202. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Ambassador in El Salvador (Mann)1
Dear Tom: Thank you for your letters of March 22 and July 2, 1957,2 giving us additional comments on the possibility and desirability of creating a Central American University. Your idea of a Central American rather than a hemisphere approach to the problem of establishing an inter-American institution of higher learning is challenging. Such an approach should certainly decrease and even obviate some of the difficulties inherent in the development of a great University of the Americas which, as envisaged in S.A. Resolution 174, 84th Congress, would serve as a center of higher education for all the American Republics.
While agreeing with you that there is urgent need for strengthening the universities in many of the Republics, it is the general opinion of those who have had the opportunity to discuss the various proposals on the establishment of an international university in America that if such an international institution, either regional or hemispheric, is to have a chance of success, it will have to come into being as a result of a very real need recognized by the States that are concerned in its creation. Otherwise, they will not give it the moral and financial support needed for its creation and continuing existence. Leadership for such an institution must come primarily from nationals of the countries concerned and, in the case of an international institution, which would be venturing into new fields of higher education endeavor, truly inspired leadership would be needed. [Page 627] The recommendations of the ODECA on the creation of a Central American University open the way to joint action by the Central American States in the development of such a project and their further consideration of this proposal might well be encouraged. In view of their sensitivity to anything that might be considered as an effort to Anglicize Latin American culture which you note in your letter of July 2, however, it would seem to be most inadvisable for the United States to show even the slightest trace of paternalism in its approach to this very important matter in taking too active a part in support of the proposal.
It will interest you to know that Senator Mansfield,3 in his speech on Foreign Affairs in the Senate on July 13, 1957, stated that he would like to revive the proposal that he had made last year calling for an exploration of the possibilities of establishing a University of the Americas, perhaps in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Therefore, further action on this matter in the Congress may be expected.
The Department will bring to the attention of Senator Mansfield, Congressman Boggs,4 and Congressman Fascell,5 and others interested in the creation of an inter-American University, the proposal for the possible establishment of a Central American University, making clear some of the problems inherent in its development, especially in reference to the problem of obtaining moral and financial support from the Central American States.
In view of your concern with the development of an inter-American University you will be interested, I am sure, in another project which, if it is supported by the American States, would also result in increased opportunities for higher education for a number of the youth of the American Republics. The Committee of Presidential Representatives meeting in Washington on May 8, 1957, made a series of recommendations for strengthening the program of the OAS in economic, financial, social and technical fields. One of these recommendations in the field of education involves the initiation of a regular program of 500 scholarships independent and apart from those at present offered by the Governments and the OAS, which would be a multilateral project carried on by the OAS. This recommendation, if it is supported by the Member States of the OAS, would make possible a broad interchange of students among the American Republics in a multilateral program which would make possible the use of the best higher education facilities in the Hemisphere. This program should not only provide good educational [Page 628] opportunities for some 500 youth each year, but should give the institutions receiving these young people an opportunity to strengthen their own educational facilities in line with both national and regional needs.
I appreciate very much your interest in the idea of an inter-American University and will keep you informed of any further action taken by the Department and the Congress.
With kind regards.
Sincerely,