ACTIVITIES UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROVISION Section 7 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1955 1/ provides that whenever the Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization (ODM) If the President agrees has reason to believe that any article is being imported into the United States in such quantities as to threaten to impair the national security, he shall so advise the President. that there is reason for such belief, he shall cause an immediate investigation to be made to determine the facts. If, on the basis of such investigation and of findings and recommendations made in connection therewith, the President finds that the article is being imported in such quantities as to threaten to impair the national security, he shall take such action as he deems necessary to adjust the imports of such article to a level that will not threaten to impair the national security. Between June 21, 1955, the date that the President approved the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1955, and June 30, 1957, the end of the period covered by this report, the ODM received a total of 13 requests for investigation under section 7 of the extension act of 1955. Of these requests, 1 (that on cordage) had resulted in a negative decision by the ODM, 2 (those on photographic shutters and stencil silk) had been withdrawn, and the hearing in connection with another (that on fluorspar) had been canceled at the petitioner's request. On June 30, 1957, therefore, a total of 9 requests for investigation under the provisions of section 7 of the Trade Agreements 169 Stat. 162. Extension Act of 1955 were pending before the Office of Defense Mobilization. The pending requests were those on jeweled watches; clinical fever thermometers; analytical balances; wool textiles; the clock, pin-lever watch, and timer industry; wool felt; oil; wooden boats; and fine-mesh wire cloth. The nature and status of the individual requests for investigation that the ODM received through June 30, 1957, are shown in the accompanying list. Status of requests for investigation presented to the Office of Defense Mobilization between June 21, 1955, and June 30, 1957 Status of requests for investigation presented to the Office of Defense During the period covered by this report the Office of Defense Mobilization referred to the President 1 of the requests for investigation under the national security provision--that on crude oil. On August 7, 1956, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, of New York, N. Y., filed a request with the ODM for an investigation of crude oil under the provisions of section 7 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1955. The ODM held a public hearing from October 22 to 24, 1956. On April 23, 1957, the Director of the Office of Defense Mobilication advised the President that, as a result of the investigation, he had reason to believe that crude oil was being imported into the United States in such quantities as to threaten to impair the national security. On April 25, 1957, the President advised the Director of the ODM that he agreed with the Director's conclusion, and that he would, therefore, cause an investigation to be made to determine the facts, as required by section 7 of the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1955. The President requested that while the investigation was being conducted the Director of the ODM carefully examine the possibility that imports of oil might effectively be limited by individual voluntary action of the importing companies. On June 26, 1957, the President appointed a special committee, consisting of 6 members of his Cabinet, to investigate imports of crude oil and to determine whether such oil is being imported into the United States in such quantities as to threaten to impair the National security. The committee, which will be known as the Special |