Evening star., 1950-03-19
U.S.. Studies
OF Lotins
Cooperative Aid Plan
Will Be Devised to
Help Neiehbors
By Edword TomIinson

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technical and economic assistance
for the nations of this hemi-
sphere. While it is to be a joint
project, under the auspices of the
Economic and Social Council of
the Organization of American
States, it still means that this
country will play a major role in
the carrying out of such a plan.
The council meets mere tomor-
row in extraordinary session to
begin the discussions, which may
last for several weeks. The meet
ing, or series of meetings, is con-
sidered of such Importance that
the various governments, includ-
ing our own, have appointed
special delegations, several of
them made up of officials of cabi-
net rank.
The United States delegation is
headed by Assistant Secretary of
State Edward G. Miller, jr., with
four alternates. These are Will
liam McChesney Martin, jr., AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury;
Willard L. Thorpe, Assistant Sec
retary of State for Economic At
fairs; DR.. Rafael Pico, chairman
of the all-important Puerto Rican
Planning Board, the man directly
responsible for the growing indus
trial progress of that West Indian
island, and Ambassador Albert F.
Nufer, our regular Ambassador on
the American Economic and
Social Council.
Cool Toward u. S.
Ever since the war the Latins
have insisted that we owe them
economic assistance in developing
their natural resources and ex-
panding their economy. In fact,
they point to various promises
and pledges made in the early
days of the conflict to the effect
that we would not forget them
when the period of the emergency
was over. 1t is no secret that the
friendly attitude of many of them
has cooled toward us, because of
what they feel has been our gross
neglect of them, or at least our
failure to live up to our wartime
pledges of continued economic
helpfulness.
Most of them have been a long
time seeing any possible benefits
to them from the European Mar
shall Plan. Some of them still
don't. Nor have they been enthu-
siastic about the Truman point
four program to supply United
States technical assistance and
industrial know-how to the "un-
derdeveloped areas" The vast
majority of the southern nations,
especially their governments, have
wanted large loans instead of tech
nical assistance.
Blueprint Expected
But all along the State Depart
ment has made it pretty plain
that big government -to-govern-
ment loans were out of the ques-
ton. 1t has insisted that there is
plenty private capital available to
finance major economic develop
ments in the nations to the south,
provided it is offered fair and
equitable inducements, or, as the
department describes it, "a favor
able climate"
At the same time our diplomats
have pointed out that the Export
Import Bank has already given
considerable assistance in develop
ing needed enterprises. 1t has
helped to set up pilot industries,
such as steel mills in Brazil and
Chile. irrigation projects in Mexi-
co, Haiti and others. The insti-
tute of Inter-American Affairs of
the State Department has assisted
in sanitation and public health
projects. Other agencies of the
Government have provided experts
IN agriculture. mining and other
fields.
BY this time the Latins them
selves have finally realized that
any general plan to build up the
economy of the hemisphere re-
quires a concerted effort upon the
part of all.
! The current meetings are at
least expected to provide a gen.
eral blueprint. or program of ac-
ton. There will not only be an
attempt to set up technical as
sistance program for the Eco
nomic and Social Council itself.
The delegates will also undertake
to iron out the differences among
the various governments in the
matter of the economic agree
ment made at the Bogota Confer
ence in 1948.
Miller Well Prepared
Finally the plans, or agenda,
for the long-postponed inter-
American Economic Conference
will be considered. This gather
ing, originally planned by the
Mexico City Conference of 1945,
and scheduled to meet in Buenos
Aires, has been postponed time
after time. Perhaps it is more
accurate to say that a definite
date has never been set or agreed
upon. The failure to convene this
meeting has caused more resent
ment in Latin America than al
most any other action on the part
of the United States. There is no
question that it has been held off
principally because Washington
was not interested, had nothing
to offer or was too busy with the
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