Evening star., 1954-01-02
Troubled Pakistan
Fails TO Make Use
OF Point 4 Millions
BY the Assoeiuted Press

\ BEIRUT, Lebanon, Jan. g.
How to get rid of money has
been one of the toughest prob
lens faced by the United States
point-four program in Lebanon.
Point four has been subjected
to scathing attacks in Parliament
recently, and for two years the
program has been the object Of
widespread grumbling and COM
plant by the public. According
to point-four officials. a big reason
for this is that in leiSurely
Lebanon it has been literally inn
possible to spend money fast
enough to get a worthwhile pro-
gram launched to make a
showing.
The first full year point four
worked in Lebanon-1952-the
United States appropriated $3.1
million. Only $48O.O0O was actu-
ally spent in that year. 1t will
take three years to spend what
was appropriated for a single
year.
Only $45,OOO Spent.
The KaSmieh water project of
South Lebanon illustrates the
problem. Begun during the days
of the French mandate before
World War II. this project was
designed to supply drinking and
irrigation water for villages
along Lebanon's southern coast
Point four put up $652. 900 for
the Kasmieh project. BY the end
of the fiscal year 1853 the Leban-
ese had been able to use only
$45,000 of this amount. Long de-
lays in awarding contracts and
drawing up plans left most OF
point-four funds idle.
Lebanon's sIowneSs in absorb
ing these funds has resulted in
81 ,661 900 originally earmarked
for Lebanon being withheld in
Washington. This money prob
ably will be diverted to other
areas where it can be used more
readily.
What causes the delays in
Lebanon? Political instability
has been a big factor. In the
two years of point four's life in
this country, Lebanon has had
no less than seven different gov
ernmentS. In the summer of
1852 its President, Bechara Ell
Khoury, was ousted in a near
revolution. Each time a new
government or regime comes to
power, point four is given a fresh
appraisal.
Violent Criticism Of u. S.
Point-four projects have been
caught in a cross fire of opposing
groups such as buSi-
nessmen looking for contracts
and sectional leaders trying to
attract projects for their regions.
Lebanon's government and Par
lament are dominated by busi-
nesSmen. Rivalries among them
have caused endless delays in
approving point-four projects.
Losers in these squabbleS
habitually launch violent press
campaigns against point four.
The most common accusations
are that point four projects are
really being used to benefit Israel
with whom Lebanon still is at
war;, and that point four per-
sonnel are spying for the Jewish
state.
Deputies in Parliament re-
Gently charged that trench silos
being dug near a point four model
farm are really munitions dumps
to be used by American troops
when they occupy Lebanon"
Barns for the same farm are to
be converted into barracks, say
the disgruntled critics.
Absurd Charges Shake Regimes.
Despite the seeming absurdity
of these charges, governments
have been shaken on such issues.
Each time the charges are made.
the government has to give them
serious consideration. These in
vestigationS" cause more delays.
Prime Minister Abdullah Yafi's
government currently is inveSti-
eating a charge that a certain
point four employe identified as
"Abu Isshaq" father of Isaac)
is engaged in espionage for
Israel.
This inability to absorb point
four funds quickly may have a
long-term adverse effect on Le-
banon. The United States has
responded coolly to Lebanese
feelerS regarding large-scale cap
ital assistance.
The Lebanese government has
VAH ~