Evening star., 1963-12-29

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Congress.
Senator Cooper. In a state
ment setting forth his views
for President johnson, COM
mended the President for
setting up an interdepartmen-
tai committee to seek ways to
bring new efficiency and econo-
my to the program.
But he insisted its work
should be supplemented by
country-by country foreign aid
studies by businessmen and
others from outside govern
ment.
Great Impact
Senator Cooper said that q
presidential commission headed
by Gen. Lucius D. Clay made a
great impact on the country
in its evaluation Of the total
foreign aid program" early this
year.
He added that its work
should be followed by the
Presidents appointment Of
small committees of three to
five members. a majority
drawn from private life, to
provide Congress and the
country full and objective
information concerning the
effective use of aid funds in
individual areas" He said such
committees could work under
the direction Of the Clay group.
Sen. Cooper's views were
supported in separate inter-
views by Senators Proxmire,
Democrat of Wisconsin, Morse,
Democrat Of Oregon, and
Hickenlooper, Republican of
Iowa, the latter the senior
Republican on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee.
Senators Recalled
Senators have been called
back from their Christmas
holiday vacation to q 10 am.
session tomorrow to complete
congressional action on q SO
billion foreign aid money bill,
slashed SIS billion below the
$4.5 billion requested by the
late President Kennedy.
Passage Of the bill, which
includes a controversial amend
ment giving President johnson
authority to approve credit
guarantees on wheat and other
sales to the Soviet bloc, will
clear the way for Congress to
adjourn. 1t will reconvene
January 7 In a new session.
Mr.. johnson has set up a
review Of the objectives and
organization Of the foreign aid
program by q Government
committee headed by George
w. Ball, Undersecretary Of
State.
Senator Cooper said he Is
glad Mr.. johnson has asked
the Ball committee to consider !
structural changes in the
Agency for International De-
velopment. However, he added:
But the important issue
before Congress and the coun-
try is not 50 much the struc-
ture Of aid but whether froeign |
aid appropriations are effec-
lively used in the countries we
aid"
Reviews Stressed
Senator Cooper feels that
reviews should be made on a
country-by-country basis in .
the is to 20 countries that /
receive half Of the total eco
nomic aid to determine wheth-
er Cd American assistance Is
meeting development needs,
Cd beneficiary countries are
providing maximum self-help
and 90 programs which do not |
further these objectiveS are
being eliminated.
The Senate has twice adopt
ed Cooper amendments aimed
at this purpose.
This years amendment |
provides authority for the
President to appoint such
committees.
Senator ProxInire said the
appointment Of the Ball COM
mittee Is wonderful but that he
hopes its work will be supple
mented by "a more profound
and objective appraisal" by
outstanding private business
men, university people and
other experts.
Vested Interest
After all, governmental
people have something of q |
vested interest in the pro-
gram" he told a reporter.
Senator Hickenlooper said an
investigation by outsiders is
important and could provide q i
real benefit. He added that,
under the governmental setup,
"the State Department and the
AID agency will be looking into
themselves"
Senator Morse, a supporter
of the Cooper proposal, said he
fears any move to make "the
executive supreme"
Congress has a duty to take
a long, hard look at any pro-
gram the Executive submits, {"
he added.