Dr. WERES: Yes. Well, the point of that item in the memorandum I prepared, I think the main point is that Ukraine on paper is a sovereign state, has the constitution¬al authority to engage in foreign relations, which has been exercised to a very limited and formal degree through membership in United Nations, U.N.E.S.C.O. and so forth, and once in a while, but especially now that there seem to be changes going on in the Soviet Union, it’s in a political state of flux; I believe it’s important to tickle them to see if there’s any more reality in that part of the Soviet constitution than there has
been in the past

This is a peculiar or we have a peculiar function within the United States govern¬ment because we were specifically formed to research Ukrainian-related issue, and ob¬viously, you know, I’m a chemist from Oakland, and I’m not qualified,to judge what’s proper diplomatically or whatever, but I would like our staff and our congressional members to give some thought to what can be done to consult with the newly ap¬pointed Consul General in Kiev; you know, just what opportunities are there. Is there anything worth pursuing in this matter?
Dr. MACE: Did you meet Mr. Courtney last night?
Dr. WERES: No.
Mr. MARCHISHIN: Does anybody else have anything?
Yes.
Congressman MICA: Mr. Chairman, I apologize again. I’m going to have to leave, but there are one or two issues, and if you’ve covered them, then I will just stop right here, but it has to do with the hiring and firing of staff, the setting of staff salaries. Have we gotten into that at all?
Mr. MARCHISHIN: I don’t think so.
Dr.MACE: Why don’t we skip to that?
Congressman MICA: Without objection, could I just raise this issue? I will offer a motion, and Am certainly not trying to force the Commission into any position, but under the law, I as Chairman have direct authority to appoint and set the salary of our Director, Mr. Mace.
I did not and do not have authority for permanent employment of Mr. Mace’s assis¬tant, Dr. Samilenko-Tsvetkov. We found in consulting with the G.S.A, and the ap¬propriate authorities that I could do it on a temporary basis. She has been advised that only at the will of the Commission could her employ continue and that it would have to be taken up at the first meeting. I can tell you that what we attempted to do was set salaries not only at a Washington level, but as to what the Commission can af¬ford.

The salaries, if you’ll check, are far below what the going rates are, but I need authority unless the Commission chooses to set up a personnel committee to oversee this, and if you so desire, you’re welcome to do it, but I need a vote of the Commis¬sion to give me the power to hire and fire and set wages with the staff.

It would be my intention obviously to continue to consult as we have in the past with each of you on these matters and try to do it on a more regular basis, but after today’s meeting, if I don’t have that authority, either you have to set up a committee or we have to make some other arrangements. But I cannot continue to employ the one individual that we have.
So with that, I’d like to offer a motion. Is there a discussion?