808 



itoring by the Office of the President, and the less formal assistance of 

 private groups like the Rockefeller Foundation. A vast network of 

 private inteinational organizations has been constructed, to provide 

 assistance in areas such as labor standards, technical information, 

 marketing, credit, and capital. 



Despite the great amount of effort, and the multiplicity of agencies, 

 engaged in various parts of the task of encouraging agricultural de- 

 velopment in the LDCs, the total result seems disappointing. Boerma 

 observes that "there has not been much meaningful cooperation among 

 countries for the harmonization of national policies or measures affect- 

 ing agriculture." The Pearson Report finds a similar lack of direction. 



The international aid system today, with its profusion of bilateral 

 and multilateral agencies, lacks direction and coherence. A serious 

 effort is necessary to coordinate the efforts of multilateral and bilateral 

 aid-givers and those of aid-receivers.®^ 



The Peterson Report, while offering no explicit criticism of things 

 as they are, is suggestive of these dissatisfactions in the recommenda- 

 tions it oti'ers for change (paraphrase) : 



Private investment is under attack. Enlightened trade policies toward the 

 LDCs are an essential element in achieving international development. Accept- 

 ing imports is one of the responsibilities of industrial countries. More reliance 

 should be placed on international organizations; an international organization 

 like the World Bank, with no political or commercial interests of its own, is 

 able to obtain pood results. Strengthen the capabilities of international organiza- 

 tions and build more coherence into their operations. Encourage them to take 

 a broader view : to give increasing attention to the management, social, techni- 

 cal, .scientific cooperation, and popular participation aspects of development 

 Encourage them to be diplomatic, flexible, sympathetic, and persuasive — but pre- 

 pared t«> say no and to withstand political pressure. With respect to "U.S. assis- 

 tance, there is an excessive number of statutory and procedural requirements 

 that encumber the program and reduce its flexibility. A number of departments 

 and agencies have competing interests and responsibilities with the result that 

 too many issues go to the President for resolution, and opportunities to take 

 initiatives in policies toward developing countries are sometimes lost.** 



Bocrma's analysis suggests the need for a more comprehensive and 

 more vigorous global approach : "The developing world as a whole is 

 in need of help. The developed world as a whole must provide it." 

 Subjects tliat call for action, he says, are: "* * * population, em- 

 ployment, agrarian reform, nutrition, research, marketing, credit, 

 agricultural extension, training, and the improved processing of agri- 

 cultural products ♦ * ♦ ." The world of agriculture is interconnected, 

 and "the level of national agricultural production in any one trading 

 country automatically affects the siutation in others. * * * In the 

 world of today, agricultural policies can no longer be formulated in 

 an exclusively national or even regional or subregional context." 

 Moreover, in dealing with these problems "what is required is in- 



" Lester B. Pearson, et al. "Partners In Development, Report of the Commission on 

 International Development" (New York. International Bank for Reconstruction and De- 

 velopment. 1969), page 22. . „ .^ 



•< "U.S. ForeJRn Assistance In the 1970'8 : A New Approach," Report to the President 

 from the Task Force on International Development, March 4, 1970 (WashinRton, X:.S. 

 Government Printing OflBce, 1970), 39 pages. 



