169. Memorandum From the Acting Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Ambassador Byroade’s Views Regarding Project Execution Improvement
ICA has given thorough and careful consideration to the views expressed by Ambassador Byroade regarding the need for improvement in project execution which were mentioned in your memorandum to Secretary Herter of April 23.2 A report has been provided me by ICA which indicates ICA’s recognition of the need for improvement in project execution and recites a number of efforts which have been made and which it is believed will achieve better performance in the near future.
With respect to the particular suggestion of Ambassador Byroade that the Army Engineers be used, ICA points out that it has on a number of occasions utilized the services of the Corps. It does believe that an interagency agreement covering the provision of services by the Corps and other agencies of the Department of Defense would clarify and facilitate opportunities for more extensive reliance on the Corps. Discussions looking to such an agreement will be initiated shortly by ICA with the Department of Defense. It is expected to result in an interagency agreement under which the facilities and expertise of [Page 354] the Corps, as well as the Bureau of Yards and Docks and other technical services of the Military Establishment, could be drawn upon more expeditiously and effectively in carrying out ICA’s project activities.
In addition, ICA has already reached an agreement with the Corps of Engineers under which the Corps will take over responsibility for completing the major highway program in Afghanistan. This was the project which had given particular concern to Ambassador Byroade.