Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-21
Funds for Cuba

being criticized because Of its
Special Fund project in Cuba
and because Of a booklet con-
tanning statements that most
Americans find Objectionable,
a booklet published by
UNESCO. an agency that is
not run by the United Ma
tons Secretariat.
The UNESCO booklet was
part of a series which per-
mitted people Of conflicting
ideologies to express their
viewpoints: there was a book
let containing the U. s. view
point. The UNESCO publish
ing policy allowing such ide-
illogical debate in print is
being revised. The U. N. has
not sold, distributed or
stocked the booklet in ques-
ton. 1t is unfortunate that
this one booklet has received
so much more attention than
the splendid work UNESCO
has been doing bringing lit
eracy to millions, training
teachers. scientists and tech
nicians by the thousands.
AS for the Special Fund
project in Cuba. this is to es-
tablish an agricultural re-
search station which will not
improve Cuba's food supply
for 10 years. The United
States has always agreed
heretofore that U. N. eco
nomic development projects
should only be judged on
their technical merits and
not on political grounds. 9th
erwise, some Arabs would
have objected to aid for Is
rael, some Indians to aid for
Pakistan, and so on.
There are 286 Special Fund
projects in SO countries and
the U, s. has objected TO
only two of these the
one In Cuba and one in Cey-
Ion. The 286 Special Fund
projects cost $3.50 million (of
which the U. s. is paying
only II per cent? and only
"a million Of this large total
go to the two projects that
the U. s. opposes. Ninety OF
the 96 countries that receive
U. N. Special Fund aid also
receive American aid directly.
The criticism Is being lev
eled, in other words, at a
tiny part Of the whole, at
the one small area Of dis
agreement. Nothing is being
said about the huge area of
agreement that exists be-
tween the U. s. and the U. N.
Special Fund.
Editorial writers and COL
umnists now suggest that the
U. s. deny the U. N. money
because Of this Cuban prof.
ect. These are the same peo-
pie who condemned any
country which refused to pay
for operations it disliked-
such as those in the Congo
or the Middle East.
Finally. / would like to say
that I believe Americans are
too big and too generous TO
use hunger as a weapon.
Philip Deane,
Director, United Nations
Information Center.
] am not in favor OF the
U. S. withdrawing from the
U. N. or even withdrawing
our support from such U. s.
operations as are taking place
In the Congo, Palestine, etc.
Refusing to support these
would hurt our foreign policy
more than It would help II.
But ] do think that Presi-
dent Kennedy and Congress
might well consider with
drawing financial support
from the Special Fund and
UNESCO, II the u. N.
proceeds with aid 10 Cuba.
This money could be used in
our own programs.
Larry A. Niksch.
l was overjoyed 10 hear
that the u. N. is going TO
help Cuban agriculture,
which has been disrupted by
communism. But why little
Cuba alone7 Why not also
establish a multibillion pro-
ject OF aid 10 Soviet Russia
and Red China, where agri-
culture has also been de-
stroyed by communism.
My feelings as q taxpayer
are deeply hurt by the re-
fusal OF the U. N. TO con-
slider American funds for
their Cuban project,
Natalie Wraga.