Evening star., 1961-08-09
Blueprint for Progress

has painted bright picture of a better
life for Latin America in his address
to the economic conference now under
way in Punta del Este. It is, in its
simplest outline, a picture of 500
billion .rainbow-at the 10-year end of
which is viSien of vast improvements
in public health, education, housing
and economic progress of those countries
prepared to join in President Kennedy's
proposed Alliance for Progress. In this
outline form, 1t is picture that under
Standably drew approval and applause
from most of the finance ministers and
their associates at the Uruguayan resort.
The applause was accompanied by res
ervations, however, that are something
less than reaSsuring.
AS with most outlines, of course,
this is picture still lacking in many
of its essential details Mr.. Dillon
attached high price tag to this truly
imaginative program-hi not only for
those whom he indicated would supply
the necessary financing, but high also.
for those intended to benefit. He in
dicated, for example, that. half or pos
sibly more of this $20-billion cost would
be forthcoming from United States
sources, primarily governmental He
did not, in his presentation address at
least, spell out how much of this the
Kennedy administration expects on a
continuing basis to draw from overall
foreign aid funds, or on how confident
the administration feels that Congress
Will concur in future appropriation
requests. He spoke also with assurance
that West European countries and
japan would make substantial contri-
buttons, but without citing any specific
pledges in support of this assurance.
AS for the contribution asked of
the potential beneficiaries, Mr.. Dillon
enumerated conditions that are ex-
acting and which almost surely will
encounter reluctance If not active resist
tance. In keeping with Mr.. Kennedy's
own emphasis that the alliance must
be truly cooperative venture, with
meaningful effort at self-help on the
part of the nations expected to benefit,
the Treasury Secretary warned that
there must be tax and land reform,
gradual moderation at least of special
economic privileges, and a reduction of
diSproportionately high military budgets
if the donors of aid and development
funds are to be expected to do their part.
Imbalance in the economic struc-
lures of most Latin American countries
is an old story; and one most deeply
rooted perhaps in the privileged status
enjoyed by the military and the rela-
lively few who traditionally hold social
and political power, The distribution
of $40 billion without changing these
conditions would bring no real increase
in strength or we'll being to Latin
America. 1t is quite certain, further
more, that neither Congress nor the
American taxpayer in the long run-to
say nothing of the governments or
private financing institutions of Western
Europe or Japan-would support such
one-sided program for long.
The real test, in other words, is
being applied to the Latin Americans
themselves. The Kennedy administra-
ton is demonstrating unprecedented
good will and initiative-an answer, in
effect, to the frequent complaint that
Uncle Sam is neglectful of his closest
neighborS. The neighbors, represented
in Punta del Estes by the best of their
economists and fiscal technicians, now
have the opportunity to prove their
worthiness