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16493796
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Letter, George V. Allen to Christian Herter Regarding Termination of the People-to-People Program
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16493796
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document
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Letter, George V. Allen to Christian Herter Regarding Termination of the People-to-People Program
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Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration)
Operations Coordinating Board Subject Files
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16493796
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21
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1958-11-21
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1958
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Mr. Karl Harr
UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE DIRECTOR
NOV 21 1958
Dear Chris,
Abbott Washburn tells me that you and some others at the OCB
meeting of November 5 raised questions concerning the People-to
People Program.
Your questions stem no doubt from reports you have had of the
demise of the People-to-People Foundation. That organization was
formed on February 4, 1957, with the primary mission of raising
money for the whole People-to-People operation. In this it was un-
successful. When it was concluded that the government could no
longer subsidize its efforts, the organizers decided to discontinue it.
Termination of the Foundation unfortunately created the impres-
sion in some quarters that the whole Program was closing down.
This was altogether untrue. The forty committees had been going
ahead since formation without much reference to the activities of the
Foundation itself and without any financial support from it. Some had
even been against the whole idea of a centralization of activities and
had refused to work with the Foundation.
As of today there are thirty-nine committees in existence.
Twenty-Eight have carried out projects that have had some impact
on foreign relations, and are actively engaged in more projects at
present. Eight have made a start but are inactive at present. Two
never have done anything. One is inactive at present for lack of a
chairman. Only one (the Radio-TV Committee) chose to disband.
LIMITA
OHL
The Honorable
Christian A. Herter
Under Secretary of State
- 2 -
The one great problem not solved so far is that of getting the
financing completely on a private basis. While a majority of the
Committees have managed on whatever slender resources they could
get together, thirteen are receiving grants averaging about $8,000 a
year to provide secretariats and cover their bare office expenses.
To give you concrete examples of the accomplishments of com-
mittees I refer to the enclosed copy of a summary issued several
months ago and to the current issue of PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE NEWS.
Incidentally, I find the PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE NEWS one of the
most interesting publications I see, telling as it does of the numerous
instances of activity by private citizens and groups to help build inter-
national understanding. We are arranging for the publication issues
to reach your office. I hope you will look at it from time to time.
While the People-to-People Program is moving slowly, I believe
it is performing a valuable function. It has contributed a new term
("People-to-People") to the language of international relations, and it
has inspired many person-to-person and group-to-group activities
over and beyond those formally launched by the committees. It is
helping awaken interest in foreign affairs in the ranks of the 700
national organizations represented on its committees. It is increas-
ing the volume of communication and contact of our people with other
peoples. If the theory that bringing governments together in the United
Nations for discussion of their likes and differences is sound, then
the people-to-people stimulation of contact and communication must
SHE Library
also be a step forward in seeking understanding.
At a conference at the White House on September 29 of this year
the Assistant to the President made some comments about the im-
portance of the Program and the relationship of government to it.
I am attaching a summary as of possible interest to you.
One of the handicaps in developing the People-to-People Program
has been scepticism and even downright opposition to the Program by
some of our officials abroad. This we are hoping to correct by a quiet
program of education as the Program grows in strength and accomplishment.