Evening star., 1944-03-01
Senate Hearing Slated
On Plan for G|oba|
ood-Neighbor Policy

Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
today his group would hold an early
meeting on the proposal advanced
Yesterday by President Roosevelt for
legislation committing this country
to the extension of the good neigh
Dor policy on global scale to pro-
mote international security.
The aim is to build up elsewhere
the sort of relationship that has
been created in the Americas in the
fields of education, science and cul-
tural activities.
Senator Butler, Republican, of
Nebraska, who has been vigorous
critic of this country's policies in
Latin America, predicted that Con-
gress would proceed cautiously" on
the Presidents proposal.
If 1t means an interchange of
professors, books and other litera-
ture, it probably won't meet serious
objection" he said. but Congress
doesn't want any extension of some
of the funny business and waste of
the taxpayers money.
Plan Outlined.
The President yesterday sent to
Congress letter from Acting Secre-
tary of State Stettinius supporting
and explaining the plan, and later,
at press conference, Mr.. Stettinius
sketched briefly what was con-
templated.
The program, he said, would move
along narrower lines than in Latin
America, but would go beyond
purely cultural activities. Agricul-
ture, public health and good roads
were some of the fields that could
be covered, he explained. He said
that no particular country was in
mind for the venture.
Mr.. Roosevelt and Secretary of
State Hull long have advocated the
projection of the Pan-American
Good Neighbor policy on a world
wide scale. To make this possible.
the President asked that Congress
amend the Good Neighbor Act of
August, 1899, to authorize cultural
and cooperative programs with
other countries of the world" The
program, it was explained, would
depend on the funds made avail
able and no figure was named.
General direction of the work
would be in the State Department,
and Mr. Stettinius told his press
conference that the main purpose
OF asking legislation now is to fix
the policy.
Called Aid to Security.
Programs of this character are
an effective means of achieving
international, hence national Sc
curlty," he said in the letter to the
President.
Measures which spread an un-
derstanding of the democratic way
OF life and diffuse scientific knowl-
edge useful in organizing it may be
made the support of political and
economic peace measures. In
providing the worlds peoples with
the means of doing better for them
selves, the American people will be
creating conditions favorable to the
development of their own way of life
and in this prospect alone is true
national security"
Mr.. Stettinius outlined in his let
ter what had been done in Latin
America, listing the exchange of
leaders in education, journalism and
science, distribution of American
literature, use of American movies
and radio programs and encourage
ment of reciprocal activities by the
cooperating countries.
A program on a limited scale also
has been inaugurated with China,
he explained
Mr.. Roosevelt also asked Congress
yesterday to authorize two additional
Assistant Secretaries of State, in
view of the increased work of the
department. This would bring the
total to six.