180. Editorial Note
On July 31, Secretary of the Treasury Anderson wrote to the President of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and asked him to place the topic of an International Development Association on the agenda for the Bank’s annual meeting. Anderson wrote that he intended to introduce a resolution instructing the Bank’s executive directors to study the question of establishing an association and to formulate articles of agreement for submission to member governments. He also attached a set of guidelines for the study. For texts of the letter and guidelines, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, pages 221–223.
Anderson’s letter and the guidelines were also published in a report on the proposed association prepared by the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Problems. The report, which Anderson forwarded to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on August 14, endorsed creating an International Development Association. For text of its conclusions, see Department of State Bulletin, September 14, 1959, page 393.
President Eisenhower left Washington on August 26 for consultations with European leaders at Bonn, London, and Paris. On August 31, he and British Prime Minister Macmillan gave a joint report on their discussions. In this report, which was televised live from Macmillan’s official residence, the Prime Minister asked Eisenhower about the need for international development. The President replied:
“I believe the biggest cooperative job that all the world that calls itself civilized, including the Soviets, ought to address themselves to is this problem and on a cooperative basis help to solve it so that these people can achieve their legitimate aspirations. And that is a problem that every one of us must address himself to and see what we can do, what our proper part is.” Macmillan agreed. (American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, page 908)
Eisenhower reiterated his comments in a September 10 address to the nation on the results of his trip; text is ibid., pages 916–920. Documentation on the President’s visit is in Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1440–1458. Only one discussion specifically addressing aid to underdeveloped areas has been found; a memorandum of this September 3 conversation in Paris between the President and Italian Prime Minister Segni and Foreign Minister Pella is ibid., CF 1449.