested amounts, and we have not, therefore, been able to have on our rolls the number of employees we really need. The House action would require a reduction of five persons below the June 30, 1970 level, and twelve below our needs in 1971.

Secondly, this prospective reduction is particularly critical in view of the sharp, prospective increase in our fiscal 1971 workload. Our justification for the request, which was submitted to the Committee earlier this year, provides a detailed explanation of our increase in workload.

Thirdly, I believe the June 30, 1970 level of staff is insufficient to perform the functions assigned to this Office by the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and by Executive Order 11075, as amended. At a time when the Congress is considering basic new trade legislation, when world competition is rising rapidly and creating new and more difficult trade problems, and when we are involved in a broad range of efforts to protect and further our interests, it is essential that we maintain sufficient staff to supply proper coordination and administration of our trade program. stated in the justification, I do not believe this can be done with less than the 35 persons provided for in our 1971 estimate.

As

Finally, the present staff includes no General Counsel or supporting staff. An office with the responsibilities of this one cannot function properly without competent counsel. Its budget must afford such a position as well as an Assistant General Counsel. Neither the current budget nor the House appropriation are sufficient to do so. I expect an appointment to be made in the near future to this position and funds must be available to pay him and his staff for the full fiscal year of 1971. This would be possible with a full restoration of our request.

I respectfully urge that the Committee restore in full the amount of $207,000 which was not allowed under the House bill.

Sincerely yours,
Carl J. Gilbert

On page 47, line 20, of H.R. 17575, strike out "$550,000" and insert "$757,000."

Language of House Report (p. 25)

"The sum of $550,000 is included in the bill for the necessary expenses of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations. The amount allowed is a reduction of $207,000 in the budget estimate.

"This temporary office reports directly to the President and is responsible for supervising and coordinating certain aspects of U.S. trade policy. It administers the trade agreements program and directs U. S. participation in trade negotiations with other countries."