Point Four-Eight Years Later
WILLIAMS, DAVID C.
By David C. Williams point four eight years later Conference of United States well-wishers reveals some new complexities of foreign aid Washington, D.C. The current debate in Congress over the...
...Most of those taking part in the Conference seemed agreed that the United States should channel a greater proportion of its aid through the UN...
...Indeed, one chief reason for Point Four's great initial popularity with Congress was the opportunity to do good that it afforded—at bargain-counter prices...
...For those already under way, it would be a guarantee that growth would not be strangled by lack of capital...
...Contrasting with the romanticism of "know-how"—which went so far with some exponents of private enterprise or of the missionary tradition as to belittle the need for any Government action—was, in early years, the romanticism of dollars...
...The discussions of this problem revealed increased awareness of the importance of the human element in economic growth...
...For many countries, the mere existence of such a fund would be a powerful incentive to develop the necessary public institutions and technical and managerial skills to begin economic progress...
...The Conference gave much attention to this problem...
...position, was "possibly unhappy" in having to do it...
...Even where the national leaders, as in the case of Burma, are able and dedicated to the welfare of their people, they are gravely handicapped in carrying out their good intentions by the crippling shortage of almost every type of trained manpower, from mechanics to mathematicians...
...and managers and managerial skills generally...
...The Conference participants, who ranged from ADAers to unreconstructed Republicans, were substantially united in looking to the President to give leadership in translating these words into realities...
...But in many cases a fresh obstacle must then be overcome, the lack of the preconditions of economic progress: a stable and efficient government manned at all levels by adequately trained civil servants...
...Now the process of "helping others to help themselves" no longer looks as elementary as Dr...
...He cited as an example of a constructive and successful approach the Central American School of Public Administration...
...Those Western European nations which traditionally invested abroad are unable to meet the need, both because of their own economic hardships and because the dissolution of colonial empires has meant, inevitably, a loosening of former economic ties...
...Everyone at the Conference was agreed that U.S...
...Once in possession of this "know-how," it was felt, they could proceed on their own...
...Fortunately, most leaders of underdeveloped nations outside the Middle East do want economic progress, and want it sufficiently that they will not allow political preoccupations to obstruct it...
...Executive Chairman of the UN Technical Assistance Board, highlighted it as one of the major challenges facing the UN...
...It was therefore most timely that the Fourth National Conference on International Economic and Social Development assembled in Washington on February 12-13 some 250 representatives of over 100 national organizations interested in one way or another in technical and economic cooperation...
...And one present cause for Congressional suspicions of aid programs is the feeling that they were "sold" as cheap and temporary, and are now assuming a substantial and long-term character...
...With investment opportunities so readily available at home, the American businessman has shown little inclination for foreign ventures, except in oil and minerals...
...In its short history, the school has graduated over 100 civil servants and includes in its alumni the Vice-Minister of Public Works of Costa Rica, the Sub-Secretary of Finance of El Salvador, the Chief of the Department of Statistics of Guatemala, the Attorney for the Bank of Development of Honduras, and the Chief of Personnel of the Bank of Nicaragua...
...This Fourth Conference gave evidence that understanding of the depth, complexity and long-term character of the problems of economic growth has grown steadily over the years...
...It means, first of all, a willingness to be helped—which not all countries and particularly not all ruling classes show...
...In his message to the Conference, President Eisenhower said that "only by building up the capabilities of men everywhere can they achieve the individual self-respect which forms the necessary basis for all self-government in a world at peace...
...In his subsequent speech to the Convention banquet, Hoffman himself seemed to envisage a multilateral approach when he said: "The highest responsible estimate I have seen for an over-all program calls for $3.5 billion per year, the lowest something under $2 billion...
...The Conference was sponsored by the Point Four Information Service, an informal group of representatives of farm, labor, educational, religious, cooperative and civic organizations interested in the technical and economic assistance programs of the United States, the United Nations and non-governmental agencies...
...The United States itself benefited greatly from overseas private investment during this stage of its own growth...
...private investment overseas should be encouraged to the maximum extent possible, but there was clear realization of its limitations...
...It may be the reluctance of privileged feudal groups to risk their present positions, as in the case of Saudi Arabia...
...technicians and the teachers to train them...
...Once the preconditions for economic growth have been established —as, notably, in India—there follows a period when substantial aid from abroad is both necessary and fruitful...
...delegation at the UN has once more resisted the establishment of the long-proposed Special UN Fund for Economic Development (SUNFED...
...Schweitzer and his jungle surgery...
...If the need for trained civil servants is felt keenly in countries like those of Central America, which have been independent for over a century, it exists even more in the new nations which have emerged since the last war, and will be the major problem confronting the many other new nations which will achieve their independence in coming decades...
...From the start it was apparent that co-operation in economic development required the strengthening of public administration in the countries of the area...
...The peoples of new nations, it was noted, are proud, sensitive and reluctant to admit that they have much to learn...
...And it also implies a considerable period of time, perhaps decades, before economic growth can proceed under its own steam...
...The current debate in Congress over the Eisenhower Doctrine has revealed, once again, the existence among many Senators and Congressmen of indifference and even hostility to overseas economic aid...
...The task becomes far more difficult when skills and attitudes must be transmitted over the wide gaps which sometimes exist between national cultures...
...David Owen...
...Indifference or opposition to economic progress can take several forms...
...There was great interest at the Conference in the suggestion by Professors Max F. Millikan and W. W. Rostow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (published in book form under the title A Proposal —Key to an Effective Foreign Policy) that the United States and other industrialized countries offer to provide a new long-term capital fund of from $12 to 15 billion, to be made available over a five-year period for loans and grants to accelerate economic growth in underdeveloped countries —such aid to be given only upon demonstration that it could be put to constructive use...
...In 1952," he said, "the five Ministers of Economy of the Central American countries joined together in an effort toward economic integration of the region...
...Tact, humility and a profound sympathy for other peoples are essential in helping them in such a way that they can accept help...
...With enough billions a year, some enthusiasts seemed to think, the deserts would flower, factories would spring up in the midst of hovels, and the threat of Communism—identified in oversimplified fashion with "empty bellies"— would vanish overnight...
...The role of the teacher is a difficult and demanding one, even when his pupils are his own countrymen and share a common background of history, customs and social institutions...
...The Central American republics asked the UN to organize a school and get it under way...
...In a period when many people are feeling the pinch of higher living costs, their elected representatives fear criticism in the next campaign unless they show themselves tough-minded about overseas "giveaways...
...There was general regret that the U.S...
...United States participation in such a program would range from $1 billion to $2 billion annually, part of which could be given in agricultural surpluses...
...It implies a readiness to put outside help to constructive use...
...Indeed, in discussing this subject, Paul Sifton, Washington representative of the UAW, joined with the New York Times in suggesting that Paul Hoffman, who announced the U.S...
...It may be the prevalence of political passions over self-interest—as when the Syrian Army, by blowing up the oil pipelines last year, deprived Syria of a steady income of $15 million a year, or when the Government of Jordan vetoed the Jordan Valley development project rather than cooperate with Israel...
...Although public-opinion polls continue to show overwhelming public support for such aid, the letters the legislators receive from their constituents are running strongly the other way...
...When President Truman first launched the idea of aid to the peoples of underdeveloped countries as "Point Four" of his 1949 Inaugural Address, many Americans thought of it simply in terms of imparting our "know-how" to the peoples of less privileged countries...
...It has met informally, usually over luncheon, for over five years and was the sponsor of earlier conferences in Washington in 1952, 1955 and 1956...
...As A. J. Creshkoff of Robert R. Nathan Associates (economic consultants to the Government of Burma) told the Conference: "Improvement in public administration and management at all levels, and a more adequate supply of other technicians, is an absolute necessity...
Vol. 40 • February 1957 • No. 8
