1288 



AMERICAN ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LDC S 



The principal indicator of concern by the United States for the 

 LDCs is its attitude towards foreign aid and international develop- 

 ment. The depth and durability of this commitment is apparent by the 

 fact that between the fiscal years 1946 and 1972 the United States ex- 

 pended over $173 billion in foreign aid/** 



The Executive Branch on Development Policy. — All administra- 

 tions have reaffirmed this commitment to foreign aid and international 

 development. The present administration has been no less emphatic in 

 reaffirming this important foreign policy principle. In his report to 

 Congress in February 1972, President Nixon said that the goals of the 

 administration for 1972 would be to 



. . . Work toward an improved foreign assistance program which will merit 

 increased domestic support and will enable us to adequately contribute, along 

 with other industrialized nations, to an international assistance effort which will 

 ensure that the development progress made in the 1950's and 1960's can continue 

 in this decade.'" 



A year later the President told Congress 



There has been a growing tendency to question our commitment to help devel- 

 oping nations. Attracted to rapid solutions and under-estimating the time and 

 effort needed to stimulate development, Americans are frustrated by the slow 

 pace of visible progress. But, our future economic and political needs will be far 

 better served by actively cooperating with the developing countries for our 

 mutual benefit than by neglecting their needs. We must pursue a realistic policy 

 of development assistance and find better ways of dealing with the trade and 

 monetary interests of developing nations.'** 



Secretary of State William P. Rogers reiterated the administration's 

 commitment. In his 1972 foreign policy report to the Congress, the 

 Secretary declared: 



It is now clear that present efforts to help the less developed world cannot 

 reduce the gap between rich and poor nations. But we must seek at least to help 

 them achieve a more equitable sharing in the progress occurring in the develop- 

 ing world, giving special attention to the poorest countries. Working from the 

 base that was built over the last decade, a greater effort must be made to solve 

 the problems arising from extreme poverty, overpopulation, poor health condi- 

 tions, and limited education opportunities which affect most directly the lives of 

 the majority of the developing world's population.'*' 



That the administration has appreciated the connection between 

 science and technology, development, and foreign policy is evident in 

 the remarks by Secretary Rogers on January 26, 1971, to the 12th 

 meeting of the panel on science and technology of the House Com- 

 mittee on Science and Astronautics. "The United States Government 

 is very conscious of the opportunities for economic development that 



-'**■ Agency for International Development, Statistics and Reports Division, Office of Finan- 

 cial Management, V.S. Overseas Loans and Grants and Assistance from International Orga- 

 nizations: Obligations and Loan Authorizations, July 1, 19i5-June 30, 1972, Washington, 

 May 1073. p. C. (Hereafter cited as, AID, U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants, 197.S. ) 



'<su.S. President, Richard M. Nixon, U.S. Foreign Policy for the 1970's: The Emerging 

 Structure of Peace, A report to the Congress, Feb. 9, 1972, p. 78. (Hereafter cited as, 

 President Nixon's Foreign Policy Report to Congress of 1972. 



'*" U.S. President, Richard M. Nfxon, United States Foreign Policy for the 1970's: Shaping 

 a Durable Peace, Report to the Congress, 93d Cong., 1st sess., 1973, p. 141. (House Doc. 

 No. 03-96.) (Hereafter cited as, President Nixon's Foreign Policy Report to Congress of 

 197S.) 



'*' U.S. Department of State, United States Foreian Policy 1972: A Report of the Secre- 

 tary of State (William P. Rogers), 1973, p. 42. (Department of State Publication 8699, 

 General Foreign Policy Series 274). (Hereafter cited as. Secretary of State Roger's Foreign 

 Policy Report to Congress of 1972, 1973.) 



