Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, East Asian Security; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XXI

169. Report of the Committee on Asian Regional Economic Development and Cooperation¹

Washington, September 11, 1957.

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SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The U.S. should expand its efforts to foster Asian regional economic cooperation. For this purpose the U.S. should work with countries individually, in small groupings, and through selective projects. This should be done within the framework of existing regional organizations, rather than seeking to form a new regional body or a new funding organization in Asia.

2. U.S. bilateral assistance programs and projects should increasingly take into account regional implications of these programs and the U.S. objective of encouraging sound economic cooperation among free Asian countries.

3. U.S. organizational arrangements, particularly in the field, should be reviewed at an early date to assure that adequate attention is being given to encouraging regional economic cooperation in Asia.

4. A careful assessment should be made as to whether continued availability of the Asian Economic Development Fund beyond June 30, 1958 might be necessary for achieving U.S. objectives in Asian regional economic cooperation.

5. A group of experienced and competent U.S. specialists, representing the industries of steel manufacturing and fabrication, minerals development, bulk transportation, and heavy industry investment should now be organized as a task force to study the development of iron and steel in Asia and to make findings to be used in the formulation of U.S. policy.

6. All appropriate means should be utilized to strengthen Asian private enterprise, ameliorate the climate for foreign private investment in Asia, and expand the contribution of American industry and technology to economic development in Asia.

7. To encourage suitable projects involving Japan and Asian countries receptive to economic cooperation with Japan, the United States should focus on situations which can aid a less developed country, provide a profitable outlet for Japan, and demonstrate to all Asian countries the benefits of economic cooperation, without prejudice to U.S. Government programs, private investment and trade activities or the interests of other friendly countries.

8. Consideration should be given to obtaining Asian support for an effort to identify areas that merit intensive surveying in order to develop the necessary basic data required to assess the possibilities for the development of minerals and basic facilities. Ways and means should be explored to enlist the cooperation of U.S. private capital in the initial surveys.

9. The U.S. should support projects for expanded regional cooperation in technical skills. The United States should give priority to expanding its present efforts in the English language field in Asia.

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1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 100.4/11–2557. Confidential. Regarding the membership and terms of reference of this committee, see Document 159.