863 



regional or global balance? The answers to all of these questions, relate 

 to the effectiveness of both U.S. and multilateral eiforts to balance 

 the equation of food and population. 



A heavy U.S. investment in correcting the global food/population 

 balance would mean the shifting and reallocation of funds earmarked 

 for other development programs, and perhaps the dropping of some, 

 as long as U.S. foreign aid outlays remain roughly what they are now. 

 Whether foreign aid appropriations are increased, rjeduced, or remain 

 at the present level, the greatest positive impact on development mi^ht 

 well come from putting as lar^e as possible a pprcentage of foreign 

 aid money into population-limiting activities. At present, the United 

 States allots approximately five percent 9f its f oreigji. aid to family 

 planning work, while other large countries contribute less than one 

 percent. Sweden, with nine percent and Norway with ten percent, ap- 

 pear to lead in this category."^ ; 



It is not known how much money would be needed to br^ng popula- 

 tion growth in the LDCs to a stable condition because no comprehen- 

 sive study has been made of the magnitude of the world's effort in 

 this field. To get an accurate picture of the total need requires solid 

 analysis of what is being done by the developed countries, the U.N. 

 agencies, private groups, and the LDCs themselves. Such an inquiry 

 could be launched oy tne Congress, either through hearings or by com- 

 missioning a study. There could also be interest in such a study at 

 both the State Department and AID, which might want to conduct it 

 themselves if it should turn out to be within the limits of their available 

 resources. The United Nations might also be iitferested in doing a 

 study of this kind. Indeed, President Nixon in his foreign aid message 

 proposed that the U.N. Fund for Population Activities make a study 

 of "world needs and possible steps to deal with them" in the popula- 

 tion field.^" 



Regardless of the total cost of coping effectively with the onrushing 

 tide of population, it is important that every success be as visible as 

 possible. Thus far, the American people and the Congress have sup- 

 ported expenditures of public funds for this purpose. If the expendi- 

 tures show no results, it is unlikely that support for this activity can be 

 sustained in the Congress and with the U.S. public. This eventuality 

 does not seem likely in the present climate of general concern, but 

 given the somewhat tenuous support for foreign aid to begin with, it 

 remains a possibility. 



An even less likely development at this time, but again not impos- 

 sible, would be the adoption by some developing countries of compul- 

 sory measures of population control. (Indeed, in India at one point it 

 was proposed that compulsory sterilization be enforced upon males 

 with three or more living children ; the proposal was quickly with- 

 drawn in the face of vigorous opposition."^) Should such a proposal 

 be revived and acted upon, it would confront the United States with a 



"1 Conversation with Philander Claxton, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for 

 Population Matters. 



""U.S. Agency for International Development. "Foreign Assistance for the Seventies." 

 President Nixon's Message to the Congress. (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Of- 

 fice, September 30, 1970), 15 pages. 



163 ved P. Nanda. "The Need for a Global Population Policy — Now," Denver Law Journal. 

 Special Magazine Issue, 1971. Reproduced by Foreign Area Research Coordination Group 

 No. 14488. Department of State, page 10. 



