A QUANGO FOR DEMOCRACY?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R000802030036-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 36
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP84B00049R000802030036-5
New York Times, June G, 1982
A Quango for Democracy ?
The British have minted a word quango - given surreptitious aid to a variety of democratic
which America could now put to good use. Quango parties and publications. But because the aid was
stands for quasi-autonomous nongovernmental covert its amount has been grossly exaggerated by
organ, an example being the British Council. those determined, for example, to blame American
Funded by the Government but directed by private subversion in Chile for the fall of an elected left-wing
citizens, the Council does what bureaucrats are regime. If exposed, covert aid can leave a legacy of
poorly situated to do: decide how much money to ill will and paranoia far outweighing any imaginable
give to which groups for overseas cultural tours and benefits.
talks. It has literally given Shakespeare the great Would not overt assistance also be politically
Globe as a stage. fatal? Often, yes, but in the right circumstances, a
The idea now percolating in Washington is to quango could make open funding acceptable. If aid
create a quango to promote democratic values in came from a foundation with genuine autonomy, su-
developing countries and, where possible, in Com- pervised by a board of respected American and for-
munist countries. President Reagan is expected to eign figures, it could be as uncontroversial as that
give the idea his formal blessing in a speech this already provided by private foundations. European
week in London. It Is an appealing idea, but before Socialists and Christian Democrats have, without
leaping forward, there needs to be some careful scandal, given generous help to political allies in the
looking. third world.
In normal circumstances, it is neither right nor There's a valuable principle here that needs
wise to get openly involved in another country's do- clear definition. The United States ought to have bet-
mestic politics. How would Americans feel if Saudi ter methods, say, for countering Cuban and Soviet
Arabia - or Israel - tried to advance their policies intervention in Nicaragua. The danger is that some
in this country by making campaign contributions to of Mr. Reagan's ideological troops may try to turn
American politicians? But such aid might be right the principle into self-defeating chauvinism.
and wise where other outsiders are assisting extre- The promise of a well-designed quango is that it
mists of the left or right. In those circumstances, would advertise the very values of openness and
strict nonintervention would amount to abandoning pluralism that Americans want to promote. The
our ideological allies. prior task, however, is a careful and public study to
For precisely that reason, the United States has Insure that it is well designed.
Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP84B00049R000802030036-5