U.S. POLICY ON VIETNAM-ADDRESS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00446R000300180032-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: June 8, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN

.tune 8, 19dkpproved
For R h2~~ ~ ASI 1 ~7B 44~"0300180032=5 12343
SOCIAL, SECURITY AMENDMENTS OF
1965-AMEND] ENx'S
AMENDMENT NO. 256..
Mr DOUGLAS submitted amend-
U.S. POLICY ON VIETNAM-ADDRESS
BY THE VICE PRESIDENT
melits, intended to be proposed by him, Mr. McNAMARA. Mr. President, on
to the bill (H.R. 6675) to provide a hos- June 1, at Michigan State University, in
pital insurance program for the aged un- East Lansing, Mich., Vice President Hu-
der the Social Security Act with a sup- BERT H. HUMPHREY delivered an address
plementary health benefits program and on the administration's position in the
an expanded program of medical assist- Vietnam conflict.
ante, to increase benefits under the Old- In his usual able manner, the Vice
Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance President underscored the basic reasons
System, to improve the Federal-State. governing the Involvement of the United
re re and for other States I ask in southeast unanimous Asia.
public assistance programs,
consent that the text
purposes, which were referred to the of his address be printed in the RECORD.
Committee on Finance and ordered to be .r. --? U-.-.. __ -
was ordered to be printed in the RECORD,
'as follows:
NOTICE OF HEARINGS BY COMMIT- ADDRESS sY Txs VECE Pa SIDENT AT 112icIriGAn
TEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WEL- STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MIOH.,
FARE OSe JUNE 1, 1965
Mr. McNAMARA. Mr. President,' for It Is'a pleasure to accept the invitation of
the Michigan State People-to-People Com-
the Information of the Senate, I would mittee to discuss U.S. policy in Vietnam.
like to announce the following schedule Coming here today from Washington-
of hearings on bills pending before the once aptly described as "a city of southern
Senate Labor and Public Welfare Com- efficiency and northern charm"-it is refresh-
mittee and assigned to subcommittees ing to return to the atmosphere of excite-
which I chair: ment, of expectation and love of learning
June 22 through 25, the Subcommittee that is characteristic of a great university.
Action is to the politician what reflection
on Labor will her witnesses on S. 256, Is to the scholar-and as a political leader,
repeal of section 14(b) of the National it is a rewarding experience to confront the
Labor Relations Act; and on S. 731 and enthusiastic questioning of the student and
H.R. 5883, amendments to the bonding the careful scrutiny of the professor.
provisions of the Labor-Management Re- It is a welcomed-if risky-experience.
It is welcome, because nowhere are solid
porting and Disclosure Act. arguments and perceptive judgments more
July 6 through-, 9 and 12 through 16, appreciated.
the subcommittee will hear witnesses on It is risky because nothing chills nonsense
S. 1986, extension of coverage of mini- like exposure to the brisk air of a university.
mum wage and: amendments to the over- The subject which I am about to dis-
time provisions Of the Fair Labor Stand- cuss with you is appropriate for this audi-
ards Act. ence because it pertains to war and peace.
Meanwhile, the Select Subcommittee No group should be more interested in war
on Poverty, which has ending S. 1759, and peace than those who will be expected
p to bear the brunt of the fighting If war
amendments to the. Economic. Qpportu- should come.
nity Act, will hear witnesses on June 28 It is therefore a natural and healthy
and 29. phenomenon that war and peace in south-
east Asia should have become the subject of
lively debate and vigorous discussion on
NOTICE OF HEARINGS ON DO- university campuses across the country.
MESTIC AND FOREIGN SURPLUS As the debate on U.B. policy in Vietnam
PROPERTY PROGRAM has flourished during the past 6 months, the
United States has continued to be challenged
Mr. GRUENING. Mr., President, as to match deeds with words In opposing
chairman of the Subcommittee on For- aggression and defending the freedom of a
eign Aid Expenditures of the Senate friendly nation.
Committee on Government Operations, I We have met that challenge.
wish to announce that that subcommit- Our firm and decisive response to naked
tee will hold hearings on the doixiestic aggression against South Vietnam has
demonstrated to our friends that our power
and foreign surplus property program on remains pre-eminent and our devotion to
Thursday, June 10 at 2 p.m., and Friday, freedom firm-and to our foes that the
June Ill at 10 a.m,, in room 3302 of the United States. Is no paper tiger.
New Senate Office Building. Future The measured application of American
hearings will be held on this subject and power proves that we are prepared to meet
those who desire to testify later should aggression in whatever form, that we shall
so notify Mr. Glenn Shriven of the staff not be forced to choose between humiliation
and holocaust, that the firmness of our re-
of the Senate Committee on Government sponse in no way diminishes our devotion
Operations. to peace.
Our, action in Vietnam is a part of the con-
tinuing struggle which the American people
.9bDRESSS, EDITORIALS, ARTI- must be_prepared to wage if we are to pre-
CLEa, ETC., PRINTED IN THE AP- serve free civilization as,.weknow it and re-
PENDIX sist the expansion of Communist power.
It request, and by unanimous consent, It is a further Indication that the break-
up of the bipolar world, which has character-
addresses, editorials, 'articles, etc., were ized the international relations of the past
ordered to be printed in the Appendix, as two decades, and the easing of tensions be-
followa: tween East and West following the nuclear
test ban, may have changed the pattern of
U.S. involvement in world affairs, but it has
not diminished it.
We retain the role of leader of the free
world that we Inherited at the end of World
War It, and in that role our responsibilities
remain worldwide. In that role our responsi-
bility extends to distant Asia as well as to
countries on our doorstep,
President Johnson has made it unmis-
takably clear that we intend to meet those
responsibilities.
It was in the role of defender of the free
world that we originally made a commitment
to Vietnam in 1954.
It was in this role that three administra-
tions maintained that commitment.
Although as students of history you may
debate the wisdom of the original decision
to take up the responsibilities which the
French relinquished in 1954, this question
has little relevance for the policymaker
today.
President Johnson in his Baltimore speech
of April 7 and his Washington speech of
May 13 spelled out those alternatives and
which we have chosen as the basis of our
policy.
They are three:
First. In the face of armed conflict, in
the face of continued aggressions, we will
not withdraw, we will not abandon the peo-
ple of Vietnam. We shall keep our word.
Our refusal to withdraw is based on our
recognition that sudden withdrawal from
Vietnam would only weaken the position of
free societies in Asia-which could only re-
gard withdrawal as a loss of interest by the
United States in the area and an enticement
to accommodate themselves to Communist
China.
In refusing to withdraw we reject the be-
lief that by some Hegelian law of inevitabil-
ity, China is destined to swallow up all of
Asia. And I find it curious that proponents
of the inevitability theory so often combine
it with advocacy of the Titoist doctrine that
Vietnam would become an independent neu-
tral nation if we would withdraw our mili-
tary forces. The arguments are absolutely
incompatible.
We refuse to withdraw in the certain
knowledge that withdrawal would mean the
betrayal of those who have opposed the
spread of communism in southeast Asia,
would mean certain death or exile.
Finally, in relation to the Sino-Soviet con-
test, a withdrawal by us would vindicate the
Chinese thesis that militancy pays-and dis-
credit the Soviet thesis of peaceful coexist-
ence.
Second. Recognizing that a political so-
lution of the conflict is essential, we stand
ready to engage in unconditional discus-
sions. We have no desire for further mili-
tary escalation of the war. We stand ready
to consider any solution which would bring
peace and justice to all of Vietnam, North
and South.
I would like to make crystal clear who
is in favor of a political settlement and who
is opposed, who has offered the olive branch
and who has rejected it. President John-
son has affirmed not only our willingness to
hold unconditional discussions to end the
war, but our ardent desire to do so.
What has been the response of the Com-
munist governments in Hanoi and Peiping?
They have rejected every peace offer from
any source. They have spurned the efforts
of the U.N. to mediate. They have scorned
the offer of the British. They have brushed
aside the efforts of the Indian Government.
In short-the Communist governments in
Hanoi and?#'eiping have rejected all efforts
to restore peace and justice to the people of
Vietnam.
Third. We recognize that the people of
Vietnam must have a cause for which to
fight, they must have hope of a better day.
We have made it clear to the people of Viet-
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nam that to improve their lives and fulfill known the benefits of modern civilization. Yet the effort goes on despite these at-
their hopes we stand ready to support a the status quo is no longer a burden to be tacks and dangers. Brave and tireless Viet-
massive cooperative development effort: not patiently borne, but an oppressor to be cast namese continue to take seeds and fertilizer
only for Vietnam but for all of southeast off. and farming know-how to the villagers!'
Asia. It is our hope, as President Johnson The primary responsibility for preserving teachers continue to man the schools; medi-
has said, that "the works of peace can bring the independence and security of a country cal teams go into the country despite the
men together in a common effort to abandon remains with the people and the government clear and always present danger. And at
forever the works of war." of that country. If the people and their their side-I am proud to say-go American
These three principles-honoring our milt- leaders have no will to preserve their inde- civilian workers. And they, too, have been
tary commitment, a continuing willingness to pendence, no outside force can save them. killed and kidnaped. These men and worn
seek a political solution, and a massive eco- If the government can provide the people en, Vietnamese and American-and increas-
nomic development program-remain the with a cause for which to fight, with a pro- ingly of other nationalities-are the unsung,
bases of our policy. gram inspiring sacrifice and effort, that gov- unpublicized heroes of this phase of the
The struggle in Vietnam has a special sig- ernment can be capable of defending itself struggle. So long as they persevere wars of
nificance for the United States as the de- against Communist infiltration and subver- national liberation can be defeated.
fender of the free world because it confronts sion from within. Where subversion from As I understand it, you have decided to
us with a bold new form of aggression- within is supported from outside, as is the participate in this struggle by adopting the
which could rank in military importance case in Vietnam, outside assistance is needed hamlet of Long Yen in Tay Ninh Province.
with the discovery of gunpowder. I refer if such a government is to achieve this capa- This hamlet, 60 miles from Saigon, has vig-
to the war of national liberation. bility. In many areas of the world, the orously resisted absorption into Vietcong
Vietnam offers a classic example of what United States has inherited the role of pro- hands. I am told you plan to raise funds-
can be accomplished by militant Communist tertor and defender of non-Communist na- to build a new two-room school, to construct
forces intent on deliberate subversion of a tions which are under Communist assault. an open-air market and to pay for both a
country from within. It is a role we have not sought. It is often schoolteacher and a health officer. These
There we have seen a Communist state re- a painful and expensive one. But it is an are things the people of the hamlet them-
fuse to leave its neighbors in peace. We essential one-both to the security of the selves have decided they most need and want.
have seen the infiltration of Communist non-Communist world and to our own. I have heard that word of Michigan
cadres to strengthen and direct guerrilla war- As I have noted, in overcoming wars of State's program has struck sparks in other
fare in violation of international accords. national liberation no one mode of response campuses as well.
We have seen the Communists who control is adequate. At this point I would like to This is most encouraging, most inspiring.
and direct the war from Hanoi insist that call attention to the nonmilitary side of For the need is so great-not just the physi-
the war in South Vietnam is internal be- the struggle that is required in this complex cal need, but the need for people to know
cause many of the Vietcong are South Viet- situation. My example again is Vietnam. that other people stand with them. In this
namese. We have seen them portray the I refer to the little noticed side of thestrug- fashion you will be helping the Vietnamese
struggle as a civil war-in which the popu- gle-the struggle for a better life. It is the people build a future for themselves. You
far forces are arrayed against American im- battle of the Vietnamese people not mere- will be working to defeat a new and perni-
perialism. ly to survive, but to build, to make progress, cious form of aggression against mankind.
It is this new sophisticated form of war- to move forward. In assisting independent nations-whether
fare that is becoming the major challenge to In the past decade, rice production has in southeast Asia or in our own hemisphere---
our security, to the security of all free been doubled. Corn output is expected to there will be required on our part patience
nations. This new warfare is often more be four times as large next year as it was In as well as courage, "the will to endure as well
dangerous than the old-a war in which the 1962. Pig production has more than doubled as the will to resist."
leaders cannot be located, in which the since 1955. But our willingness to meet our obligation
sources of supply cannot be easily cut off, The average Vietnamese can expect to live to assist free nations should not be confused
in which the enemy forces are not outsiders only 35 years. Yet there are only 200 civil- with a desire to extend American power or
but indigenous troops-in which signed fan doctors. A new medical school we are impose American ways.
truces do not halt the struggle. helping to build will graduate that number We do not aspire to any Pax Americana.
The supreme challenge today is to prove of new doctors each year. We have no desire to play the role of global
to our Communist foes and our freedom- Meanwhile, we have helped vaccinate more gendarme. Where multilateral organizations
loving friends that the new face of war is no than 7 million people against cholera and are ready and capable of assuming the burden
less pernicious than the old, that it can millions more against other diseases. More of defending independent nations from Corn-
be defeated by those of strong mind, stout than 12,000 hamlet health stations have been munist assault, of preventing internal re-
heart, and a will of steel. We know now built and stocked with medical supplies. bellions from leading to chaos and anarchy,
that most Communist regimes do not desire In Vietnam-as everywhere-"civilization we welcome their intervention. As we know
to blow the world to pieces. They prefer to is a race between education and catastro- from recent history, international organize-
pick i up piece by piece. phe." Education is the foundation of any tions like the U.N. are not always capable of
How do we successfully meet the challenge country's future. For it is impossible to run stepping in quickly. When they are capable
posed by wars of national liberation? We a government, local or national, to man fee- we welcome their presence.
need a balanced military force comprising terries or to enrich the national life without Our stakes in southeast Asia are too high
air, sea, and land power. We need maximum trained and educated people. Elementary for the recklessness either of withdrawal or
fiexibtlitp in our forces-making it possible school enrollment was 300,000 in 1965-It is of general conflagration. We need not choose
to respond rapidly to any situation. We need five times that number today. Vocational between inglorious retreat or unlimited re-
men experience in guerrilla and psychological school enrollment has quadrupled. The uni- taliation. The stakes can be secured
warfare, in all the paramilitary arts that are versity population is increasing steadily, through a wise multiple strategy If we but
practiced in wars of national liberation. We This progress has been achieved against sustain our national determination to see the
must adapt our aircraft and ships to the con- the most appalling odds. It has been made job through to success.
dittoes we find. We must relearn the tac- despite the carefully planned and executed Our Vietnamese friends look forward to
tics ground quipmen nt a and our guerrilla
weapons setting program of terror and harassment carried the day when national independence and
and adapt o ou ure equip
accordingly. out by the Vietcong. security will be achieved, permitting the
hel
Overwhelming military power alone is not There is a curious misconception abroad withdrawal of foreign forces. We share that
an adequate response to wars of national lib- that the Vietcong is a great idealistic move- hope and that expectation.
eration. Since these wars feed on seething ment, a sort of "Indochinese wing of the But we know that that hope cannot be
social discontent, success in countering them American Populist Party"-to use Arthur achieved if the United States shirks its obii-
requires a subtle blending of economic aid, Schlesinger's phrase. In reality, they are, he gations, if it attempts to withdraw from the
political expertise, educational efforts, in- continues, "a collection of very tough terror- world, to retreat from its responsibilities as
formation and propaganda programs-com- ists whose gains have come in the main a world leader. If we refuse to share the
bined. with military power. not from the hopes they have inspired but burden of preserving the peace-who will
Where wars of liberation flourish, the mill- from the fear they have created." take it on? If we refuse to,share the burden
tary struggle is but one part of a larger social In the countryside, agricultural stations of defending free societies, who can guarantee
and political struggle. And these struggles have regularly been destroyed and medical their survival? If we will not join in the
will continue and revolutionary'ferment will clinics raided. Malaria control team mem- defense of democracy, what are its future
increase' until governments come to power bars have been killed or kidnaped. Village prospects?
capable of implementing systematic social chiefs, schoolteachers and others who rep- I fail to see the logic of those who recom-
and economic programs designed to abolish resent order and social service have been mend that we withdraw from the world. If
shocking social and economic inequality be- made special targets by the terrorists. we are concerned about our national security
tween the privileged few and the impover- All told, it is estimated that 10,000 civilian in all its aspects, we cannot ignore Asia be-
-ished masses, between glittering capitals and officials have been killed or kidnaped since cause Europe has been made secure. We
festering slums, between favored urban en- 1954. If one were to use comparable fig- learned by hard experience in Europe that
claves and primitive rural areas. ures for the United States in relation to pop- involvement is the price of resisting aggres-
For the masses of the . people in the de- ulation, this would amount to 130,000 offi- sion, that appeasement is not only morally
veloping countries of Asia who have never ciale. wrong, but a threat to national security.
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1V R
In a casnplex world, we must practice It has been well said that restless youth is Only an educated society with spiritual
patience and perseverance-patience to de- the source spring of America's constant re- purpose Can match a science minded com-
tend free nations in ULstant,.Asia as. well as newal-without it we should wither away.
those close to home. We must not be lured You are the premise and the promise of
by quick and easy solutions. We must not the America-to-be.
abandon our goals because of frustration. I come here today with a sense of pride in
We must continue to pursue the goal of the America-that-is.
peace and freedom-acknowledging both the In the past year it has been my opportu-
prospects of success and the consequences of nity to journey to many points in our coun-
failure, If we. act. With vision and wisdom, try. From coast to coast it has been my
we shall riot fail.. privilege to take part in many gatherings of
our people.
I have found an Alnerica that is not old-
~ICEIVlE
COMME NT ADDRESS BY SEN- an America that is not tired-an America
ATOR PASTORE AT PORTSMOUTH that is not fearful.
PRIORY SCHOOL It Is an America that is a little proud of
what it has dune, is doing, and intends to do
Mr.. HILL, Mr. President, one of the to make this world a little better for people
ablest and most brilliant men with whom who want to be decent, and mean to be free.
it has been'my privilege to serve during It is an America prosperous beyond an
my many years in Congress is the dis- economist's dream.
tinenicharl caninr i ana.tnr from R.hnrla It is a generous America-eagerly gener-
Island [Mr. PASTORE]. He speaks with
moving eloquence, with commanding
logic, and with impressive knowledge to
;etix iilerl,'shesrts, to challenge their
minds, and to inspire them ever onward.
. : On Yesterday, Senator PASTORE deliv-
ered a commencement address at Ports-
mouth Priory School, at Portsmouth, R.I.
He reminded the graduates that they
are the premise and the promise of the
America-to-be. His address was a beau-
tiful appeal to the youth of our country
to develop to the fullest the talents with
which God has endowed them, and to
carry on `the never-ending struggle for
freedom, for peace, and for the service
y
g
y
a
we
ave a moral
of mankind. purpose that we treasure just as much as
I ask unanimous consent that the ad our material and military strength.
dress be printed at this point in the President Johnson has said that our rec-
RECORR, ord of fighting hunger and illiteracy and
There being no objection, the address underprivilege abroad has shown us that we
was ordered to be printed inthe RECORD, can, and should, and must, fight those evils
at home.
its foliow$; We are doing that.
REMARKS of U.S. SENATOR JOHN O. PASTORE To my mind poverty and peace are the
TO PoarssIOUTH PRIORY SCHOOL GRADUA- paramount, inseparable problems of our
TION CLASS OF 1965, PORTSMOUTH, R.I., MON- time,
DAY, JUNE 7,1665'. _ This means, your time, young men of this
1 asrr--honored and. happy to be at the graduating class.
Priory-and to be, privileged to share your In my heart I believe that we cannot have
Important day. tranquility at home if a great segment of our
I feel at honii in historic Port mouth. people feel that equity and opportunity have
have come here as often as I could-and for passed them by.
a selfish reason. My daughter was at Elm- In my heart I do not believe that we can
hurst. have peace in the world if little people can
-This, year she, too, says farewell to Ports- 'be made to feel that they have been counted
mouth-and a distant college becomes the out and left by conquerors to languish in
calling place of her parents. poverty.
It is a little frightening how your children Poverty seems unreasonable in a world
grow up-and seem to grow away from you. of plenty when the science of man holds every
So, my first thoughts, perhaps, are with potential of satisfying every human need.
your mothers and fathers. Out of their love War seems irrational when we know that
comes' the meads and the meaning of this peace holds so much promise in removing
day. The sincerity of their Christian duty the ancient causes of war.
culminates' in this scene of beauty. Theirs We want a world in which men can walk
is truly a Benedictine benediction. with triumph in their eyes and not with
We parents are grateful to God for His terror in their hearts.
wonderful blessing that we call by a simple We want the hearts of the world to sing
name-the sweet and simple name of "f am- with their God-given goals of life, liberty,
Sly." and the pursuit of happiness.
Here, with your faculty, you have fashioned That is the aim of our free society.
another family. Here you have found an- But remember this, remember this well, in
other kind mother-an alma mater you can our world of challenge and change only an
never forget. educated society can stay free.
? Here your teachers have imbued you with Only a truly educated society can lift up
the truest tests and deepest values of edu- the lowly and neglected of its own people,
cation. The test is not merely how well you providing the means for self-improvement,
learn but how well you live, education, training, rehabilitation, changes
Out of, the teacher's sacrifice the Scholar in social attitudes and institutions, their
is lifted to his own, place of service to self chance for a share in the good and Great
a tq society, to family, to church, and to Society.
s- ate Only an educated__society can be a leader
with aA ,the sincerity of a father's heart, in this modern world. It is a world where
I salute the teacher,, two-thirds of its people are underprivileged
and impatient. They seek in their lifetime
::And ,X salute you of the graduating class of to lift themselves to what took us centuries
1965. to achieve.
ous to share its prosperity, its power, its
purpose of honorable peace with people
everywhere.
I have found an. America surprisingly
young again.
It has its errors, its pains, and its aches.
But these are the growing pains of'a nation
that counts its age in decades in a world
that counts its weariness in centuries.
But never in recorded history has a nation
taken such giant steps to overcome its ills.
And we have not failed the needy anywhere
in,the world.
-Never in the experience of mankind has a
nation, as a nation, so sent its youth to the
wide flung frontiers of human need.
In far away places our Peace Corps proves
that America has ideas and ideals framedrin
decenc
and di
nit
th
t
h
munism-a materialistic mind vacillating
between domination and destruction of the
_world.
In a tomorrow of instant global communi-
cation, when physical man will speed through
space at 5 million miles an hour, the mind
of man cannot falter for a moment, the heart
of man cannot fail him for an instant.
Only an educated society can give us a lease
on liberty. -
The future of freedom depends on the
youth of today and the use he makes of the
classroom of tomorrow.
It is the duty of each youth to develop to
the fullest the talents with which God has
endowed him. This cannot be a selfish de-
velopment-it must be for the service of
mankind.
But that is something you have learned
at Portsmouth Priory.
Hasn't a Benedictine said it something like
this: "The work we do in life is given us by
God. We must work while the light lasts-
and since the light is the light of faith-we
must work fully and faithfully to the last
moment of our lives."
To this I would say God has granted that
you should be born in a time of boundless
opportunity.
Don't stop short of your best.
With your preparation here, I have con-
fidence in your capacity to carry on to col-
lege and beyond. I have confidence in your
convictions, and your courage.
You will have a ready answer to that
eternal challenge: ask only what you can
do for your country and your God.
That challenge brings memories of a
youth who used to travel these ways and
these waters. Along this shore, at Melville,
he learned the arts of war and the urgency
of peace.
John Kennedy knew that peace was com-
pounded of power and justice and liberty.
On a cold January day, 4 years ago, he
set our hearts on fire with these words: "Let
every nation know, whether it wishes us
well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear
any burden, meet any hardship, support any
friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure
the survival and success of liberty."
. Today those words are graven on a stone
in a sacred acre of England's Runnymede.
There on a June day 750 years ago, King
John signed the Magna Carta of the freedoms
that have been fostered and have grown
wherever the English language is spoken.
May they still be treasured 750 years from
now-and may the spirit of a free America
still echo John Kennedy's parting phrase:
"Let us go forth to, lead the land we love,
asking His blessing and His help, but know-
ing that here on earth God's work must
truly be our own."
INCREASING WORLD FOOD OUTPUT
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, much
of man's history can be traced In his con-
tinuous and usually futile struggle to
produce sufficient food to sustain his.
person and his society. Today in what
is perhaps the era of man's greatest tech-
nological understanding, there remains
in the lesser developed countries a tragic
shortage of food, even as the populations
of these countries are increasing.
The dilemma created by the failure to
exploit the existing technical knowledge
in the underdeveloped areas was explored
recently in a detailed report by U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture International
Agricultural Economist, Lester R. Brown.
In a report entitled "Increasing World
Food Output," Mr. Brown compares the
progress in raising acreage yields for a
number of countries and in several crops.
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His Observations were the subject of an Since the world is running out of new The less developed world is clearly losing
editorial in the May 21 Washington Post land to plow, the only answer for the land- the capacity to feed itself; stated otherwise, a
and a news item by Gene M. White in the scarce, less-developed countries is to raise growing share of the increase in population
Post's May 27 issue. I believe these two their crop yields per acre. is being sustained by food shipments from
But here these countries are handicapped the developed regions, largely from the
press reports, together with the summary by low literacy rates and low income levels United States under the food-for-peace pro-
of Mr. Brown's findings, as printed in without a market-oriented agriculture, gram.
":Increasing World Food Output," con- Farmers who can't read are hard to reach Why is the less developed world losing the
tribute greatly to the available knowledge with new farming methods, to be taught, capacity to feed itself? The answer can be
on this subject, and I ask unanimous for instance, that they can't keep hybrid stated in simple terms. Throughout his-
consent that they be printed in the corn seed from year to year. If they have to tory, man has increased the food supply by
eat up 80 percent of their crop to subsist, expanding the area under cultivation. But
RECORD. they don't have money to invest In seeds, today many densely populated, less devel-
There being no objection, the reports fertilizer, and the machines to increase the oped countries have nearly exhausted the
and summary were ordered to be printed yield of their land. supply of new land that can readily be
in the RECORD, as follows: "Food shortages emerging in the less-de- brought under cultivation. Nearly half of
[From the Washington (D C.) Post, May 21, veloped world are not due to a lack of tech- the world's people live in less developed coun-
1965] nology but to the inability to apply existing tries that are now essentially fixed-land
FOOD AND KNOWLEDGE technology as fast as current and projected economies-that is, almost allcultivable land
rates of population growth require," the re- is already in use. These countries must look
In the first half of the 19th century David port observes. to rising per acre yields for most of the ad-
Ricardo, T. It. Malthus and other classical Lester R. Brown, agricultural economist, ditions to their food supply. They must
economists predicted an end to economic who recently returned from a trip to India, generate a yield takeoff--a sustained rise in
progress that was predicated on the assump- is the author of "Increasing World Food Out- yield per acre.
tion of diminishing returns in agriculture. put.,, The ability to generate a trend of rapidly
Their prophecy proved false, not only be- He applies the takoff concept, used by rising yields, however, has been confined
cause of the opening up of new lands in Economist W. W. Rostow for income per per- largely to the more advanced countries. Over
the Western Hemisphere and Australasia, but son, to yield per acre, the past quarter century, all the increase in
more importantly because advancing tech- As Brown sees it, there are four major food output in both North America and
nology-better techniques of cultivation, ir- pretakeoff factors for a sudden, sustained WesternEurope came from raising yield per
rigation and the introduction of chemical rise in per-acre crop yields. These are a rela- acre. Yield per acre in North America, the
fertilizers-raised acreage-yields. The tech- tively high level of literacy, an income level most advanced region, increased 109 percent;
nological advance that laid the Ricardian to provide capital to invest in yield-raising in Asia, the least advanced region, it Increased
bogey of diminishing returns is based on capital inputs, a market-oriented agricul- only 7 percent, and for the entire less de-
widely diffused knowledge. But the applica- ture, and support from the nonagricultural veloped world it rose only 8 percent.
tion of that knowledge in the underdevel- economy in such things as fertilizers, pesti- Once yield-per-acre takeoffs are achieved,
oped areas, where two thirds of the world's cides, and transportation. yields tend to continue upward. There is no
population dwells, is proceeding at a snail's The big jumps in yields in, the last few record of a post-takeoff country in which
pace at a time when the supply of virgin decades have come chiefly in the developed yields have tended to level off or trend
land is being exhausted. regions. Between 1934-38 and 1960, grain downward. If anything, yields tend to in-
The dilemma created by the failure to ex- yields in North America increased 109 per- crease at an accelerating rate after takeoff.
ploit the, existing technical knowledge in the cent. But in Asia, where food needs axe The problem is to generate the yield takeoff.
underdeveloped areas is the subject of a re- much greater with a rapid population And the big question is: What is needed for
port on "Increasing World Food Output" by growth, they rose only 7 percent. ? a yield takeoff?
Lester R. Brown of the U.B. Department of Before World War II, the less=developed One factor facilitating a yield-per-acre
Agriculture. In a series of fascinating countries of Asia, Africa, and South America, takeoff is a reasonably high level of literacy.
graphs, Mr. Brown compares the progress in were mostly exporters of grain. Now they A trend of rapidly rising yields implies the
raising acreage yields for a number of coun- no longer can grow enough food to feed continuous movement of new ideas and tech-
tries and several crops. India today, his esti- their growing populations and are steadily niques from the research plot to the farmer,
mates indicate, is getting the same number losing ground in the race with expanding and this is much easier in a largely literate
of pounds of rice per acre as Japan did in population. society.
the 12th century. And there are other India now needs 7 million tons of imported Rates of yield increase vary widely among
equally striking disparities in yields for other grain to feed its people. China needs 6 mil- countries with widely varying literacy levels.
crops, evidence of the lag in the application lion tons. In his report, Brown warns that Major grain producing countries with literacy
of agricultural technology. it will be "very difficult to establish a secure levels below 50 percent raised yields at 0.2
The failure to adopt modern methods is and lasting world order in a situation where percent per year between 1935 and 1939 and
related to low literacy rates and the failure the less-developed world continues to become 1960 and 1962. Those with literacy levels
in many countries to develop a market-ori- increasingly dependent on concessional food between 50 and 80 percent achieved a 1.1
ented agriculture. As a result the acreage shipments from the advanced countries." percent annual rate of gain; those above 80
"yield gap" between, the developed and un- And in the future, he notes, - food ship- percent averaged 1.4 percent.
derdeveloped areas is steadily widening. ments cannot account for more than a small There Is also a close relationship between
Food shipments from the developed to the part of the projected increase in food needs the average level of income per person in a
underdeveloped countries will be helpful, but over the next several years. The solution, country and its ability to raise output per
they cannot, Mr. Brown explains, "account he emphasizes, must come from improving acre. Countries with average per capita in-
for more than a very small fraction of pro- agriculture within the less-developed coun- comes below $200 per year raised yields an
jected increases in food needs over the next tries of the world. average of 0.2 percent per year between pre-
several years." war and 1961-62. Those with incomes be-
st would be a tragedy if the prophecies of SVMMARY tween $200 and $1,000 averaged a 1 percent
Ricardo and Malthus were fulfilled, not be- In the past 25 years, some very significant rate of yield increase. And those with in-
eause they were based on valid assumptions, changes occurred in the worldwide man- comes above $1,000 averaged more than 2.2
but 'because man is unable to utilize the land-food relationship. Food output per percent per year.
fruits of his own intelligence, person in the less developed regions (Asia, Another factor facilitating a- yield-per-acre
Africa, and Latin America) dropped sharply takeoff is the development of a market-
[From the Washington (D.C.) Post, during World War II, but trended steadily oriented agriculture. In subsistence-type
May 27, 19651 upward during the 1950's, in most cases economies, the share of farm output enter-
UNITED STATES PESSIMISTIC ON WORLD FOOD reaching or closely approaching prewar levels. ing the market is often very small, limiting
,Caists In the 1960's, however, output per person the amount of cash which farmers have to
M. White) in these regions has shown a disturbing tend- purchase yield-raising inputs such as ferti-
(By dean ency to trend downward. lizer. This was not a serious handicap when
The food shortages in the world's hungry Before the war, the less 3eveloped regions food output could be increased by simply
countries are likely to get worse before they were exporting 11 million tons of grain per expanding the area under cultivation.
get better because there is little chance year to the developed countries. After the Agriculture is often quite independent of
for a ,yield takeoff" under present condi- war, this flow reversed. During the early the remainder of the economy in an area-
tians. postwar years, 4 million tons of grain per expanding situation, but as it becomes pos-
An Agriculture Department report, just year moved from the developed to the less sible to increase the food supply only by rais-
released,. sees no realistic hope for a quick developed world. - As population growth ing yields, agriculture becomes quite de-
jump in food, production in most of the un- rates accelerated in the 1950's, this flow in- pendent on the remainder of the economy
derdeveloped lands, in 'which two-thirds of creased, averaging 13 million tons per year for a wide variety of goods and services, vary-
the world's population lives. In the late 1950's. In the 1960's, the flow has ing from capital inputs such as fertilizer and
The food problems, the study emphasizes, Increased further, reaching 21 million tons pesticides to services such as research, credit,
Is more involved than seeds, fertilizer, ma- in 1961 and, according to preliminary esti- and transportation. Thus, the ability to raise
ehin.ery, and 'modern farm technology. mates, 25 million tons in 1964. yields is closely related to the level of devel-
Approved For Release 2003/10/15 : CIA-RDP67B00446R000300180032-5