SLUMS AND FOREIGN POLCY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000100350014-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: October 27, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

NEW' ym
Sanitized - Approval
OCT 2 7 1964
FOIAb3b
CPYRGHT
Slums and Foreign Policy
To the Herald Tribune:
ermi me to isagree s arp y with your editorial comment on my statement that the needs of our own
.':poverty-stricken slutns,in New York City and other
urban communities should be given urgent priority
over certain of our foreign aid expenditures.
This is not "somewhat irrelevant," as you suggest.
Throughout the world, as we properly seek to aid other
nations, the propaganda of Soviet Russia, Red China,
Cuba and others is based in large measure upon vivid
,.portrayals of our slums as evidence of the failure of .
the capitalist system. Why follgw United States leader-
ship, they 'ask, when even In such wealthy cities as
New York, Chicago and Washington. D. C., there exist
great areas of `hopeless poverty and human decay.
Tragic to say, our. competitors for world opinion need
not exaggerate these conditions.
If we are to hold forth to less fortunate nations
our own free society as a worthy leader, it is impera-
tive that we give urgent priority to the eradication of
domestic poverty. Meanwhile, it is indisputable that'
there has been great: waste in our expenditures for aid
to foreign regimes throughout the world since World
War II:. We need not refer only to Africa and Asia.
May I cite the manner: in which our foreign aid in
certain Latin American countries fails to strengthen.
their national economy or to raise the living standards
of the. common people. Vast sums o:f our aid have
benefited only tiny oligarchies and. their numbered,
Swiss bank accounts.
Enthusiastic New York support is needed for our
new board program, which is realistic and demonstra
bly necessary to break the: vicious cycle_.of poverty,.
unemployment. and lack of educational opportunity
among hundreds of thousands of our citizens, especially
theyouth.
JAMES B. DONOVAN,
President, Board of Education, City of New'York:'
New.,York
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000100350014-4