Evening star., 1962-09-09
BY CHARLES BARTLETT
Contributing Writer

The startling degree to which
the Peace Corps matches the needs
OF this era will soon be under
lined by its emergence as a world
movement Of impressive proper
tions.
The Peace Corps concept seems
likely to blossom in the imminent
future as q domestic undertaking
pointed toward internal and ex-
ternal activities in q considerable
number Of foreign countries. It is
even on the verge of adoption
for domestic purposes by the
United States Government.
Although Sargent Shriver, the
Peace Corps director, is a re-
lentless advocate, he and his CO.
hortS did not seek the interna-
tional recognition that is coming
to their agents. They were asked
earlier in the summer to make a
report on their experiences to a
committee Of European nations
in Paris and the two young men
who made the trip found them
selves the center of a storm Of
emotional interest on the part of
sophisticated diplomats.
The Direct Appeal %
Just as the Peace Corps de-,
veloped. in the United States from
the yearnings Of q small but i'm
portant element of constructive
citizens. the foreigners are reach,
ing for 1t as o means of chan
nelling the energies Of those who
have the capacity and desire to
contribute directly to the enhance
ment Of less advanced peoples.
1T seems destined to give such
countries as France, Norway, West
Germany. and Israel the same
chance that it gives them in the
United States. It Is an instrument
through which the aroused can
act with effect and a feeling Of
dedication at O time when the
sense Of challenge is running high
without the physical opportunity
Of battle. 1t is an answer to
disiIlusionment.
sThe Peace Corps concept has q
second value to these countries
In enabling citizens to participate
in assistance to less developed
countries without heavy expense.
The money aid program has
proven to be frustrating ex-
perience in the United States.
Among all the United States Gov
ernment agencies. morale is no
where lower than it is among
those participating in the awards
Of financial loans and grants to
foreign countries. Close involve
ment in these awards appears to
be more depressing than exhilarat-
ing and the aid agencies reflect
little of the enthusiasm which
keeps lights burning at night in
the Peace Corps.
"A growing sense is developing
that manpower skills may be more
important than money in lifting
these underdeveloped countries
out Of their jungles. The World
Bank has found that capital in
vestment is not the full answer
for primitive nations. People must
learn and have ranging ability
before they can provide a base
for industrialization. Without the
resourcefulness that comes from
education and the skills that are
learned by training, the natives
cannot initiate or sustain an in
dustriaf society.
These new foreign Peace Corps
will keep the name but not neces-
sarily the form Of the United
States prototype. In West Ger
many for example, the Govern
ment does not want to sponsor
directly q volunteer organization
which might lend itself to Nazi
echoes and so the new group will
have private control and some
government money. France ex-
poets to augment the corps Of
professional technicians and edu-
Gators with which it has been