Department of State Committee files, lot 54 D 5, “Working Group on Colonial Problems”
Memorandum by L. W. Cramer of the Technical Cooperation Administration to the Working Group on Colonial Problems1
1. Alignment of underdeveloped areas of world with colonies
In terms of world stability and the security of the Western world, the most ominous feature of the colonial problem is the fact that the underdeveloped countries of the world take sides vigorously with the colonial peoples in any of their real or supposed issues with the metropolitan powers. This is perhaps accounted for by the fact that a low standard of living, whether the result of causes internal or external to a particular territory, breeds the same ignorance, want, disease and desperation wherever it exists. This magnifies the size of the so-called colonial problem out of all proportion and tends to align most of the rest of the world into a bloc, sometimes hostile, more often neutralist [Page 1128] in relation to the Western powers, but always open to Soviet attempts at manipulation.
2. Implementation of established U.S. policy in relation to colonies and other underdeveloped territories
The U.S. Government has laid down formal and official policy lines concerning the colonial problem, as well as with respect to underdeveloped areas generally. Article 73 of the United Nations Charter spells out the policies which we agree to carry out in our own colonies and at the same time commits us to collaboration with other colonial powers in aiding them to carry out these same policies in their colonial possessions. The Act for International Development sets out policies and programs of action for the underdeveloped territories of the world, whether these be dependent or independent. With respect to dependent territories there is need to develop techniques and programs under the Act for International Development which will carry out the commitment we have made in Article 73 to collaborate with the European metropolitan powers in achieving the social, economic and scientific purposes of that article in their dependent territories. This involves a number of areas of activity including—
- (a)
- Furnishing policy directives in detail to implement our policy to Washington and field personnel and agencies, including US–UN personnel, based on clear assignments of responsibility.
- (b)
- Consultation with metropolitan powers to establish methods of cooperation.
- (c)
- Development of specific programs for particular territories designed to carry out our treaty obligations and Congressional directives.
- (d)
- Public information, including special measures to reach the populations of underdeveloped countries. (In this connection the special importance of Puerto Rico should be studied and fully exploited).
- Circulated to the Working Group under cover of Doc. CP D–1/1, June 26, 1952 (the third of 4 attachments).↩