Office of the Historian

8. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Allen) to the Secretary of State1

Washington, December 28, 1955.

SUBJECT

  • Technical Assistance for Dependent Overseas Territories

Southern Rhodesia wants us to start a modest technical assistance program in that country. It would cost about $500,000 to carry out a few specific projects, such as magnetometer survey of the Colony for minerals and materials, and technical and vocational training for Africans.

[Page 23]

Mr. Todd, the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, visited Washington in August 1955,2 and left with the impression that the United States Government had no objection, in principle, to giving him some technical help. A considerable amount of discussion has taken place since that time and we now need a basic decision.

Mr. Hollister has been inclined to oppose our giving technical help to any Dependent Overseas Territories (DOT’s) in either Africa or the Caribbean area, on the grounds that the responsibility for their welfare should rest with the governing country.

I feel strongly that we should have a modest program in those territories where the local authorities want us and the governing power does not object. The future of United States relations with the tremendously important continent of Africa is involved. If we do not gradually ease into the picture there, a rising nationalistic sentiment among the peoples south of the Sahara will look elsewhere for help and sympathy. It is a most fertile field for future (and not so distant future) Soviet activity. Moreover, American Negroes are beginning to look on Africa south of the Sahara with somewhat the same kind of sympathy and interest as American Zionists look on Israel. We should capitalize on this sentiment, utilizing it to work towards evolution rather than revolution in Africa. American Negroes, who are our best hope of keeping Africa oriented towards the United States, are anxious for the Department to help in the improvement of economic conditions in Africa and would be very much upset by a decision against any technical assistance programs there.

I understand that Mr. Hollister is putting the matter up to you for policy decision. I hope very much you will favor the DOT programs.

I have discussed the subject with Mr. Merchant and Mr. Holland, who are in general agreement.

[Here follow comments by the Assistant Secretaries of State for European and Inter-American Affairs relating exclusively to the Caribbean.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 745C.5–MSP/12–2855. Confidential. The source text bears no indication of the Secretary’s approval or disapproval.↩
  2. R.S. Garfield Todd met briefly with Dulles on August 10. (Memorandum of conversation by Hadsel, August 10; ibid., 033.45C11/8–1055)↩