Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, American Republics, Volume V

57. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Staff Assistant (Boster) to the Secretary to the Cabinet (Patterson)¹

Washington, September 12, 1958.²

You have asked me informally for a brief status report on certain Cabinet action items. Following is the information which I have obtained on them:

[Here follow items 1–4: the question of returning vested German and Japanese assets, the management and use of U.S. controlled local currency, the popular impact of economic aid in underdeveloped areas, and problems associated with accepting gifts from foreign dignitaries.]

5. Discussion of the Vice President’s Trip—RA–58–105.

Below is set forth the action which has been taken as a result of the Vice President’s suggestions made at the Cabinet meeting on May 16, 1958:

1) The Department of State’s International Educational Exchange Service (IES) has proposed to all posts in Latin America a project for substantially increasing the exchange, in groups, of Latin American and United States professors and leading university officials. Replies are expected shortly. IES also recently conducted a meeting of US non-governmental experts on Latin American cultural affairs to advise on ways and means of quickly implementing an expanded exchange of persons program in Latin America, including projects for the exchange of leaders, university presidents, etc.

2) The following steps have been taken to widen and support more effectively the reservoir of firm friendship for the US in all the Latin American countries:

a. Dr. Milton Eisenhower visited Central America and Panama from July 12 to August 1, 1958 on a good will and fact-finding mission, and undertook frank and candid discussions with some 1200 government and other key leaders in the six countries.

b. The Secretary met with Brazilian officials in Brazil between August 4 and 7, 1958 to discuss bilateral and hemisphere matters of interest to the two countries. This was the Secretary’s first visit to Brazil.³

c. The Secretary has invited the Foreign Ministers of the other American Republics to meet in Washington on September 23 and 24, 1958 for an informal discussion and exchange of views on current matters of common interest.⁴ This will presumably consider the possibilities of more frequent meetings of this type, Brazil’s plan for Operation Pan America, and economic matters including the proposed Inter-American Development Institution (see below).

d. The Secretary has continued and extended his periodic briefings of Latin American Ambassadors on world problems and crises. Such briefings have been appreciated by the Latin American countries and have contributed to their feeling of partnership with the US and the Free World.

e. During the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary undertook to meet with the Latin American delegations to explain the US position on the Middle East problem.

f. Official invitations have been issued to President Frondizi of Argentina and President Emus of El Salvador to visit the US in 1959.⁵

g. On August 12, 1958 Under Secretary Dillon announced that the US was now prepared to support the formation of a regional economic development institution to aid in economic development in the hemisphere.⁶

h. Since June 11, 1958 the US has participated in an international coffee study group to examine coffee trade problems and recommend measures to be taken to meet them.⁷

3) Educational and technical exchanges are being substantially increased during the current and ensuing fiscal years. IES received from Congress a $2,000,000 additional appropriation earmarked for Latin America. An OCB Ad Hoc Committee on Student Contacts has developed the following ten-point program. (The agency responsible is noted in parentheses.) (1) Short-term seminars in U.S. universities for Latin American student leaders (IES); (2) An increase in the number of CIA-financed university-to-university contracts to increase exchange of faculty and students in technical fields (ICA); (3) Surveys of educational requirements of certain countries, as requested (ICA); (4) An increased number of grants to U.S. student leaders for visits to Latin American universities (IES); (5) An increased number of grants to both Latin American and U.S. professors for visits to universities (IES); (6) Establishment of binational student centers in Latin American universities (USIA); (7) An increase in the book presentation program for Latin America (USIA); (8) Increased number of grants to U.S. secondary school teachers to teach American educational principles and practices in Latin America (IES); (9) Exchange of teachers between U.S. schools and American-sponsored schools in Latin America (IES); and (10) Increased use of Puerto Rican educational facilities to improve the quality of technical education at Latin American universities (ICA).

The OCB Subcommittee on Latin American Student Activities is continuing to study additional proposals in this general field.⁸

D.E. Boster⁹

1. Source: Department of State, Presidential Cabinet Meetings: Lot 68 D 350, CP–7 Eisenhower Cabinet Material—1958. Cabinet Paper—Privileged.
2. The date is handwritten on the source text.
3. See Document 252.
4. The Latin American Foreign Ministers met in Washington on September 23–24, 1958.
5. Regarding the visits to the United States of President Frondizi of Argentina and President Lemus of El Salvador, see Documents 166 ff. and Document 307, respectively.
6. For text of Under Secretary Dillon’s announcement, see Department of State Bulletin, September 1, 1958, p. 347.
7. Regarding U.S. participation in an international coffee study group, see Documents 7 ff.
8. See Documents 1 ff.
9. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.