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-100- have been undertaken with the prior knowledge of the Department of State. In almost every instance, Smithsonian scholars working abroad have contacted the local U.S. Embassy and have kept Embassy personnel apprised of their activities. The local embassies have been mostly helpful and cordial in assisting Smithsonian personnel as appropriate. The recognition that the Smithsonian plays a positive role in fostering understanding between nations has been underlined by the State Department on a number of occasions. On occasion, Smithsonian scholars have worked in countries where the United States maintained no formal diplomatic relations, notably in Egypt at the time of the Six-Day War in 1967. Valuable continuity of understanding has been achieved in these circumstances, assisting the U.S. Government when relations are restored. In recent years, the Smithsonian has concentrated its efforts on opening up scholarly links with two countries previously closed to American scholars, the Republic of Cuba and the People's Republic of China. The Smithsonian has kept the Department of State and other agencies informed of these activities. In April 1980 the Secretary signed an agreement in Havana with the Cuban Academy of Sciences that provides for the exchange of scientists between the two countries and joint research in areas of mutual interest. (A copy of the agreement follows.) Although there had been trips to Cuba by Smithsonian scientists in the year prior to the signing, the first visit under the agreement by our scientists will occur this fall when research personnel from the Natural History Museum and one from the Zoo undertake collaborative field work in Oriente Province. Three Cuban scientists spent two weeks at the Smithsonian in mid-June as part of the new agreement. As a result of the Secretary's visit to China in May, negotiations for a similar agreement have started with the Academia Sinica in Beijing. A
