1742 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, 1959 total holdings. The Agency accepts and is striving towards the 50 percent balance of books in native languages suggested by the Commission. In a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, however, it will be virtually impossible to reach this goal. because standards of literacy are as yet so low as to preclude the existence of a publishing industry active enough to produce sufficiently large numbers of translated editions. The Agency obligated $1,212,000 for book translation programs in fiscal year 1959. In 1960, the Agency estimates $1,162,000 for this purpose. In 1961, the Agency is requesting $1,336,000 for book translation programs, an increase of $174,000 over the 1960 estimate. A slight increase in books translated with Agency assistance has occurred during the past year. 1958-872 editions; 1959-895 editions. This trend is expected to continue, since during 1960, for the first time in the program's history, additional titles will be provided by the foreign editions of American textbooks produced under the PL 480 textbook program.12 However, neither of these factors will provide for the increase envisioned by the Commission. Hence the Agency is redoubling its efforts to find ways of stepping up the program sharply. The value of the translation program in achieving the objectives of our mission lies not only in the provision of desirable titles in native languages in our libraries, but more particularly in the results obtained through sale and presentation to key audience groups. 12. Better Presentation of Examples of Agency Achievements The unique mission of this Agency requires techniques designed to influence men's minds. It is difficult, if not impossible, to measure the impact of ideas disseminated through our media. The objectives of our program are long-range. Similarly, the results of our endeavors can be measured only on a long-range basis. The primary measure ment of our achievements is found in the actions taken by the peopies of the countries in which we operate. We collect examples of actiers which can be demonstrably related to our efforts, but the larger effe of our mission can be measured only over a period of years. Evidences of effectiveness of USIS in carrying out the mission of this Agency are submitted by field staffs throughout the year in the form of ad hoc reports. Once a year, the Agency receives from ea post a comprehensive report assessing, from the viewpoint of the P lic Affairs Officer, post progress during the year toward achievener of the planned country objectives. In addition, some measure of pr gram effectiveness can be derived from the studies made by our Re search and Analysis Staff. Data from these three sources are supplemented by the reports of our Area Assistant Directors and or Inspection Staff on their findings as a result of their survey trips. Information from all these sources is used by Agency witnesses ap Sec. 104 (1) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as amended (ante, doc. 575), authorizes the expenditure of foreign cr rencies gained through the sale of surplus agricultural products to pay for the translation, publication, and distribution of books abroad. Doe 619 INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS 1743 pearing before congressional appropriations committees to justify the Agency's budget request. 13. Budget Presentation The Agency has in the past collected some data which could be construed as "dollars and cents economies". However, we do not believe that there are a sufficient number of clear-cut items of this kind to justify their inclusion as a regular part of budget presentations. Related to the question of economy in operations is the fact that the Agency secures a good deal of contributed material and services through its People-to-People Program and the efforts of USIS posts in arranging for free radio and television time on local stations overseas. There are also examples of specific economies growing out of employee suggestions. In most instances, the net result of operating improvements is greater program impact, rather than specific dollar savings. We will, however, consider carefully the feasibility of identifying and compiling economies made in the Agency's operations in dollars and cents terms for inclusion in future budgets. 613. APPRAISAL OF EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES UNDER PUBLIC LAW 402, 80th CONGRESS (THE SMITH-MUNDT ACT), JULY-DECEMBER, 1959: Twentythird Semiannual Report to Congress by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Educational Exchange, April 15, 1960 (Excerpt) 1 1 II. APPRAISAL OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM At the Commission's 43d meeting on October 7, 1959, the Department requested its guidance as to 1. Whether it was not timely that a thoroughgoing study and appraisal of the educational exchange program administered by the Department be conducted; and 2. If so, whether the Commission would agree to sponsoring such a study. 1 1H. Doc. 379, 86th Cong., Apr. 18, 1960, pp. 2–3. "The portion of the report omitted at this point contained the following information concerning the composition of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Educational Exchange: Dr. Rufus H. Fitzgerald, chancellor emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., submitted his resignation as member and Chairman of the Commission to the President to take effect Nov. 1, 1959. The President formally designated Dr. Franklin D. Murphy, chancellor of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kans., to serve as Chairman of the Commission, Oct. 7, 1959. The President appointed John Ewart Wallace Sterling, president of Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif., to the Commission, Nov. 21, 1959. Doc. 613 3 In considering the desirability of such an appraisal, the Commission was especially cognizant of (1) the extent to which the Nation as a whole is engaged in a period of reflection and self-analysis, especially in the fields of foreign relations and education; (2) the initiation of certain studies under private auspices, particularly that of the Committee on the University and World Affairs, which promise to be of related significance; (3) the intention of the International Cooperation Administration to conduct an appraisal of its participant training program; and (4) the legal responsibility of the Commission itself to make "appraisals*** as to the effectiveness of the several programs" authorized by Public Law 402, 80th Congress (Smith-Mundt Act). The Commission therefore agreed that such a review should be made, and assumed the responsibility for its conduct and findings. The study to be so carried out in accordance with this decision will be concerned primarily with purposes and basic policies of the various educational exchange programs administered by the Department of State, and will seek to appraise these purposes and policies in the light of this country's involvement with the rest of the world during the next decade. The relationships of these programs to the other international programs of the U.S. Government and to comparable activities under private auspices as well, of course, as the content of the programs will be subject to careful review. Account will be taken of opinions and attitudes concerning the educational exchange program in both the governmental and private communities. A report embodying the findings of the study will be issued at its conclusion. This report will be submitted to the Congress by the Commission, in accordance with legislative requirement, and will be given widespread dissemination throughout the country." 3 Committee on the University and World Affairs, The University and World Affairs (Ford Foundation, N.Y.). 'H. Doc. 199, 87th Cong., June 22, 1961, pp. 7-76; also issued as toward a national effort in international educational and cultural affairs (Department of State publication 7238). 6 The remainder of the report deals with a survey of educational, technical. and cultural activities in Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet-Nam during the year 1959. 614. SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1959 IN THE PROGRAM OPERATING UNDER SECTION 2 OF PUBLIC LAW 584, 79th CONGRESS (THE FULBRIGHT ACT): Annual Report to Congress on the Operations of the Department of State Under Public Law 584, June 2, 1960 (Excerpts) 1 1 I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM A. THE BOARD OF FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIPS 2 The Board of Foreign Scholarships, appointed by the President to supervise the exchange program under the Fulbright Act, took a number of steps during 1959 to bring about greater awareness of the need for more adequate and longer-term financing of the program, and to improve selection procedures for American participants. The Board has long recognized both the limitations and the assets of an exchange program dependent on foreign currency resources for its financing. The original source, the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended by the Fulbright Act of 1946, provided for the use of foreign currencies accruing to the United States from the sale of surplus properties after World War II. The exchange program was, therefore, confined to those countries which had acquired surplus war properties. Since most of these were in Western Europe, the largest portion of the program has been carried out with this area. However, war surplus generated funds are being used up, with the result that several successful programs have been terminated and others curtailed within the past few years. Subsequent legislation, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, widened the scope of the exchange program under the Fulbright Act by making available foreign currencies for exchange purposes acquired from the sale of surplus agricultural commodities abroad. These currencies not only made possible the initiation of programs with countries which had not purchased World War II surplus property, but also the continuation of the program in some countries where the original war surplus property currencies were exhausted. During 1959, exchange programs were being financed with twenty countries from this source. They were Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China (Republic of), Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, Iceland, India, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Republic. 1H. Doc. 410, 86th Cong., June 3, 1960. 2 Ante, doc. 605. 3 P.L. 457, 78th Cong., Oct. 3, 1944; 58 Stat. 765. Sec. 104 (h) of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. (See American Foreign Policy, Basic Documents: 1950–1955, p. 2944). Exchanges under the Fulbright Act were carried out with a total of 36 countries during 1959. See appendix A, below. [Footnote adapted from source text.] 1746 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, 1959 While funds accruing from the sale of surplus agricultural commodities have been helpful in continuing programs or in initiating new ones, activities under the Fulbright Act are nevertheless restricted to countries where such funds are made available. Increasingly heavy demands on these funds are being made by other claimants specified in the law, and in some instances the local currencies made available for exchange purposes are only adequate for programs of 1, 2, or 3 years' duration. 7 At its June meeting, the Board of Foreign Scholarships met with the President and presented to him a report which described the past accomplishments and future prospects of the program, and underscored the need for more adequate and longer-term financing of the program. The Board specifically recommended to the President that the following steps be taken : 1. That every effort be made to maintain and expand the vigorous exchange program that has already been developed; 2. That financial support of the exchange program be strengthened to allow for the growth and operational flexibility needed to support our foreign policy objectives; 8 3. That in planning for American cooperation in the development of the emerging areas of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, educational exchange programs be established as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State to promote an atmosphere of mutual trust as a stimulant to international economic and political stability. 9 At its meeting on October 12, 1959, the Board of Foreign Scholarships approved the report and recommendations of three special committees which it established in June 1959 to review the policies, criteria, and procedures used to select American applicants for Falbright awards. The committees were composed of representatives of the Board of Foreign Scholarships, the Department of State, and the three cooperating agencies which assist the Board in the administration of the program. The report of the joint committees followed a series of meetings in which the problems involved in the selection of Fulbright students. scholars, and teachers were analyzed from the standpoint of each of the agencies concerned. Agreement was reached in a number et recommendations for clarifying the policies of the Board of Foreig Scholarships and for strengthening the selection process. One of the principal recommendations made by the joint committee concerned with the screening and selection of American scholars wis that the Board's policy on "disloyalty" as a factor in considering American candidates for awards under the program be restated to The Board of Foreign Scholarships, A Report to the President on the Ev cational Exchange Program Under the Fulbright Act (Department of State publication 6832). 8 See appendix F, below. 'Not published. Doc. 614 |