Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-01

lany asked United States Informa-
rip to the province of Fukien, in
Marking, China, to help educate the
people on democratic voting pro-
cedures the week before Marking
had its first municipal election.
Libraries in 10 Foreign Cities.
| USIS also maintains libraries in
10 foreign cities. More than $780,
900 readers a year visit them. Books
and magazines and other material
Iof ~all kinds providing information
about the United States are avail
able in these libraries. .f.-.
Many other governments have
somewhat similar or more extensive
information programs abroad. In
China, for example, the British
Council has more people than does
USIS. .-
John C. Caldwell, chief of the
OIC's Far Eastern area division, who
has just returned from an inspec-
ton trip to China, reports that two
books being distributed by Russians
in China have these titles: THE
Negro Problem in America" and
Americas Postwar Economic De-
preston"
1t was Mr.. Caldwell, born in
Fukien Province of American mis-
sionary parents, who was asked the
questions quoted at the beginning
of this article.
In order to help answer the many
questions about what's it like In
American" he said USIS in China
Is supplying material to 500 daily
and nearly TOO weekly newspapers;
showing movies to 1900 people a
month; lending books to 5000 reg
lstered borrowers in II libraries, and
arranging relays of parts of Voice
OF America" broadcasts over many
Chinese radio stations.
On a Worldwide Basis,
The information activities OUT
lined in the foregoing are carried
on by OIC on a worldwide basis.
State Department legal experts con-
tend that authority to do so Is
inherent in the departments re-
sponsibility for conducting foreign
relations. They are supporting the
bill formally authorizing the pro-
gram only to clear up questions
raised by some members of Con-
'gress.
Cultural and educational activi-
ties now limited to Latin America
are another matter. Congress spe-
officially authorized them in 1899.
This, the legal experts say, had the
effect of depriving the State De-
partment of authority to carry on
such activities anywhere else. Now
the department is seeking to ex-
tend this part of the OIC program
to countries outside Latin America.
The pending bill would permit this.
One of the basic parts of the cul-
tural program Is exchange of stu
dents and teachers. There are now
$4,000 foreign students in the United
States. OF these, $50 from Latin
America are receiving Government
assistance. Many foreign students
pay their own expenses. Some have
their way paid by their own govern
ments. The State Departments
aim is to use American funds to
help talented students who could
not come here otherwise with
view to developing small nucleus
of foreign leaders who have studied
IN America in the fields of public
administration, public health, agri-
culture and the social sciences. At
the same time, 1t encourages Amer
lean students and teachers to study
and work abroad.
Technical Books Translated.
Understanding of the United
States also is promoted through q
program for translating basic Amer
lean technical books into foreign
languages. Under a contract with
the State Department, a philan-
thropic organization known as Sci
Ience Service is translating into
Spanish and Portuguese the 200
most common reference and text
books in such technical fields as
medicine and engineering. These
then are made available to schools
and professional men in Latin
America.
United States embassies in Latin
America are giving some financial
assistance for the teaching of the
English language In cultural insti-
tutes which are largely ef-support-
ing. Some 10000 persons enrolled
in these institutes now are studying
English. Many of them are being
trained as teachers themselves.
Outstanding American educators in
other fields are sent to the cultural
centers as visiting lecturers from
time to time.
Approximately 80 specialists In
such fields as agriculture and public
health now are assigned from this
country to assist Latin American
governments. Only 38 per cent of
the expense is borne by the United
States.
A number Of cooperative scien-
tific and technical projects, such as
jointly operated weather stations,
are being carried out In Latin
America.
Specialists Brought to q. s.
Mr.. Benton said many govern
ments outside this hemisphere have
requested technical assistance which
cannot be supplied until needed con-
gressional authority is granted. For
example, Egypt wants an American
hvdrOelectric exnert tn advise ahot,t