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5/5/1961 - The Peace Corps I by Ian Michael Wright

NOT FOP PUBLICATIOI INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS East Street New York N Y May IMW I The Peace Corps I Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte The Peace Corps certainly attracted attention My previous experience Quaker camps around world naturally interested Peace Corps I visited their headquarters I Washington short Some ideas Peace Corps administration follow I supplement newsletter second Peace Corps action East Africa The Peace Corps recently announced their first project Tanganyika American Friends Service Committee similar program there I forward visiting programs I believe Peace Corps imaginative posals recent years Among other things Peace Corps experi could ribute tremendously volunteer emotional intellectual maturity The peace however Henry James essay The Moral Equi valent War proposed similar peace corps The however considered logical predecessor Peace Corps It efforts Swiss Quaker Pierre Ceresole wounds World War I bring together volunteers rebuild shattered villages schools France His camps pacifist leanings organized military discipline Since disci pline diminished guiding motivation development dlscipline through democratic rather authoritarian leadership The movement become popular since World War II assisting needy areas while bringing together young people varied backgrounds tures But Peace Corps involves their projects should considered vernment financed camps It beyond The final Peace Corps still vague It autonomous agency within State Department under Executive Order Funds operation drawn unexpended Mutual Security Act money until separate appropriation approved Congress It expected annual between There different types agencies involved admisistration Peace Corps Projects I private voluntary organizations colleges universities agencies operation projects conduct train programs provision research evaluatlon servlces international agencies United Nations specialized agencies agencies U S Government Peace Corps Peace Corps officials emphasize category perma Peace Corps welcome inquiries uggestions organizations within classification Peace Corps members volunteers expected Government I0 including items training travel expenses For month spent abroad volunteer receive equivalent Army prlvate salary around which given return United States Under circumstances monthly allowance support dependents other ongoing expenses The volunteer receive monthly allowance cover housing clothing incidental expenses proximately level counterparts country Most volunteers years anyone eligible women Persons skills given preference outset especially those fields teaching agriculture public health welfare Appli cants screen emotional maturity given security clearance robably cursory given unskilled Government employees Upon acceptance volunteer intensive train course The first these courses begin June several college campuses Some visit poorer areas United States specific training Only project announced In Tanganylka twenty elght qualified surveyors engineers geologists build roads Julius Nyerere Prime Minister welcomed assis tance Future projects undoubtedly include group fforts individual The Peace Corps establish trained manpower which underdeveloped countries specific temporary needs their civil services development plans Peace Corps rates The Peace Corps plans volunteers field aiming toward possible Although volunteers eceive draft exemp probably deferred during their service This result effective exemption local draft boards discretion Only Americans wanted country there The initiative Peace Corps projects entirely underdeveloped countries informed their initiative Will welcome Several countries already informally expressed interest The Peace Corps anxious volunteers field possible something Congress appropriation hearings begin Private voluntary organizations important effort since similar programs being organized their first volunteers The American Friends Service Committee AFSC beginning program summer called VISA Voluntary International Service Assignments volunteers field summer The AFSC considerable experience through community service projects rural villages notably Mexico Central America camps Kenya built tuberculosis hospital period years VISA specific Jobs community service under auspices AFSC local organizations encouraged local costs sible Volunteers serve experts Just finishing college around amateurs whose interest enthusiasm encourages community itself The AFSC feels through personal involvement problem young adult better comprehend tension solutions Thus emphasis mature responsi development individual community VISA Jects located around world The AFSC estimates annual expenses volunteer around SBO00 compared Peac Corps estimate I0 Each volunteer asked contribute toward costs there generous financial available turned solely financial reasons These people accurately termed volunteers The leaders VISA groups appointees their penses AFSC although serving without salary making preliminary surveys areas which their teams stationed WORK CAMPS Volunteers Israel build retaining school playground above An Israeli weeds around young recently planted reforestation project below Government participation VISA program forthcoming would serve enlarge existing program rather create Nevertheless doubtful whether AFSC accept money appropriated MSA Thus I consider recently announced suggestion establish foundation Executive funds method getting around AFSC other similar organizations reticence funds propriated military military purposes Of course foundation enables private indiylduals direct Peace Corps On whole VISA individual tailor program which learning experience emphasized I great sympathy approach Many blems large progr avoided Thus heartening Gordon Boyce Director Private Agency Relations Peace Corps private voluntary organizations crucial permanent developing Peace Corps The Peace Corps excellent there great difficulties carrying successfully Here comments I consider important administrative political High question leadership Leadership under cumstances require skill training measure patience human understanding I wonder where enough suitable persons Evidently number those volunteered their services supervisory positions Peace Corps appears relying Whether experience prove valuable mainly leading groups young college graduates primitive lands remains Secondly I question realism expecting volunteers under local conditions A several months thing I doubt Americans could protracted periods under truly primitive conditions The Peace Corps aware problem there evidence allow volunteers higher level Rigorous selection extensive training minimize problem course Thirdly I question advisability necessity security clearances It dissuade those place program religious philosop hical scruples against It wrong impression recipient nations There already widespread suspicion countries Peace Corps volunteers government agents requiring security clearances reinforce If private organizations submit their volunteers clearances there obvious drawbacks especially under circumstances where Peace Corps money accounts portion total activity which volunteers considered Peace Corps personnel needing clearances which under Jurisdiction private agency Perhaps pressing problems however political I wonder countries Peace Corps Jects least until volunteers proven themselves mature trained workers In countries where there sizable numbers unemployed intellectuals Indla Indonesia Peace Corps projects doubt create considerable tension though unemployed because consider manual labor beneath their dignity This urgent problem because Philippines which large number unemployed intellectuals projects because their friendship United States I believe volunteers should unobtrusively among people avoid indication paternalism They should avoid clustering together American colonies nearly possible under local conditions A small percentage volunteers probably routine This natural value project above organization thorough should withstand adverse criticism result those suited service We prepared reaction eastern communist peace corps This should influence U S policy Government should aware possibility onsider policy under circumstances Finally charge Peace Corps propaganda agency should vigorously opposed At Third All Afrlcan People Conference Cairo March Peace Corps attacked conference resolution warned against representatives imperialist colonlal countries under cover religious cultural trade unions youth philanthropic organizations Increased participation United Nations programs Peace Corps personnel might criticism Recently Ambassador United Nations Adlal Stevenson suggested Peace Corps volunteers overseas specialized agencies Stevenson suggested other nations Join effort Another dulling criticism would create lateral peace corps volunteers recipient countries could learn poorer areas In future leaders under developed countries would opportunity among Americans understand problems It appears Peace Corps While achieve rapid development along democratic lines underdeveloped world presents opportunity stress technical assistance oppose economic develop In opinion United States emphasis economic development overshadows technical assistance unduly The Peace Corps however learning experience Americans In contact foreign countries insular approach I convinced Peace Corps represents increased international thinking Vol unteers return United States after their service depth breadth ideal foundation concerned intelligent foreign policy toward fortunate neighbors In Sargent Shrlver words create substantial popular American policies toward world Or Sincerely yours Ian Michael Wright Received New York May