Unfortunately. however. the Iron Curtain and the Bamboo Curtain have constituted high barriers against the free exchange of medical knowledge and specialists. Over a period of time. I have been in contact with the Department of State toward helping to lower barriers on both sides. I have not hesitated to point out. that. by and large. it is the Soviet Union and principally. Red China which are responsible for the barriers. The United States has reacted and retaliated against Moscows and Pekings policies. The Department of State has. in many instances. followed a severely restrictive visa policy. As a result of that policy. many international medical Congresses which might have been held within our borders have been held elsewhere.