I think many of us in this point 4 operation and this whole matter of cooperation abroad, fail to recognize that there must be certain actual values in this thing and that you cannot settle the problems with dollars. To set the stage, as a group we would like to reiterate our complete approval of the point of view expressed by the late Dr. Bennett shortly before he left on the trip on which he met his death; namely: The program we have described to Congress and to the public is a simple, down-to-earth, self-help program designed primarily to assist other peoples in increasing their food production, bettering their health conditions, and improving their educational systems. It is my view that the cost of this program, which shall be effective only if it is pitched on a long-term basis, should be enough to finance a broad, dynamic technical cooperation effort, but not to include the large-scale grants-in-aid. This has been my consistent position and conviction and I must be faithful to it. It is my desire that we press forward as rapidly as possible with all of our programs, but without spending money recklessly. It would be far better for everyone concerned if we turned back unneeded money to the taxpayers rather than waste it on unsound projects. That, I would like to say, Mr. Chairman, and Mrs. Bolton, and members of the committee, is the unanmous feeling of the men who are on this board of consultants to the TCA, who have been operating in this field. As we travel around the world as some of us do individually, we cannot help but feel that these programs are a success when they are kept close to the people. When they are not close to the people it is one of those situations in which we are putting money down the drain. I think, sir, that is all I would like to say at this time. I would be delighted to have you ask me questions. The other witnesses are here. We went over it this morning, the four of us, to divide up what we would present. Mr. SMITH. I understand that you are members of the board of consultants of TCA? Dr. MILLER. Please turn to page 5 of the statement. The board of consultants of the Food, Agriculture, and Resources Development Staff of TCA in the Department of State. On the board are: Harold B. Allen, director of education, Near East Foundation, New York, N. Y. Edward J. Bell, Oregon Wheat Commission, Pendleton, Oreg. E. B. Evans, president, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College, Prairie View, Tex. L. G. Ligutti, executive director, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Des Moines, Iowa Raymond W. Miller, consultant, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Washington, D. C. John H. Reisner, executive secretary, Agricultural Missions, Inc., New York, N. Y. J. Stuart Russell, farm editor, the Des Moines Register and Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa William A. Schoenfeld, dean emeritus, Oregon State College, and organization consultant, Corvallis, Oreg. C. Leigh Stevens, agricultural engineer and management consultant, Yemassee S. C. This was a group of men originally selected by Dr. Henry Bennett with the idea that we should act as advisers on this worldwide technical program. Most of us are engaged in other activities. Mr. SMITH. Recently you made a survey of South and Central America? Dr. MILLER. Yes, sir. Mr. SMITH. Who was that for? Dr. MILLER. That is a survey I made at the request of Dr. Bennett. He requested it at the recommendation of the Inter-American Study Mission of your committee. This committee asked Dr. Bennett to have a study made. Following his death, Stanley Andrews asked me to go on with it. I made my report. The report was given to members of the committee and it was inserted in the Congressional Record on May 13. That is why I felt I should not talk too long. You have my feelings in the matter and I would rather you hear these other men. Mr. SMITH. All right, Mr. Miller. Monsignor Ligutti. (The document supplied by Dr. Miller follows:) FEBRUARY 11, 1953. To: Clayton E. Whipple, Director, Food, Agriculture, and Resources Development Subject: Observations and recommendations. During the year, six of the undersigned have traveled extensively in foreign countries and have been able to observe the workings of the technical cooperation program. All have endeavored to keep in touch with TCA developments through written reports and through interviews with people of competence. The Board recognizes the fact that its primary responsibilities are to consider problems relating to those aspects of the Technical Cooperation Administration that deal with food, agriculture, and natural resources. About 80 percent of the total program of technical assistance falls within these categories. These operations, however, are so influenced by the general policies of TCA that the Board has felt justified in making certain observations and recommendations, the consideration of which we feel necessary for the more effective operation of the programs relating to food, agriculture, and natural resources. As a group, we would like to reiterate our complete approval of the point of view expressed by the late Dr. Bennett shortly before he left on the trip on which he met his death; namely: "The program we have described to Congress and to the public is a simple, down-to-earth, self-help program designed primarily to assist other peoples in increasing their food production, bettering their health conditions, and improving their educational systems. It is my view that the cost of this program, which will be effective only if it is pitched on a long-term basis, should be enough to finance a broad, dynamic technical cooperation effort, but not to include largescale grants-in-aid. This has been my consistent position and conviction and I must be faithful to it. "It is my desire that we press forward as rapidly as possible with all of our programs, but without spending money recklessly. It would be far better for everyone concerned if we turned back unneeded money to the taxpayers rather than waste it on unsound projects." In line with the above basic philosophy, we present the following observations and recommendations: 1. The independence and integrity of TCA The Technical Cooperation Administration must have a sufficiently independent status to carry out the spirit as well as the external forms of the technical assistance which it is meant to provide to underdeveloped nations. To use technical assistance primarily to gain defense or political objectives is the best way to destroy its usefulness in creating good will, international understanding and cooperation and in establishing democratic procedures at the grass roots level. The good will objective of a technical assistance program can only be gained through disinterested service. It cannot be bought nor bargained for. This self-evident fact needs much wider acceptance. 33064-53-55 2. We must envisage a long-time program Technical assistance is a long-time program. There cannot be adequate planning nor wise spending of money on the present year-to-year basis. The kind of results we are looking for will take a long time to achieve. We must not be led astray by wishful thinking. 3. Administration Establish an Administration of Technical Cooperation that gives both responsibility and authority to the Administrator for all phases of the program, especially: (1) The organization of administrative machinery. (2) The appointment of administrative and operational personnel. (3) Program planning and execution through all stages from the United States of America to the fields of operation. (4) Budget building. (5) Relations with other United States Government agencies. (6) Cooperative ararngements with educational institutions, business and industrial organizations, private agencies and international agencies, such as FAO, WHO, and UNESCO. 4. Program-emphasis on agriculture and more food Limit objectives and be very specific about it. Begin small, but guarantee increased aid wherever and whenever sound growth calls for it. What any country puts into the program will generally be a sound indication of their own concern and interest in utilizing United States of America technical assistance. The program should, for the most part, be centered on increased food production and improved agriculture. Asia has less food and clothing per capita today than before the war. We are losing the fight for food. Develop other economic and social projects around the major goal. Agricultural improvements should be used as the entering wedge to improved family living, better health, agricultural reforms such as land tenure and credit, literacy and a better community life. This centralization of emphasis on agriculture would make possible a singly administered and coordinated program, and should add greatly to efficient and economical management. This emphasis on a centralized program does not exclude complementary programs such as those dealing with water supplies-so essential to agricultural development in many parts of the world--or land reforms or educational and health projects and such projects as the training of local leadership, the strengthening of local institutions relating to agriculture and rural life and similar projects. Make the needs of the nations concerned, our first consideration in developing country programs. Let us see to it that nations request our help rather than that we thrust our help upon them. Make our help a little harder to get; its value will be much greater. It is recognized that programs in different countries must start on different levels based upon their present stages of economic and social development. Therefore, technical aid and training in developing primary resources other than land may need to be provided in certain situations. 5. Civil service and overseas appointments The Civil Service Commission should apply maximum flexibility in reviewing appointments by the TCA Administrator of overseas technical assistance personnel. Personal qualifications and experience are often of more importance in overseas service than academic standing. Appointments should be made of (1) men of national and international reputation due to their competence and character, who can work out achievable country programs; (2) experienced extension men and women to work at the state level and to help develop programs at the village level; (3) capable representatives from minority racial groups, such as the Negro; and (4) junior personnel. Base salaries abroad should be kept in line with home salaries so that services to be rendered, rather than compensation to be received, would be the determining factor in accepting overseas appointments. The conditions of leave from positions in the United States should be liberalized and the continuance of state or institution retirement plans should be guaranteed. All appointees for overseas service and their families should be thoroughly screened, briefed, and oriented before leaving for the field. 6. Make more use of our United States land-grant institutions and private agencies We should make far greater use of and place more responsibility on our land-grant colleges of agriculture, home economics, engineering, veterinary science, forestry, etc. with their research, extension and instructional staffs. These institutions are nonpolitical and would be recognized as such by the receiving countries. Maximum use should be made of United States private agencies and firms of established competence, as called for by Congress when it established the Technical Cooperation Administration. 7. Big appropriations for capital projects-Supplies and relief should be eliminated As we understand the technical-assistance program, it is primarily a peopleto-people approach, but allows for supplementary developments that will make the village programs more effective. It does not include paying for the building of dams for power or irrigation, the construction of factories, the supplying of raw materials, such as wheat, cotton, steel, fertilizers, etc., or the building of roads and similar projects requiring large sums of money. These productive projects should be self-liquidating and therefore should be financed by loans. The United States, however, should lend its good offices in determining the need for, and the securing of such loans from private, national, or international sources. Necessary technical aid in planning such productive projects would, in many instances, fall within the competence of a technical-assistance program. Appropriations for purely relief purposes, such as those to Israel and for Arab refugees should not be considered technical assistance as it is understood in the Act for International Development. 8. Make appropriations serve the objectives of helping people to help themselves We urge that the channels be kept clear between the people of the United States and the people who need help, to the end that a larger proportion of appropriations be spent on technical assistance rather than on administrative and bureaucratic personnel and procedures. 9. Better relationships between ambassadors and technical-assistance personnel In determining future policy for technical assistance, provision should be made for adequate briefing of ambassadors and directors of technical cooperation. The cost of failure to provide such briefing already has been too heavy. This whole problem of administrative authority and relationships in the field should be reconsidered. The situation demands the greatest degree of cooperation and collaboration without domination by any particular United States agent or agency in the country concerned. 10. Cooperation with international agencies The Technical Cooperation Administration should be encouraged to cooperate with United Nations organizations, such as the FAO, in regional projects, where a number of countries are involved in the same problem, such as locust control, elimination of rinderpest, and foot-and-mouth disease of cattle. The control of these devastating infestations that recognize no geographical boundaries would not only mean immediate relief to the farmer, but a guaranty against future losses. The improvement of rice in Asia and the multiplication and wide distribution of better seeds are similar projects for cooperative actions, the results of which will be immediate and be easily understood and appreciated by the primary producers. Under no circumstances should United States technical assistance agencies compete unfairly with or undercut international agencies already at work in the countries concerned. Harold B. Allen, Director of Education, Near East Foundation, New Dean Emeritus, Oregon State College, and Organization Consultant, Corvallis, Oreg.; C. Leigh Stevens, Architectural Engineer and Management Consultant, Yemasee, S. C. STATEMENT OF RT. REV. MSGR. L. G. LIGUTTI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CATHOLIC RURAL LIFE CONFERENCE Monsignor LIGUTTI. My name is Monsignor L. G. Ligutti. I am executive director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference with offices in Des Moines, Iowa. I happen to be one of the consultants, as Dr. Miller mentioned. I also happen to be the observer for the Holy See, with the Food and Agricultural Organization. Naturally I do not represent the Holy See at this particular hearing. I do represent the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and also my own personal reactions and feelings in the matter of the technical assistance program. That is sufficient. Mr. SMITH. Have you had an opportunity to observe the technical assistance program in operation and if so, where, and give us your views. Monsignor LAGUITTI. I have had an opportunity of observing it— well, first of all in the Middle East. I traveled at the same time Dr. Bennett was traveling with his group. I just did not happen to be on the same plane when poor Dr. Bennett was killed but I was waiting for him at the airport in Teheran. I covered Greece, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, Israeli. That was the coverage a year ago last December, January and February. Since that time, I have covered the whole of Latin America, all of the Central American Republics and all of South America. Last January, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference sponsored a Latin American Congress on rural life problems and it was held at Manizales from January 11, to January 18. It was participated in by 23 countries by appointed representatives. All of the Latin American countries, including some of the islands and possessions were represented with the exception of Guatemala and Paraguay. Over 600 people participated and a large number of clergymen, 24 bishops and archbishops from all over Latin America. They discussed questions and problems concerning rural life during the whole week. We drew up conclusions and they have just been published, both in Spanish and English. One of the commissions discussed particularly the programs of technical assistance. It was extremely revealing to see how interested these people in Latin America are in the technical assistance programs. All of the discussions were off the record and we wanted to get their opinions and their impressions. We got them. We were able to find out just how much they trusted us from the United States and how well or badly they mistrusted us. We did find out. |