about a relatively efficient working arrangement under such circumstances is a prickly business. But in this shrinking world the effort must be made. 3. From the standpoint of the less developed countries-and of human freedom-a very significant development was the increased Loney which member states have pledged to the United Nations Special Fund for its second year." This is the fund which, under the direction of Paul Hoffman, makes preinvestment surveys and promotes technical education in the newly developing countries. The future of those countries, inhabited by over a billion human beings, presents a challenge even more difficult and more pressing than the Communist menace. The money for the Fund's second year will be about 50 percent more than the $26 million which it had for its first year. Every dollar of preinvestment work by the Special Fund can pave the way for hundreds of dollars in capital investment. Thus it can give these peoples new hope that they can conquer poverty without resortIg to the totalitarian methods of communism. The increase in the Special Fund is therefore a sign that United Nations members are aware of the trend of the future. 4. From the standpoint of the future of the United Nations were decisions affecting two United Nations trust territories in Africa. Somalia will become independent on July 1, 1960. Also, the people of the British Cameroons will vote in 1960 or 1961 on which of their two neighbors they will join-Nigeria or Cameroun, both about to become independent. These steps are part of the movement toward dependence which is sweeping Africa and which, in 1960 alone, ill bring at least four new African nations into the United Nations and still others in succeeding years. These new nations will not only add to the membership of the United Nations; they will also bring new viewpoints to bear on the problems of the world. For the United States, which has more people of African Negro descent in it than any other country in the world cept Nigeria, this is a particularly welcome prospect. 5. Then the 14th General Assembly passed a resolution protesting the Chinese Communist wholesale murder of the people of Tibet." 6. The Assembly continued to voice the protest of civilized manind against the brutalization of Hungary-and did so by a large Tote, 19 7. Communist China was once again kept out of the United Nations.11 'See post, doc. 33. See post, doc. 420. See post, docs. 416 and 422. As of this date, independence in 1960 had been set for only 3 of the African Trust Territories Somaliland under Italian administration, Togoland under Freach administration, and the Cameroons under French administration. 'Post, doc. 441. *See post, doc. 273. * See ante, doc. 29. 8. The Czech attempt to promote its candidacy for the [Presidenc of the] 15th General Assembly by means of an Assembly resolutio was defeated.12 9. The Palestine refugee program, with its great expense and it many difficult problems, was extended.13 10. An expert management survey of the United Nations Secretaria was authorized to help the Secretary-General get the maximum eff ciency at the least cost.14 Such a "Hoover Commission" type of ope ation-the first complete outside review in the Secretariat's 14-yea history is a necessity in view of the growing membership of th United Nations and the increased workload of the Secretariat. 11. A universal declaration on the rights of the child was adopte reflecting concepts of human rights held by many nations, includin the United States.15 There were many other worthwhile accomplishments, but the abov were outstanding as they affect the United Nations' future and it ability to survive and to meet its responsibilities. E. Economic Development and Technical Assistance 32. UNITED STATES OBSERVATIONS ON THE OPER TIONS OF THE [UNITED NATIONS] SPECIAL FUNI Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Phillips) Committee II of the U.N. General Assembly, October 5, 1959 In the 12th session of the General Assembly the United States del gation cosponsored and strongly supported the creation of a ne instrument of the United Nations, the Special Fund. We recogniz then, as we do now, the need for intensified economic research, f resource surveys, and for technical training-all essential to econom growth in many developing nations. We envisaged the propos Special Fund as a strong means of paving the way for new investme of all types, public and private, national and international. Many member governments, in considering the idea of a Spec Fund, understood the pertinence of the following quotation from t Technical Assistance Board's statement in its report entitled Forward Look": "Few underdeveloped countries have inventor 13 See ante, doc. 10. 18 See post, doc. 371. "See ante, doc. 20. 15 See post, doc. 38. 1U.S.-U.N. press release 3232 (text as printed in the Department of St Bulletin, Nov. 9, 1959, pp. 689-692). 'See American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1957, pp. 102-120. 'U.N. doc. E/2885 and Corr. 1. of their natural resources or the institutions necessary to develop these inventories." Even where countries know what their resources are, they frequently need help in determining the best uses to make of these resources. Research and experimentation in new and effective ways to use the materials at hand are the essence of economic development. On the basis of our own experience in the United States, we have been convinced that industrial and agricultural research pay off. On the initiative of many nations which believe, as we do, in the importance of such basic programs for industry and agriculture, the Special Fund was established on January 1 of this year. From the beginning it undertook to concentrate in depth on resource surveys, technical research, and technical training projects. My delegation believes that the Managing Director [Paul Hoffman] and his staff have done a remarkably effective job in inaugurating a program in keeping with the aims envisaged by the General Assembly. It is less than 2 years since the Preparatory Committee for the Special Fund undertook to consider the principles and criteria which ould guide the new organization: How should the new agency relate its work to existing United Nations bodies? What could be done to assure sound and carefully executed projects of the kind best calculated to complement other economic programs of the countries aded and thus to lend impetus toward worthwhile development? How much money could the Special Fund expect in contributions from member governments? These were some of the questions under discussion by representatives of governments interested in this endeavor, and they constitute, of course, some of the principal problems which Mr. Hoffman has faced as Managing Director of the Special Fund. In May of this year the Managing Director presented the Special Fund's first program to the Governing Council. Like many other embers we expressed our satisfaction with the energetic way in which the Special Fund has undertaken its precedent-setting tasks." We indicated our approval of the steps taken to launch the Fund and commended the Managing Director for the vision and leadership had displayed. Along with other members the United States In accordance with the provisions of U.N. General Assembly Res. 1240 XIII) of Oct. 14, 1958; text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 358, pp. 137-143. For the Preparatory Committee's report, see U.N. doc. E/3098 and Corr. 1. UN. doc. SF/L. 12 and Add. 1-15. For the observations by the U.S. representative on the Governing Council, UN. docs. SF/MIN. 6-9. endorsed the first list of projects approved by the Special Fund, while noting that these initial projects were not intended to constitute a precedent either as to distribution by area or selection of projects by type. We understood, rather, that these were simply all the sound projects that had been processed by the end of March. We also joined in endorsing the criteria and principles proposed by the Managing Director to guide the Fund in its review of projects. We are gratified that, in the short time which has elapsed since the inception of this program, the record of the Special Fund and its report to ECOSOC clearly reveal that the work has gone forward extremely well. On behalf of the United States delegation may I ex press our admiration for the dynamic Managing Director and hi capable staff for the imagination, energy, and skill which they ar devoting to their tasks. I would hesitate to praise a fellow America if he were not someone of the stature of Paul Hoffman, whose friend and admirers may be found all over the world. In the light of its energetic performance during the very shor period of its existence, we are even now, able to view the early opera tions of this promising United Nations activity in some perspective There is reason to expect that projects now under consideration wil demonstrate the unique value of the Special Fund. We are con fident that useful projects will be extended to additional under developed areas of the world whenever nations which seek help ca develop and submit projects of a type which the Fund can appro priately undertake. Both General Assembly resolution 1219 of the 12th session 10 an the report of the Preparatory Committee 11 state that the Fund sha 8 The list is as follows: Argentina. Electric power survey Amount recommended by the Managing Direct (United States dollars) Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador. India. Industrial Instructors' Training Institute Israel. Pilot project in watershed management. Poland. National centre for training supervisory personnel Thailand. Investigation of the silting conditions in the Bang- Turkey. Middle East Technical University United Arab Republic. Pilot project for drainage of irri- United Arab Republic. Soil survey from aerial photographs TOTAL U.N. doc. E/3270/Rev. 1. 250,000 900, 000 305, 000 245, 000 400, 000 860, 000 320,000 700,000 600, 000 1, 500, 000 300,000 265, 000 905, 000 10 Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1957, pp. 118-12 "U.N. doc. E/3098 and Corr. 1. provide systematic and sustained assistance in fields essential to the integrated technical, economic and social development of the less developed countries." This guiding principle accepts the fact of a close relationship between social development and economic development. By direct inference the General Assembly and the Special Fund itself recognize the likelihood that social projects will frequently be given a high priority where such projects "provide systematic and sustained assistance" to an integrated development program. We would therefore anticipate that, in addition to projects of a preinvestment type, those of a social and economic overhead nature will be supported when they are a sine que non of significant development. There are some social categories of development which in various areas of the world bear an intimate relationship to economic progress. Eradicating endemic diseases, insuring unpolluted water supplies for human consumption, and providing adequate housing are examples of activities which in many circumstances are inseparable from ecozomie as well as social progress. In our opinion many projects in these fields deserve support by the Special Fund. Among them are: concentrated research which can lead to more effective use of local building materials and which can train the trainers of construction artisans; technical training institutes; and higher institutions which can develop doctors, nurses, and scientists as well as economists, engineers, and administrators. Also in this category are demographic studies important for economic and social development. We note with approval that in the execution of Special Fund projects consideration is being given to the use of established institutions, such as universities and research institutes, to supervise projects in their fields of competence. The United States, in its reply dated June 2, 1959, to the Secretary-General's request for information ander General Assembly resolution 1316, adopted in the 13th session,12 and noted in document E/3258/Add.2 has pointed out the comprehensive work which universities and research institutes of the United States are doing to improve the living conditions of people in less developed countries. In one academic year alone-between 1957 and 1958-at least 184 American universities and colleges were engaged in international proFrams of economic and social research and training, with an annual expenditure of $25 million to $30 million. Some of these programs are arranged directly between our universities and those in other cuntries. Some are private agreements between our universities and foreign governments. Still others are operated on contract with the International Cooperation Administration of the United States Govment. In the latter category the ICA has entered into some 80 tracts with universities calling for cumulative expenditures of Lore than $71 million in more than 30 foreign countries. For example, the Oklahoma State University has helped set up an agricultural technical school in Ethiopia which now has an enroll *Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1958, pp. 151–152. |