OUR DILEMMA IN ASIA EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. JOHN SHERMAN COOPER OF KENTUCKY IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73-00475R000201150001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 13, 1966
• Content Type: MISC

50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19: CIA-RDP73-00475R000201150001-8
13 June 1966
first time in 55 years.0 It also provided for
anti thus a balance of power around China s ;
. Our Dilemma in Asia . 'frontiers without major and direct military , a 20-year program of $800 million public and
: contributions by the United States." Sim- ; private Japanese investment in modernizing
------
ilarly, the United States is so far the only Korea's agriculture, diversifying its Indus-
and expanding Korean exports. As a result
/
EXTENSION OF REMARKS ? nation both able and willing to provide the try, creating a modern transportation system,
Indus-
or substantial share of Asia's needs in economic '
aid. , of this political accommodation and eco-
: HON. JOHN SHERMAN COOPER ? This necessity for heayy American par- nornic cooperation, Korea will become a ' bat-
. or KENTUCKY . ticipation is, I believe, widely understood lit ter customer for Japanese exports, a more
.i ? . Asia. What is more difficult for Asians to important supplier to Japan, and corre-
I IN THE SENATE OP THE UNITED STATES understand and accept are some of the side. spondingly less dependent on American aid.
Monday, June 13, 1966 . effects of our participation. In South Viet-; Thus 16 years of American "overpresence"
' nam, for example, the presence of so many; In Korea are now being alleviated by closer
, Mr. COOPER. Madam President, on Americans?while vital to the preservation Korean-Japanese cooperation.
' May 17, 1966, Mr. John D. Rockefeller of the country?has contributed to infla- I was in Seoul when the treaty negotia-
ILL Spoke, to the Far East American tion, has had a corrosive social effect, and tions were nearing completion, and I 'saw
Council in New York City on the subject has aroused .a. good deal of resentment. In; the hostile demonstrations when Japanese ,
. "Our Dilemma in Asia." In his speech, India, where American food and other assist-
Foreign Minister Shlina arrived. The demon-
ance?including military aid?are welcomed,, strations, however, could not frustrate the
Mr. Rockefeller pointed out the necessity
statesmanship on both sides which success-
the proposed India-America Foundation was
for American participation in the eco-
instantly attacked in Parliament and the. fully resolved a bitter, seemingly intractable
;noraie growth of Asia but suggests thatproblem. In contrast, when Japan's first
press as a possible threat to the integrity.
. our "over presence" works again:st the of Indian education?or even a cover for the, Ambassador arrived in Seoul to present his'
effectiveness of our relationship with the. CIA, In Japan, whose economy prospers in credentials, he was received with public as
1 Asian people.. / trade with the United States, legislative de-
well as official respect.
. Mr. Rockefeller, drawing from his long' bates and the press echo widespread fears Perhaps the Japan-Korea achievement will
that the country may be dragged into a suggest to other nations in Asia and else-
experience and interest in Asian affairs..
; major Asian war through its security ties where that they have far more to gain in
suggests an effective economic growth, to the United States.? 1 the long run by resolving than by perpetuat-
ing and emphasizes that the United: The problem, in other words, is the over- their disputes. I earnestly hope that
States seek to assist in the development. powering impact of America on Asians. Our similar creative statesmanship will eventu-
' of regional programs which would be Presence supports their self-preservation, ally lead to the peaceful resolution of other .
cooperatively initiated and supported by but it bothers their self-respect. It is an. conflicts, such as that between India and '
' the Asian governments. He calls atten- . Imbalanced relationship of receiver and Pakistan.-
. donor, of protege and protector. It is a lop- ?
We can also take encouragement from '
tion to the recent establishment of the sided relationship that breeds suspicion and '
some recent events ;in Southeast Asia. . Asian Development Bank as a helpful resentment among ancient, proud and sen-
Malaysia and the Philippines are moving ,
;initiative. sitive peoples, most of whom have Just
,rapidly toward the restoration of normal
I ftln sure the speech of Mr. Rockefeller -emerged from centuries of colonial rule and 'relations. These two countries, tt.,,ether
will be interesting and helpful to the are struggling to establish their own national '
with Thailand, have recently revitalized the
'Members of the Congress, to the admin- .-Identities. .
cultural and educational Association of
istration, and to the people of our
? The answer to this dilemma lies, I believe, southeast As-la?whose initials ASA stand
. .
.'country. I ask unanimous consent that in policies?both Asian and American?' for "hope" in the Thai and Malay languages.
It be printed in the Appendix of the
which r6s d 1
lieh s '
will help strengthen Asian initiative At a working-partysession in Bangkok two
'
?? There being no objection, the address ponsibility, in national eve opmen and a half weeks ago, these three govern-
t
efforts and in regional cooperation' on corn-'
RECORD. ? ,-,
: Ments earmarked. for. "nrioritv imulementa
mon problems. -
: 'r- tion" numerous cooperative projects in eco-
was ordered to be printed in the RECORD,' We must all understand that the expencli-.; nomic, technical and cultural fields. In-
"as follows: . tore of American lives and dollars cannot I donesia, a fourth important nation in that
OUR DrtErAms ASIA
guarantee peace, stability and economic ; area, has taken several cautious steps this
IN
progress in Vietnam or anywhere else in , last month toward more normal relations
(Nors.?The following Is the text of n talk ' Asia. The American military shield can 1
' by Mr. John D. Rockefeller, 3d, before the ? with its near neighbors.
hold the line while the Vietnamese and other, In the economic field, the emerging pat-
Far East-America Council, to be delivered '
free Asians evolve their own stable political tern of Asian cooperation is even more
' . at a luncheon meeting in Ow Waldorf-Astoria
institutions, and assume greater responsi- pronounced.
? 'Hotel on Tuesday. May 17, 1000.)
bility for their own security. Foreign aid! The establishment of the Asian Develop-
It is a pleasure to meet again with mem- from the United States and other capital- ment Bank, in my judgment, may well be a
, berg and guests ? of the Far East-America , exporting countries is fuel, not the vehicle, historic step comparable to the founding of
:.Council. I am also glad to have this oppor- for improving Asian' societies, The funcla- the Organization for European Economic
,, tunity to talk with you about United States mental creative' tasks can only be performed Cooperation in the Marthall Plan era. The
? policies in Asia, and particularly about a . by Asians themselves, mobilizing their own Bank is the product of Asian initiative?
dilemma - which Americans and Asians to- human and material resources to develop not a 'response to an American proposal. It
gether have only recently begun to recognize their economies and satisfy popular aspira- was conceived and developed by Asian lead-
-and cope with. tions for a better life. ership through the United Nations Commis-
- This dilemma, expressed simply, is that Furthermore, this growth process can be: sion for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE). In
? the overwhelming American involvement in speeded by the pooling of scarce resources . fact, the United States withheld support
- Asia today, which is so necessary to Asian throughout Asia, the sharing of skills and until it became clear that the Asians were
, security and economic development, could experience, the practical division of . labor
? in the long run become self-defeating. It going to establish the Bank by themselves.
- among complementary economies, and the The Bank is a genuine Asian institution?
is not that we have used our power arro- opening up of wider regional markets.
. supported by a majority of Asian capital;
gantly. It is rather that the relative weight
A regional approach' to ?development offers
of our involvement?compared with what : directed and staffed primarily by Asians; and
the promise of more rapid and more em- structured to encourage the adoption of re-
Asians have so far been able to do by them- ' dent growth. It is also our best hope for'
selves?constitutes an American "overpres- redressing the imbalance and overdepen- gional, rather than purely national, priorities
, in the planning, scheduling and financing of
ence" which often depresses Asian initiative,
dency which now characterize American re- % development activities. .
disrupts Asian traditions, and irritates Asian lations with most free Asian nations. There' For the first time in history, all interested
sensitivities. are, I believe, new approaches that both,
.: Asian governments have their own mecha-
We arc expending billions of dollars annU- Americans and Asians can take to mobilize;
? nism, with substantial pooled capital of $1
Ally?and the lives of our young men?in ?
Asian resources more efficiently, to promotel billion, to attack their common economic
? Order to contain Communist expansionism greater Asian cooperation and solidarity and,'
problems. The Bank's charter is flexible. It
and promote the growth of viable economies in the long run, to create an effective Asian'
and free societies that can live at peace with counterweight to the American "overpres- allows for the creation of various forms and
each other and with the rest of the world. ence." ! levels of consultative and planning bodies,
.
Yet, unless this sense of American "over- ? including someday perhaps a high-level co-
Let us look at the Asian side of the situa-; ordination group to evaluate country re-
'presence" is corrected by fresh Asian and tion first.
American initiatives, it may engender so There are encouraging signs of initiative' quests for external funds and to determine
0 , much misunderstanding and antagonism
? that It jeopardizes the high purposes which in which countries and which sectors for-
and cooperation emerging in Asia which, if: eign public investment can be most efli-
fully appreciated and intelligently sup- ciently used.
engaged us in Asia's problems in the first ported, could begin to balance and improve
i place. our relations with our Asian friends. Such a regional approach could, for ex-
We have assumed far-reaching responsi- . ample, further the coherent development of .
On the political front, the treaty of normal-' national and regional transportation and
. bilities and risks in Asia because we were .ization between Japan and the Republic of communications systems, which would be a
asked to and because there was no one else
Korea is an extremely significant develop- ? major contribution to the economic develop-
to do so. - As William P. Bundy, our able ment. This treaty, which came into effect' mcnt of the entire area.
' Assistant Secretary of State for'Far Eastern
last December, after 14 years of difficult: Tho eatablishment of the Bank has also
? Affairs has pointed out, "today therecan-
negotiations, established normal relations, stimulated a fresh momentum toward other
: not be an effective deterrent military force, Jens. eon Ile former colony for the forms of Asian consultation and cooperaft,i23.,.4..c.rmoci
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19: CIA-RDP73-00475R000201150001-8
_
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19 : CIA-RDP73-00475R000201150001-8 1
. .
A ucce
ssion of Asian conferenc in
es has been, i ant thinking, for example, of ultipur- ?
going last December. First there. projects of multinational value such senatorers isti F1 the best,
1 -xr, Georgeand Woods
perhapstheo only
O
yd s attihs 0th-
going since!
s pose as',
was the education ministers meeting in. the Mekong Valley and Indus River develdp-
Manila, factory, way to implement the regional-util-
then the Ministerial Conference for menta, and a possible Ganges-Brahmaputra! ity approach to Asian development and to
:
Economic Development of Southeast Asia in project?where the benefits of flood control,
raise
Tokyo in April. This was followed by the irrigation and electrie power , can provide a ' Asian h
n the
level
o
s. f These mutual assistance
a r e basically among
Tokyo
a
multi-
Asian and Pacific regional Conference in Major, and perhaps decisive, stimulus to . national activities, and they require multi-
Bangkok, which in turn has Prepared the economic development of important regions. ' lateral machinery.
way for a 10-nation ministerial economic con- I am thinking also of education, where This three-point aid strategy offers a way
? ference In Seoul next month. scarce research and training resources could out of our dilemma. By pursuing it we will. ,
The Tokyo meeting was the first signifi-, be pooled to create a few adequately staffed / am convinced, be taking an important step
. cant non-European economic conference, institutions of higher learning, postgraduate in redressing the imbalance which is the
since World War II, where the United States! studies, and technical studies to serve spe- cause of the American "overpresence" in
was net a participant, and where the main cialists from all of Asia. The benefits, in Asia today. /
objective of the participants Was not to ob- terms of more efficient research, as well as This strategy can insure that Asian leaders
tain more American aid. In fact, one of the more effective sharing of knowledge, can bo and experts will have a greater voice and
principal objectives of the participants was. substantial. An especially important need is larger stake in managing regional develop-
to obtain more Japanese aid. The Tokyo for agricultural research, experimentation went for common benefit.
Southeast Asian countries except Burma re- of hardy seeds arid strains suitable for van- Further, this strategy will facilitate Asian
meeting was also significant because all the and training in the .development and use
sponded to Japan's economic initiative. , ous Asian soils and climates. ? The Inter- mobilization of Asian resources, and speed
The Japanese Government announced to the modernization of the region.
national Rice Research Institute in the
the Conference that it would raise the level! Faster economic progress and closer po- ?
Philippines is one example of the multi-
national benefits that can be achieved litical cooperation could, in turn, gradually
? of its aid to the developing countries to one
' percent of its national income?to some $870 through this cross-fertilization of ideas and alleviate the serious security problems in
. million a year, or a three-fold increase?and technology. Asia. For the development of viable econ-
omies and stable and responsive political
: that a significant portion of this aid would Long-term and far-reaching commitments institutions, within an effective framework
. be channeled to Southeast Asia. A Japanese such as these, which place a premium on of regional cooperation, is in the long run
I 3-year credit of $20 million a year has al- regional utility, will encourage greater co- the best insurance against Communist sub-'
- ready been proposed for Thailand, and a $6-7 operation in planning and carrying out version and aggression.
million credit for Cambodia, multinational development projects. Thus 1 Whether this rate of progress is actually
. The Conference agreed that there are con-i this approach can also lessen the side effects-1 achieved depends on the scale as well as the
siderable areas in economic development of the American presence. 1 efficiency of the effort. As President Perkins
? where cooperation among Southeast Asian! Second, the United States should encourage I of Cornell pointed out, in a recent article
countries is possible, and these opportunities and support much higher levels of mutual';on "Challenge and Response in Foreign Aid:" .
will be examined in greater detail when the; assistance among Asian countries. We should "A cardinal principle of statecraft holds
ministers reconvene in ?Manila next year. encourage a greater flow of capital, through that a nation's response to a problem should
The Importance of agriculture was empha-! grants, loans and credit, among Asian coun- be on the same scale as the problem itself."
sized, especially the urgent need to increase tries. We should also foster greater sharing Both Americans and Asians need to think
1 food production, and steps were taken to, of Asian technical skills and experience by . and act on a scale that is commensurate
?-i:..-ard a conference on agricultural develop- I proposing and helping to finance the local with Asia's problems and needs. Unless
? ment. Special attention was given to the training and broader regional exchange of the Asians do, our aid efforts will ',.. rela-
. promotion of fisheries, and it was proposed; specialists in agriculture, industry, health, tively ineffective. Unless we do, the Asians
that with the cooperation of Japan a marine I education, commerce and civil administra- .' will lack the tools to maximize their efforts..
' fisheries and development center should be , tion. . ? ? This kind of all-out approach would have
. i
' established in Southeast Asfa, 1 The Asian Development Bank is now 65 '; unlimited possibilities for, Asia. It might
Attention was also given to the role of : percent Asian-financed. Japan plans to ' well require higher levels of American. aid
O. privateenterprise in promoting industrial- : triple its annual foreign aid outlay. Asian ?:: in the future. And it certainly would re-
ization, and the need therefore to improve, nations are contributing to regional develop-
'. quire greater Asian initiative and self-help
the investment climate 'in Southeast Asian; ment consortia and to their own Point Four now.
!
- .
countries. In this connection, the ministers ? programs, in Asia and elsewhere in the de- If both Asians and Americans accept this
also agreed to study the establishment of a; veloping world, and should be encouraged to challenge, it is possible that most of Asia,
Southeast Asian economic promotion and de- do more. with its great human and material resources,
velopment center. ; There are also many forms of technical ' could be standing on its own feet in another
? I do not mean to exaggerate the progress' assistance that Asian countries can exchange generation, or by the end of this century.
' that has been attained in the settlement of; with each other to better effect than West- ' Our aim is not to dominate Asian develop-
old political disputes and the development; ern technical assistance. Some of these are '? ment patterns, or to 'make Asia dependent
. of new forms of cooperation among Asian; Asian-developed technologies in labor-inten- : upon us. ' Our aim is to help nourish Asian
nations. I do want to point out that t sive agriculture, in fisheries, construction and .; growth and freedom, and to encourage our
the attitudes for greater Asian cohesion are , other fields. Others are Asian 'adaptations Asian friends to take charge of their own
, emerging, and that the framework for more: of Western technology, such as the tractor .'; destiny, in equal partnership with the rest
' effective regional cooperation Is gradually :, for wet rice farming that is being developed ,.1,0f the, world.
being erected. Asians are demonstrating: in Thailand, and will be more suitable for ?I , ' i?
their readiness to assume greater joint re- : Southeast Asian rice culture than any West-, ,: ........-1:...?-: ?,--: .
' sponsibility for Asian development. : ern or even Japanese tractor. This technolog-1
Continuing progress in this direction de-, teal sharing among Asians should be broad-
pends fundamentally on strengthened Asian; ened, partly because Asian peoples have more
? initiative and cooperation. But it will also, in common with each other in environmental
; be affected by what the United States does conditions and cultural experience than they ,
! or does not do, in coming months and years,; do with the West, and partly because Asians.
to
! to recognize and encourage these develop-i are best-equipped to determine how to take ,
.
meats. , advantage of available Western technologies, ;
' The principal challenge and opportunity, and how to adapt these technologies to spe-!..
;?facing the United States. in My judgment, is: dal Asian conditions.
to adapt our policies and our aid strategy. Third, the United States should adopt a ?
' more closely to the emerging pattern of Asian!'declared national policy of phasing economic ?
cooperation. This means redirecting and; aid to Asia into multilateral channels as rap- ?
managing our aid in ways that will encour-! idly as possible. We should reverse our pres-
age?not inhibit?greater Asian initiative' ent emphasis on bilateral aid, with the oh-.'
and self-help; that will accelerate?not im-, jective of achieving the highest possible pro-
pede?Asian moves toward regional coopera-, portion of muitilateralism in our foreign aid ,
tion. There are three ways I would like to; mix, at the same time recognizing there will
' suggest in Which the United States can do, always be sound reasons for significant bi- :
' this. We have already made some impres-1 lateral projects.
sive starts but we need to do much more,: . The United States has shown increasing I
much faster. ! willingness, in recent years, to work through
First, the United States should give top, multilateral institutions such as the UN,
priority to development projects of the great- Development Program, the Pakistan and In- ! 1
est regional utility. We should use our aid! din consortia, the Mekong project, and the :
Oselectively to promote the planning and. car-, Asian Development Bank. But we need to
. rying out of major projects that promise the. accelerate this process by 'making full use of
'
' greatest benefits to the peoples and nations the administrative machinery and the Spe- I
of the area?and these will be mostly, al- clal Funds provision of the Asian Develop- '
though not exclusively, multi-national proj-? ment Bank, encouraging Asian planners to
ects. ,This means assigning first call in the' set priorities, to establish standards of per-
disposition of American aid, and the most; formance, and to accept joint responsibility
favorable terms, to those projects that can for administering and auditing the projects.?
make the most significant contribution to., . A primarily multilateral aid emphasis? ?
overall regional development... ...,.........., ._.1:.Which has been_advocated.by Eugene 'Black,_
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/12/19: CIA-RDP73-00475R000201150001-8 )