Evening star., 1949-02-24
World d-DeveIopment Strategy

Probably no utterance of President
Truman has aroused more speculative
interest than his proposal for aid in the
development of economically backward
countries throughout the world
In theory, the proposal is unexception-
able. The difficulty lies in its practical
implementation. 1t is therefore instructive
to have made available some advance
information on the blueprint for the pro-
gram which will soon be laid before the
United Nations Economic and Social
Council by Willard L. Thorpe, Assistant
Secretary of State.
From this advance summary we learn
: that the concept is based upon worldwide
participation by many, perhaps all, ma
tions co-ordinating their efforts in various
ways. Although primary emphasis is laid
upon collective participation through the
United Nations, channeled through it's
subsidiary agencies, action is likewise
enviSaged by specially interested groups of
nations, by single nations, and by private
agencies, both charitable and profit-seek-
ing.
Naturally, the United States is scheduled
taking. And that role is understood as
taking several forms. 1t should, of course,
be remembered that the United States is
now contributing about 40 per cent of the
U, N. operating costs. In certain instances,
our programs will provide for a larger
percentage, at least in the initial con-
tribution, in order to get some projects
going. In other specially urgent instances,
1t is even intimated that we might act
unilaterally. However, it is understood that
emphasis will be laid on our contributions
of technical aid, popularly termed know
how" and that these items may outweigh
in significance our direct financial outlays,
which may, at the outset, run between
S@--9,Cc2,C-0 al $1C0,Cc2 eco.
Such considerations of participation
methods and cost appointments lay the
practical groundwork for the realization
of the project itself. And here, again, the
emphasis is upon coordination in the
broadest sense of the word. The basic con-
cept Is one of an overall grand strategy,
based on the tnteraction of develop
mental projects in backward areas
throughout the globe. But the same
coordination applies to the various phases
of individual projects. For instance, it is
realized that there would be little point in
stimulating the agricultural output of a
backward area unless there were a simul-
traneous improvement in transit facilities,
from roads to harbor installations, so that
the increased produce could be efficiently
exported.
Highly important to the ultimate sue
cess of the program is the calculation that,
once the development of backward area
has passed the initial stages, institutional
and private capital will be attracted by
considerations of profit. Naturally, the
validity of this calculation will depend
upon specific factors in each project, such
as the willingness and ability of the local
population to make the best of its i'm
proved opportunities and the stability of
the local authorities. And behind all this
again, stands the outlook for peace or
strife, both regionally and on a global
scale.
Obviously, the blueprint which our Gov
ernment is about to lay before the
Economic and Social Council of U. N. is
tentative in character, subject to many
qualifications and much clarifying discus
sion by the many parties concerned. This
is true of every first step in an essentially
pioneering concept Its feasibility will be
tested alike by factual analysis and by the
reactions of those called upon to partici-
pate.