63. Letter From Secretary of State Rusk to Secretary of Commerce Hodges 1

Dear Luther:

Thank you for your comments in your letter of February 5 on the case for a separate commercial service.2 My views were conveyed to David Bell by letter dated December 21.3 I had instructed that a copy be sent to you simultaneously and I am sorry this was not done.

Without question, we both agree our goal is the most encompassing and adequate commercial service possible within the framework of our foreign policy. I still feel that the State-Commerce Agreement is the vehicle to accomplish this task. The problem, simply stated, is getting it into motion. What I think we must do is give this Agreement the effort and application it warrants, in spite of the inherent difficulties. I understand that within the past month Assistant Secretaries Behrman and Crockett renewed their work on the Agreement. I have asked Assistant Secretary Crockett to make a determined effort to put its provisions into full operation and to attempt to resolve promptly problems arising in this connection. I hope you can give similar guidance in Commerce, and that we can move quickly in the proper direction.

With warm regards,

Sincerely,

Dean 4
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, ORG 4–COMM. No classification marking. Drafted by Herman Pollack, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Personnel, on February 15; earlier versions of the February 15 draft are ibid.
  2. Document 61.
  3. Document 59.
  4. Printed from a copy that indicates Secretary Rusk signed the original.