Evening star., 1960-03-20
How We Prepare
For New Nations

Africa, and the extent to which
the two areas policies diverge will
affect United States relations with
the two regions. Nigeria, which
encompasses strong elements Of
both groups, is expected to take a
leading position in the Confer
ence of African States, the
United Nations growing African
CaucuSing Group. and all other
African groupings.
8. OnOmic development
Emerging nations will look to the
United States for great deal Of
economic assistance. But the for
mer governing powers, like France
and Britain, frequently take a
dim view of American "interfer-
ence." In some cases, the way
out may be multinational aid,
from the World Bank, other
United Nations institutions, and
other groups now forming.
4. Cultural relations-As colo
nial controls are lifted, more
Africans will be free to visit the
United States. The State Depart
ment is eager to expand this
program. but faces difficulties in
getting financial support from
Congress and possible embarraSs-
ment because Of the United
States own racial problems.
no.t,,.. - Nouf-aIiAw Mast
new African states want to be
neutral in the cold war. This
hurts their chances for getting
sympathy from foreign-aid OPP
ponents in the American Con-
greSS. One can expect the same
difficulties in getting what the
State Department considers ade-
quate levels of aid for African
states as have been encountered
with respite to India.
6. Regionalis m-There are
movements afoot for merging
some of the African states now
gaining their freedom. Some talk
of a United States Of Africa.
Keeping track of how American
interests will be affected by the
various unification movements
will vastly complicate the State
Departments Job.
Z. BalkanizatiOn-Where unifi-
cation movements fail and else
where. fission may set in. Where 1t
does, the task Of American eco
nomic- aid administration will be
complicated.
8. DemOcracy-The worlds most
powerful democracy often feels
called upon to demand democracy
for all states. But as Mr.. Satter-
thwaite recognizes, some African
states are simply not ready for it.
Supporting non-democratic ma
tions will pose the same problems
in Africa it poses in South America
and elsewhere.
A Reservoir Of Good Will
American officials surveying
these problems realize they will
have to deal with specific prob
lens as they emerge, rather than
try to set up rigid policy lines.
But they are not without hope.
st did find a reservoir Of good
will for America In Africa" As
sistant Secretary Wilcox COM
mentS. "They look on US as friends
and would be disappointed If we
would not extend them assistance"
Assistant Secretary Satterth-
waite lists six criteria which the
State Department proposes to OBJ
serve in administering requested
$40 million program Of aid for
tropical Africa:
Cd Provide a close identification
Of the United States with the Afri-
can people:
(2) encourage close cooperation
and interchange between African
countries themselves;
90 concentrate economic help
on one key problem area that is
a major obstacle to advancement,
rather than scatter the effort;
"a avoid competition with
large-scale assistance from Eu-
rope:
go avoid year-by-year negotia-
tions with all the new countries
on the level Of aid to be provided;
90 build in flexibility to permit
quick changes in an extremely
fluid situation. where tendencies
toward regionalism and separatism
compete.
Education Is the key area on
which the United States proposes
to concentrate it's aid for Africa
not only formal education but on
the-job training in essential ad-
ministrative and technical jobs.
This has the virtue Of keeping
the United States out of the way
of actual development projects
which the European nations may
be planning with their former
charges. 1t also provides an Amer
ican presence" which may be use
full in spotting areas Of developing
friction which can be dealt with
before they reach the crisis stage.