LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT FROM ALLEN W. DULLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R004200140013-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2002
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: April 18, 1957
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/01/30 : CIA-RDP80601676R004200
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Approved For Release 2003/01/30 : CIA-RDP80601676R004200140013-9
Text of
Vice
Special to The New York Timm
WASHINGTON, April 6?Fol-
lowing is the text of Vice Presi-
dent Richard Al. Nixon's report
to President Eisenhower on his
recent trip to Africa.
On the basis of my visits to
Morocco, Ghana, Liberia,
Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan,
Libya. Italy and Tunisia, from
Feb. 28 to March 21, I submit
he following observations
and recommendations:
No one can travel in Africa,
even briefly as I did, without
realizing the tremendous po-
tentialities of this great con-
tinent. Africa is the most
apidly changing area in the
xvorld today. The course of
its development, as its people
continue to emerge from a co-
lonial status and assume the
responsibilities of independ-
ence and self-government,
could well prove to be the de-
cisive factor in the conflict
between the forces of freedom
and international communism.
The leaders and peoples of
the countries I visited in
Africa have many things in
common. They cherish their
independence, which most of
them have only recently ac-
quired, and are determined to
protect it against any form of
foreign domination. They
rightfully expect recognition
from us and others of their
dignity and equality as indi-
viduals and peoples in the
family of nations. They want
economic progress for their
undeveloped economies.
The great question which is
presented to the leaders of
Africa is wheather they can
attain these justifiable objec-
tives and at the same time
maintain and develop govern-
mental instiutions which are
based on principles of freedom
and democracy.
Future of Africa Noted
I believe they all are con-
vinced that they can, and
that the freeworld has a vital
interest in assisting them to
do so. For the success or
failure of these new members
of the family of nations to
realize their aspirations in
this manner will have pro-
found effects upon the devel-
opment of Africa and on the
werld in the years to come.
Herein lies the wider sig-
nificance of the emergence of
the new nation of Ghana. The
eye of the people of Africa
south of the Sahara, and of
Western Europe particularly,
will be upon this new state
to see whether the orderly
transition which has taken
place from dependent to inde-
pendent status, and whether
the retention of close ties on
a basis of equality with the
British Commonwealth, will
continue to work successfully,
and thereby present a formula
of possible application in
other cases.
-.-
By the same token. inimical
forces be closely follow-
-111g the situation to see
whether any openings present
themselves for 4xploitation i?
a manner which would enable
them to disrupt and destroy
?the independence which Ghana
seeks to achieve.
Nor is this situation- pe-
culiar to Ghana. The ::ame
factors are present every-
where among the independent
states which I visited. Africa
is emerging as one of the
great forces in the world
today.
U. S. Must Understand Africa
In a world in which, be-
cause of advances in technol-
ogy, the influence of ideas
and principles is becoming in-
creasingly important in the
battle for men's minds, we in
the United States must come
to know, to understand and to
find common ground with the
peoples of this great conti-
nent.
It is in this context that the
recommendations in this re-
port, together with others
previously made to the ap-
propriate government agen-
cies, are presented.
Africa is producing great
leaders, dedicated to the prin-
ciples of independence, world
responsibility and the welfare
of their peoples. Such men
as the Sultan of Morrocco,
Prime Minister Nkrurnah of
Ghana, President Tubinan of
Liberia, the Emperor of Ethi-
opia, and Prime Ministers Ab-
dullah Khalil of the Sudan,
ben Halim of Libya and Habib
Bourguiba of Tunisia, certain-
ly compare most favorably
with the great leaders of the
world.
Nor should one omit King
Idris of Libya, whom I unfor-
tunately missed seeing on this
trip because of an engine fail-
ure, but whose wisdom and
statesmanship / remember
most vividily froiii my pre-
vious trip to that country in
1953. These are all men who
command respect beyond the
borders of their own coun-
try. They are hacked up by
other equally dedicated lead-
ers who have much to con-
tribute both to the problems
of their own countries and to
those which plague the world
today.
Exchange of Ideas Needed
The United States must
come to know these leaders
better, to understand their
hopes and aspirations and to
support them in their plans
and programs for strengthen-
ing their own nations and
contributing to world peace
and stability.
To this end, we must en-
courage the greatest possible
interchange of persons and
ideas with the leaders and
peoples of these countries. We
must assure the strongest
possible diplomatic and consu-
lar representation to those
countries and stand ready to
consult these countries on all
matters affecting their inter-
est and ours.
There is no area in the
world today in which the
prestige of the United States
is more uniformly high than
in the countries which I vis-
ited on this trip. The Presi-
dent is respected as the ac-
knowledged leader of the free
wor". There is a most en-
? ? res.,. :too - A i I*,
diffl1W3'6k062F/00140013-9
President Nixon's Report to the President on His African Trip
couraging understanding of
our programs and policies.
These countries know that
we have no ambitions to dom-
inate, and that the corner-
stone of our foreign policy is
to assist countries in resisting
domination by others. They
understand that the United --
States stands on principle,
and that this was the moti-
vating force, for example,
which led us to act as we did
in the recent Suez crisis. They
approve the stand which we
took at that time and look
confidently to its to act con-
sistently with that stand in
the future.
Policies of IL S.
They understand that the
American doctrine for the
Middle East is dedicated to
the principle of assisting the
states of the Middle East to
maintain their independence.
They know that the United
States stands for the evolu-
tion of dependent peoples to-
ward self-government and in-
dependence, as they become
able to discharge the respon-
sibilities involved.
This understanding of the
principles for which we stand
as a nation is a tremendous
asset to us in this area. The
maintenance of the present
high prestige we are fortu-
nate to have in Africa will
depend upon whether the
people of the continent con-
tinue to understand our dedi-
cation to the principles of in-
dependence, equality and eco-
nomic progress to which they
are so deeply devoted.
We must staff our diplo-
matic and information estab-
lishments in these countries
with men and women capable
of interpreting and explaining
our policies and actions in a
way which will guarantee
that they are so understood.
As a result of skillful prop-
aganda primarily inspired by
the enemies of freedom, a
consistently distorted picture
of the treatment of minority
races in the United States is
being effectively presented in
the countries I visited. Every
instance of prejudice in this
country is blown up in such a
manner as to create a com-
pletely false impression of the
attitudes and practices of the
great majority of the Ameri-
can people. The result is ir-
reparable damage to the cause
of freedom, which is at stake.
True Story of Gains Needed
We must continue to strike
at the roots of this problem.
We cannot talk equality to
the peoples of Africa and
Asia and practice inequality
in the United States. In the
national interest, as well as
for the moral issues involved,
we must support the neces-
sary steps which will assure
orderly progress toward the
eliminaticn of discrimination
in the United States.
And we should do a far
more effective job than we
are presently doing in telling
the true story of the real
progress that is tieing made
towara realizing this objectiVe
so that the people of Africa
will have a true picture of
conditions as they really are
in the United States.
All of the African states
which I visited are under-de-
veloped. Most of them have
great economic potential. Their
leaders are anxious to
strengthen the economies of
their countries in order to
assure for their peoples a
larger share of the advan-
tages of our modern civiliza-
tion. They seek economic as
well as political independence
in so far as this is possible
In the world of today.
Their needs are great in
terms of education and public
health. They require roads
and other communications in
order to open inaccessible
parts of their territory to eco-
nomic development. They need
agricultural development to
sustain their expanding popu-
lations. They want assistance
in developing their great min-
eral and forest resources.
They foresee great opportuni-
ties for developing small in-
dustrial enterprises. In most
cases, these developmental
needs are beyond their capac-
ity to finance.
Private Capital Is Sought
All of the leaders with whom
I talked expressed preference
for developing their economies
through encouraging the in-
vestment of private capital
and through loans from inter-
national agencies such as the
World Bank where feasible,
rather than through govern-
ment-to-government grants.
It can be truly said that the
welcome sign is out for in-
vestment of foreign private
capital in Africa. African
leaders are aware of the great
role that such private capi-
tal can play in the develop-
ment of their countries and
many of them have adopted,
or are in the process of adopt-
ing, special legislation de-
signed to create an asmos-
phere conducive to expanded
foreign investment.
Consistent with the desires
of African leaders, the United
States Government through
its agencies should, as appro-
priate, draw the attention of
private American capital to
opportunities for investment
in those areas where the con-
ditions for such investment
are propitious. Strengthening
the economic sections of
American Embassies in this
area is needed if this objective
is to be carried out.
We should support applica-
tions before the appropriate
international agencies for fi-
nancing sound economic devel-
opment projects in the area.
To the extent that our re-
sources and the demands of
other areas permit, we should
extend economic and technical
assistance to the countries of
Africa in helping them to fur-
ther their economic develop-
ment.
Aid Programs Discussed
In this connection, I think
it is appropriate to place in
proper context the United
States economic assistance
programs. These programs
should be approved only when
they are in the mutual inter-
ests of the United States and
the recipient country. They
should be administered as effi-
ciently as possible.
But while these programs
should be constantly re-exam-
ined and improved so that
they can better serve the na-
tional interest, shotgun attacks
on our foreign assistance pro-
grams as such cannot be jus-
tified.
In this connection, I believe
a comment on what has hap-
pened in Italy is pertinent.
While my visit to Italy was
not on an official basis. I did
have the opportunity to discuss
economic and political prob-
lems with President Gronchi,
Prime Minister Segni and
other Italian officials. It was
significant to me that at the
time I arrived in Italy, the
last American aid office was
being closed.
I recalled that ten years be-
fore when I visited Italy as a
member of the Herter Com-
mittee on Foreign Aid, the
most dire predictions were
being made as to the future
of the Italian economy. It was
said that American assistance
would be thrown down a rat
hole, that the Italian people
should live within their own
means, that they should work
harder, and that in any event,
once the economic program
began, we would never see the
end of it.
Italian Economy Is Sound
The fact that Italy today
has one of the soundest, most
productive economies in Eu-
rope is eloquent proof of the
validity of economic assistance
properly administered and
properly used by the recipient
country
While the economic prob-
lems of Italy were obviously
different from those Africa
now faces, I am confident that
in the African countries I
visited, we shall have similar
success as we work in coopera-
tion with the enlightened lead-
ers of these nations towards
the development of their great
natural and hurnan resources.
Africa and Europe have
much in common. To a large
extent, their economies are
complementary. Certain of the
independent states on the Afri-
can continent maintain close
ties of an historical, cultural
and economic nature with the
states of Europe. The mainte-
nance of these relationships,
on a basis of equality, can
greatly benefit both Africa
and Europe.
We should encourage the
continuance of these special
ties where they are consid-
ered mutually advantageous
by the states concerned. We
should take them in account
in formulating our own poli-
cies to the extent compatible
with the fundamental require-
ment of conducting oar own
relations with those states on
a fully equal and independent
basis.
No Exclusive Position Sought
The tk of pro vidieig Lee
economic assistance which is
needed by the newly indepen-
dent countries pf Africa can-
not be done Uy the United
States alone. We should make
it clear that we desire no ex-
clusive position in any coun-
try in that area and that we
want to work with other free
world nations in providing the
assistance which will build
strong, free and independent
nations in this area of the
world.
Africa is a priority target
for the international Commu-
nist movement. I gather the
distinct impression that the
Communist leaders consider
Africa today to be as impor-
tant in their designs for world
conquest as they considered
China to be twenty-five years
ago.
Consequently, they are
mounting a diplomatic propa-
ganda and economic offensive
in all parts of the continent.
They are trying desperately
to convince the peoples of Af-
rica that they support more
strongly than we do their nat-
ural aspirations for indepen-
dence, equality and economic
progress.
Fortunately, their efforts
thus far have not been gener-
ally successful and, for the
present, Communist domina-
tion in the states of the area
is not a preSent danger. All
of the African leaders to
whom I talked are determined
to maintain their independ-
ence against communism or
any other form of foreign
domination. They have taken
steps to bring under control
subversion of their political,
economic and social life.
Communists Are Active
It would be a great mis-
take, however, to be compla-
cent about this situation be-
cause the Communists are
without question putting their
top men in the fields of diplo-
macy, intrigue and subversion
into the African area to probe
for openings which they can
exploit for their own selfish
and disruptive ends.
The Communist threat un-
derlies the wisdom and neces-
sity of our assisting the coun-
tries of Africa to maintain
their independence and to al-
leviate the conditions of want
and instability on which com-
munism breeds. The impor-
tance of Africa to the strength
and stability of the free
world is too great for us to
underestimate or to become
complacent about this danger
without taking every step
within our power to assist
the countries of this area to
maintain their effective inde-
pendence in the face of this
danger.
In every instance where my
schedule permitted, I made it
-
a point to talk to the leading
labor leaders of the countries
I visited. I was encouraged
to find that the free trade
union movement is making
great advances in Africa,
particularly in Ghana, Mo-
rocco and Tunisia.
The leaders of thesec oun-
tries have recognized the im-
portance of providing an al-
ternative to Communist alomi-
nated unions, and they, here-
by, are keeping the Contrui-
fists from getting a footr old
in one of their favorite ai4 as
of exploitation.
U. S. Unions Are Mentioned
In this connection, I wish
to pay tribute to the effective
support that is being given by
trade unions in the United
States to the free trade union
movement in the countries
which I visited. These close
and mutually advantageous
relationships are in the na-
tional interest as well as in
the interest of developing a
strong labor movement.
It is vitally important that
the United States Govertunent
follow closely trade union de-
velopments in the continent of
Africa and that our diplo-
matic and consular repre-
sentatives should come to
know on an intimate basis
the trade union leaders in
these countries.
I believe, too, that Ameri-
can labor unions should con-
tinue to maintain close fra-
ternal relationship with the
African free trade union
movement in order that each
may derive the greatest pos-
sible advantage of the wisdom
and experience of the other.
The Nile is one of the
wer1,i's greatest ices I
rivers. Perhaps in no other
part of the world are the
economies of so many states
tied to a particular waterway.
The river is so located geo-
graphically that whatever
projects are undertaken on it
within the territorial domains
of one state are bound to have
their effect on the economies
of other states.
The United States must
take into account the com-
mon interests of the riparian
states in the development of
this great river and, at such
time as political conditions
permit, should support a co-
operative approach to its de-
velopment which would accord
with the common interests of
all the states involved.
Recommendations Are Listed
Specific recommendations
as to the operation of Ameri-
can programs in the countries
I visited have been made on a
classified basis to the various
interested agencies. In gen-
eral, I found that our political,
economic and information pro-
grams in the countries which
I visited, are being adminis-
tered in accordance with our
obligations to the United
States taxpayer. There is,
however, always room for im-
provement and, in the spirit
of constructive criticism, I
wish to make the following
public recommendations.
On the political side, I be-
lieve that our diplomatic and
consular missions are general-
ly under-staffed. We must as-
sure that these establishments
have sufficient personnel to en-
able them to interpret our
policies, to consult fully with
the local governments on mat-
ters of mutual interest and to
report on developments of im-
portance to the United States.
We must assure that our
diplomatic and consular offices
have sufficient funds to enable
them to travel about the vast
territories within the jurisdic-
tion for the purposes of re-
porting on developments out-
side the major centers of
population and of forming
contacts with the peoples of
those areas.
We must recognize that the
posts in this area are, in many
instances, unhealthful and try-
ing climatically to those who
are raised in a temperate zone.
We must, therefore, endeavor
to ameliorate hardship condi-
tions for our personnel in or-
der to enable them more
effectively to perform their
tasks.
Difficult Conditions Cited
We must recognize that the
importance of the African
area and the difficult living
conditions there necessitate
our assigning officials of the
highest possible competence
and stability. The emphasis
should be on youth, vigor and
enthusiasm.
In so far as our economic
programs are concerned, I be-
lieve that our technicians in
the field are doing an excellent
job in working alongside the
African and teaching him to
perform the various functions
of social and economic develop-
ment for himself. Obviously,
the maintenance and support
of these technicians in the
field require a headquarters
staff in the country capitals.
From my own observations,
I believe these headquarters
staffs sometimes tend to be-
come inflated and I, therefore,
recommend that they be care-
fully reviewed to see whether
economies in personnel could
not be effected.
I believe also that there is
sometimes a tendency to scat-
ter programs over a number
of fields of economic and
social development, whereas
greater concentration on a few
key projects would bring more
lasting returns to the country
concerned.
Our programs should con-
stantly be reviewed from this
point of view. The same com-
ments which I made with re-
spect to the caliber of our
diplomatic and consular repre-
sentation apply as well to our
economic and information
per personnel.
Additional Funds Needed
On the informational side, I
believe that the most worth
while projects are the libraries
and reading rooms which we
have established in a number
of centers overseas and the
exchange of persons programs.
The funds available for these
programs in the African area
should be substantially in-
creased over the present level.
To the extent that the Afri-
cans become familiar with the
culture and technology, the
ideals and aspirations and the
traditions and institutions
which combine to make up the
American character, we shall
have made great advances in
common understanding.
This can be done through
books and periodicals, through
student exchanges and through
the leader grant programs for
bringing outstanding Africans
to the United States for study
and travel. We should also as-
sist as we can in the develop-
ment of indigenous educational
facilities in Africa. In this way,
we can get to know them and
they to know us.
I believe that the informa-
tion output from our radio and
news programs in the African
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area have in the past not been
as effective as they should be
if we are adequately to coun-
ter the propaganda being dis-
seminated by the Communists.
In the studies which are cur-
rently being made of these
programs by the U. S. I. A.
[United States Informfation
Agency], I believe it is import-
ant that the highest priority
be assigned to this area both
as to improving the quality of
personnel in the field and in
more adequately providing in-
formation which is particularly
suited to the special problems
of America.
Conclusion of Report
For too many years, Africa
in the minds of many Ameri-
cans has been regarded as a
remote and mysterious con-
tinent which was the special
province of big-game hunters,
explorers and motion picture
makers. For such an attitude
to exist among the public at
large could greatly prejudice
the maintenance of our own
independence and freedom be-
cause the emergence of a free
and independent Africa is as
important to us in the long run
as it is to the people of that
continent.
It is for this reason that I
strongly support the creation
within the Department of
State of a new Bureau of Afri-
can Affairs which will place
this continent on the same foot-
ing as the other great area
groupings of the world.
I recommend similar action
by the I. C. A. [International
Cooperation Administration]
and U. S. I. A. These bureaus,
properly staffed and with suf-
ficient funds, will better equip
us to handle our relationships
with the countries of Africa.
But this in itself will not be
enough.
There must be a correspond-
ing realization throughout the
executive branches of the Gov-
ernment, throughout the Con-
gress and throughout the
nation, of the growing import-
ance of Africa to the future
of the United States and the
free world, and the necessity
of assigning higher priority to
our relations with that area.
NORWALK IS DIVIDED
OVER SCHOOL BUDGET,
Speeial to The New York Timm
NOR WALK, Conn., April 6?A
wrangle between the Board of
Education and the Board of Fi-
nance over the 1957-58 school
budget loomed today. The budg-
et, which was submitted to the
City Controller yesterday, did
not list the names of individual
teachers and their salaries. The
lack of this information led to
threats that the city might be
compelled to obtain it forcibly.
The school board voted last
year not to list individual teacher
salaries in future budgets. its
contention being that teachers
were professional people and
their salaries should not be ar-
gued at open hearings before city
officials.
One member of the Board of
Finance said she wanted to know
more about what she termed a
"hidden military bonus" some
!teachers were getting- Benin
members of the Board of Finance
said they could study the budget
more intelligently if the teach-
ers' names and salaries were
listed.
Bernard Newman, City Con-
troller, said the Board of Finance
probably would order him to go
to the Board of Education and
get the data, even if it was nec-
essary for him to go through the
school board's files. Mr. New-
man said the city charter gave
him this right.
Gold Output Sets Record
South Africa's gold produc-
tion reached a record 18,000,000
fine ounces in 1956 valued at
$560,000,000.