Washington, D.C.
W. Henry Lawrence is an extremely capable officer who has made an outstanding success of his USIS assignment. He was sent out to set up the program for Malaya with offices in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. He has demonstrated great drive, imagination and perseverance and has established one of the most effective programs in the Far East with a minimum of local and American assistance. In little more than a year he set up two model USIS offices, and organized and chaired a conference of PAO's from Korea to Karachi which the Department considers one of the most successful and effective regional conferences of this kind ever held.
The report of this conference, prepared by Mr. Lawrence within a week after the conclusion of the Meeting, was outstanding for its clarity, intelligence and usefulness. This is also true of Mr. Lawrence's regular monthly reports on USIS operations and of all other reports prepared by him. He is a well-trained, conscientious officer and has gained the complete respect of the British officials, and of the Malayan community leaders. He accepts responsibility willingly, tackles work intelligently and efficiently, works well under pressure, shows a lively interest in all phases of the job and in the Community.
Fe/P strongly recommends his promotion on the basis of the excellence of his work during the past year and a half.
FE/P:Iamaurer:mmk: 9/12/50