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268 Annals Am. Acad. Pol. & Soc. Sci. vii (1950)

handle is hein.cow/anamacp0268 and id is 1 raw text is: FOREWORD
THE fourth point in President Truman's inaugural address on January 20, 1949,
his bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and indus-
trial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas,
is becoming one of the most discussed features of United States foreign policy of
the present day. This is not because the program outlined by the President as-
suredly will prove to be either so bold or so new. At this writing it is still, as a
distinct program, unimplemented, while various of the measures envisaged by it are
being carried forward as features of other programs. Point Four owes its promi-
nence to other factors. Basically, it appeals strongly to the imagination and par-
ticularly to the American imagination. Its fundamental concepts reflect the ideals
and generous impulses of a great people, conscious of their advantages as compared
with peoples elsewhere in the world.
There are more cogent and practical reasons, however, for the widespread atten-
tion being given to Point Four. Almost without warning, the United States finds
itself the chief protagonist of an ideology in a world struggle of ideologies; the
champion of free peoples in a world struggle of rival power systems. Much that
gives significance to Point Four of the President's address stems from the possi-
bility and even the likelihood that the judicious carrying out of a program for the
widespread relief of human misery and the building up of underdeveloped areas
elsewhere in the world will prove to be a real barrier to the insidious spread of
totalitarian influences, and a source of strength-both moral and material-to the
nations concerned with the worth of the human individual. While a philanthropic
note unmistakably runs through the Point Four theme, the predominant strain is
one of practicality rather than sentiment.
In substance, the proposal is, first, that the United States make available its tech-
nical knowledge to those living in underdeveloped areas, who then, by combining
their own resources with know-how, may be enabled materially to improve the con-
ditions under which they live, and thus contribute to the well-being, and hence to
the peace, of the world. This is supplemented by the further proposal that, again
on a joint basis, capital investment in areas needing development should be fos-
tered. Such services, according to the plan, may be expected to result in mutual
advantage by making possible the decent, satisfying life that is the right of all
people.
In view of the timeliness and the potential importance of the program thus
briefly characterized, it has seemed to be well worth while to examine some of the
circumstances under which it can be or will have to be carried out. Within the
space limits of this volume of THE ANNALS it has not been possible by any means
fully to discuss the many questions and issues posed by a proposal so broad and
inclusive as Point Four. Nevertheless, there would appear to be some utility in a
preliminary survey of the objectives of the program, the international environment
to which it applies, existing means for putting the program into effect, and some of
the results that may reasonably be expected.
Nineteen contributors have been enlisted for the co-operative task. Each one
of the group is a leading authority on the topic or topics with which he has dealt.
Several have been concerned with Point Four in one way or another in the course
of official duties. In the absence of accepted program plans and enabling legisla-
vii

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