Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-15
A Frenchmun
Finds Fault
With u. S. Aid
By EARL H. VOSS

A high-ranking French diplomat
in Southeast Asia who prefers, for
reasons that will be obvious, to re.
main unidentified, passed through
Washington recently and unbur-
dened himself of some advice for
Americas foreign aid administra-
tors in the Orient.
Now that foreign aid is before
Congress again, his thoughts are
worth listening to:
. Americans send too many ex-
perts to administer their foreign
aid programs" These men, he says,
annoy the local folk and remind
them of their inability to take care
Of themselves. Americans insist on
bringing too much of their high
standard of living with them.
. Americans are too much con-
cerned about corruption" Certainly
there is graft in Asia and in most
underdeveloped countries. he says
But this is inevitable, as all the
Older hands in Asia are well
aware. We ought to learn to over
look most of this graft, he believes,
instead of constantly complaining
to the Prime Minister.
. Americans spread their aid too
thln-too scientifically" United
States aid administrators try so
hard to help all the people of the
country, to prevent a privileged
few from monopolizing the bene-
hts, that they go to the other ex-
IRENE, this Frenchman believes.
AS a consequence, the benefits Of
American aid are often not notice
able
. Americans try to take too much
credit for their work. They should
stay more in the background and
stop trying so hard to identify
themselves with every dollar of aid
they send into country. After all.
the main purpose of the aid is to
prove to free countries that their
own systems of government-not
the Americans'-are better than
the Communists.
. India should be helped to build
locomotive factories" One of In
dla's most pressing needs is a bigger
transportation system. Locomotives
will be spectacular monuments to
Indian progress. But it is important
that the Indians be allowed to build
their own locomotives. They want to
say that they can build their own
locomotives-and point to the evil
dence on the tracks
. Americans would do better to
concentrate their foreign aid eff
forts on one spectacular project per
country. After all, the effect Amer
leans seek is more political than
economic" He gave an example in
Cambodia. nation with a seacoast
but no port. France, he said, has ar
ranged to build port for the Cam
bodlans. The United States il
building access roads, also expen-
sive, but France will get most Of
the credit.
. Americans publicize their food
SURPRISES too much" The United
States rice surplus is one of its
most unfortunate disadvantages in
the Orient. the French diplomat
believes. Whenever any country in
Asia is unable to sell its rice-or
almost any other agricultural COM
modity-it can always blame
Americas dumping" of its sur
pluses, whether we are guilty or not.
. Americans try too hard to make
others over into their own demo-
cratic image" There ought to be
more study of Oriental techniqueS
Of government and less preaching
about how good the American sys-
TEN is.
. Americans are Shortsighted in
insisting on bilateral economic aid.
They should try multilateral aid
arrangements" 1t is easier for three
or more countries to arrange trade
and aid pacts than it is for any two
especially when one of the two Is
the richest country in the world.
Multilateral pacts would give par
ticipating countries more oppor-
tunity to contribute as we'll as
receive. They would feel more of
the dignity in the partnership. be
less sensitive about the handouts.