ASIA FOUNDATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-1-5-33-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2009
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: June 13, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

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CONFIDENTIAL
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
June 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR DRL, HENRY A. KISSINGER
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: The Asia Foundation
Some months ago Bob Murphy called me with respect
to the desire of some members of the Board of Trustees
of the Asia Foundation to call on the President to obtain
the President's views with regard to the future of this
organization, which was "orphaned" by the Katzenbach
Report. I told Bob that I felt such a call was premature
and said that I would be willing to discuss their problems
with them.
Since that time I have had numerous meetings with the
Foundation's President, members of the Board of Trustees
and, of course, interdepartmental consultations, in an
effort to assist the Foundation in working out its finan-
cial problems. The Foundation has on its own also been
seeking, with some success, support from nongovernmental
institutions and individuals. In general, we have been
able to obtain about $3 million annually from AID, our
Bureau of Cultural Affairs, etc. The Foundation is seek-
ing about $3 million from nongovernmental sources for a
total budget of around $6 million. The Foundation is
not seeking nor have I offered to consider any covert
funding.
The Trustees strongly feel, and I agree, that it
would now be very helpful in their private fund-raising
activities and for the morale of the organization if some
selected Trustees could have a brief meeting with the
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
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President at which the President would indicate his
general support for the organization and his desire that
it continue its activities. If you concur, I would appre-
ciate your arranging an appointment with the President
for Haydn Williams, President of the Foundation, together
with Mrs. Maurice T. Moore (Henry Luce's sister), Barry
Bingham, Lucian Pye and John Irwin. If I could be in-
formed of the time and place I will undertake to see
that they are informed.
The Foundation was established in 1954 entirely by
and at the initiative of the U. S. Government, with all
support coming from the Government. The many prominent
Trustees (listed in the attached copy of the Foundation's
"The President's Review, 1968") were recruited and agreed
to serve only as a public service.
Having been cast adrift by the Katzenbach Report,
the Trustees understandably feel some concern as to whether
there is really high-level U. S. Government interest in
seeing the operation continue. All of us concerned with
Asian affairs feel that the Foundation has very creditably
carried out the type of job supplementing our Governmental
programs which can best be carried on by a private founda-
tion. The Foundation has made a real place for itself
throughout the area, and its formal public admission
following the Katzenbach Report that it had been supported
by the CIA produced almost no reaction in the area and
does not seem to have significantly affected its work.
While the Trustees would, of course, hope for addi-
tional U. S. Government financial support and may raise
this with the President, I do not feel that it is feasible
or desirable to go much beyond what we have already done.
Thus I would not recommend that the Presid nt make any
commitments in this regard.
Enclosure.
CONFIDENTIAL
U. A
Johnson
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MASSACHUSEITS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 92139
May 20, 1969
Dr. Henry Kissinger
Executive Office of the President
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Henry:
I am sure that you are aware of the serious situation
with respect to the continuing financing of the Asia
Foundation. As a trustee, and someone who has seen much of
the work of the Foundation in Asia, I feel that I should
communicate to you my great concern about the need for the
Foundation to receive a level of support which will make
it possible for it to realize its full potential in Asia.
It has become quite clear to me that the level of con-
tribution which we have been receiving from AID and CU are
just not going to be adequate to maintain a dynamic program.
As we think ahead to the "post Vietnam period" in Asia
I think it is going to be more important than ever that
we have institutions such as the Asia Foundation with strong
and active programs in Asia. It is also clear that there is
an expanding need in such countries as Indonesia for the
work of the Foundation.
I hope that sometime in the not too distant future it
may be possible for us to talk over the work and the problems
of the Asia Foundation, but in the meantime I do want to let
you know how concerned I am.
It was good to have seen you last month and I hope that
we can have other sessions in due time. In the meantime the
very best of wishes.
Cordially yours,
Lucian W. Pye
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IP
Dear Lucien:
Thank you very much for your letter on the
financial problems faced by the Asia Foundation.
We all recognize that the Foundation has played
and can continue to play an extremely helpful
role in Asia. The problem, of course, is one of
arranging an adequate financial base for the
Foundation. A good deal of study has gone into
this problem and I understand that Government
funds of about $3 million will be available to the
Foundation to meet about half of its budgetary
requirements.
I have not had an opportunity as yet to give the
Foundation problems full -onsideration, but I
would be glad to talk to you sometime in the near
future.
Warm regards,
,KY
Henry A. Kissinger
Dr. L.ucln W. Pye
Depariniont of Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
RLSneider:prnh (6/13/69)
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