718.5 MSP/1–953:Telegram
The Ambassador in Costa Rica ( Fleming ) to the Department of State
124. Depcirtel 722, January 71 and Depcirgam November 24.2 Only pertinent sections deal with operations Point IV program despatch forwarded today.
Costa Rica has successful plan economic development in which TCA program plays prominent part. Program reaches highest form acceptance and effectiveness. Results are evident improved methods agriculture and better sanitation practices. Costa Rican people well aware technical assistance given by US, and consider it friendly act enlightened sister nation.
A major objection has been achieved Point IV program agricultural extension operations Costa Rica: Jointly financed Agriculture Cooperative Service (STICA) initiated 1948 now completely run by Costa Ricans, will be absorbed by Ministry Agriculture in about two years. Most operations thereafter will be financed entirely by Costa Rican [Page 826] Government. This has been made possible by strict adherence policy training nationals to exercise initiative and assume responsibility plan and carry out own activities and designing programs tailored meet Costa Rican budgetary limitations.
US trained Costa Ricans have been requested for technical assistance in Panama, El Salvador and Honduras. 1955 US-Costa Rican joint program funds for agriculture should be used carry on preparation advanced plans for opening up new regions through irrigation, drainage, power development, etc.
Other TCA projects in Costa Rica in fields health, civil aviation, public administration, etc., are proceeding satisfactorily.
Two basic dangers success technical assistance program exist: (a) attempt at too much direction from topside in promoting new programs, and (b) duplication effort through overlapping activities various multilateral agencies.
Past ten years experience developing technical assistance methods in Latin America by IIAA have demonstrated operations must be centralized under guidance director technical cooperation with advice and assistance other sections Embassy. Technical assistance must be limited to desires and needs host country. No excuse for grave error of persuading country accept technical assistance it can never hope maintain once US financial support withdrawn.
The problem of duplication arises more or less from same basic over-emphasis.
Technical assistance programs multilateral agencies, philanthropic institutions, etc., should be directed to activities which3 does not undertake such as exchange technicians and students, scholarships, grant funds for establishing laboratories, translation technical data, etc.
TCA program, properly understood and applied, is most effective instrument international cooperation. Immense scope eventual possibilities made useful contribution all who wish participate but such contributions should not be allowed frustrate or cancel in any way basic operations being conducted by Point IV field parties.
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Circular telegram 722 requested reports from chiefs of diplomatic missions abroad concerning the status of programs under the Mutual Security Act of 1951 (700.5 MSP/1–753).
For text of the Mutual Security Act (Public Law 165), approved Oct. 10, 1951, see 65 Stat 373.
↩ - The referenced circular airgram, dated Nov. 24, 1952, contained reporting instructions for reports submitted by chiefs of diplomatic missions on the status of programs under the Mutual Security Act of 1951 (700.5 MSP/11–2452).↩
- At this point in the source text, five characters were omitted in transmission.↩