Speech #870015730

The resulting report. prepared by Clarence B. Randall. was transmitted to the Congress on May 12. 1958. The Randall report pointed to the enormous political. economic. and cultural importance of international travel and elaborated on a general conclusion that "the U.S. travel operation has suffered from lack of emphasis and stature." The report decried the lack of coordination among separate agencies concerned with aspects of international travel: visa requirements are handled by the State Department. entry eligibility by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. entry of goods by the Customs Bureau and the Department of Agriculture. health by the Public Health Service. tax matters by the Internal Revenue Service. Among the most important of Randalls recommendations were the following: First. vigorous efforts by the State Department to minimize the procedural details involved in obtaining visas. second. the establishment of an elevated international travel officesimilar to the agency proposed by the bill which I have introduced. third. the fullest possible use for travel promotion purposes of State Department and USIA facilities abroad. and fourth. experimentation in the use of preinspection procedures by Immigration and Naturalization officials stationed abroad. The Randall report was forwarded to Congress by the President in the spring of 1958 with no recommendations or endorsement and no action was initiated in the Congress at that time. A general invitation to foreign visitors was extended by President Eisenhower when on September 26. 1958. he issued a proclamation declaring 1960 to be "Visit the United States of America Year." The President called upon Federal.