1. The Minister for External Affairs has received an invitation from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to a Conference to be held at Lake Success, New York, on June 12th to discuss the financing of a technical assistance scheme for under-developed areas which has been drawn up by that Organisation.

Origin

2. The scheme arises out of the consideration by the United Nations of a resolution submitted by the United States representative designed to implement part of the programme known as President Truman's 'Point IV'.

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Factors relevant to decision

9. The questions for decision are (1) whether Ireland should be represented at the forthcoming conference, (2) whether Ireland should make a contribution towards the scheme. The scheme clearly cannot be of any direct advantage to Ireland and it is already recognised that this country requires the full use of all her resources and of U.S. technical assistance for the development of her own economy. It is recognised too, that it was a tactical mistake to make the United Nations Organisation responsible for the international co-operation in connection with the Point IV Programme. A main attraction of the Point IV Programme from the American point of view is as a 'holding' operation against Communism and the Communist Governments, being members of the United Nations, are in a position to hold up the execution of the Programme by that Organisation. Nevertheless the development of the under-developed areas of the world comprising perhaps two-thirds of the world's population, is generally recognised as an important international objective and as the American Government has identified itself with the present United Nations initiative, it is undesirable that this Government should withhold all co-operation from it. The United Nations scheme and 'Point IV' are regarded by the U.S. as affording the United States an opportunity for leadership which they have readily accepted. The Embassy here has indicated the interest the U.S. has in Ireland's participation in the Scheme. Some twenty-three countries, including Australia, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Sweden, Canada and Switzerland have already expressed their intention of contributing to the Scheme. The specialised agencies of which Ireland is a member and the OEEC have played a prominent part in the development of the Scheme. The Minister for External Affairs feels accordingly, that Ireland should be represented and should make a contribution to the cost of the Scheme.
10. The contribution cannot be more than a token sum. Calculations on the basis of Ireland's contribution to the specialised agencies of which she is a member, would point towards a contribution to the technical assistance scheme of an amount varying between £6,500 and £12,000. In all the circumstances the Minister for External Affairs would recommend that a contribution of £5,000 of the initial budget would be a sufficient sign of our goodwill towards the project. He considers, however, that the actual amount should be conditioned by the magnitude of the contributions of other countries which might be regarded as comparable, e.g. Norway and Denmark, and would suggest that the £5,000 figure be regarded as a maximum, a reduced amount to be offered if it is considered feasible in the course of the forthcoming conference. An offer, in principle, might also be made of assistance by way of training and research in the fields of agriculture and medicine.

Action required of Government

11. The Minister for External Affairs, accordingly, requests the sanction of the Government for
    1. the sending of a representative (from local staff) to the United Nations Technical Assistance Conference at Lake Success, New York, on June 12th,
    2. the offer of a contribution to the Scheme, the amount to be comparable with that offered by other countries in a similar position but in any case not to be greater than £5,000,
    3. the offer, in principle, of assistance by way of training and research in the fields of agriculture and medicine.

Other Ministerial Views

12. The Ministers for Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, and Health agree with the terms of this Memorandum. The Minister for Finance reserves his position on the question of the contribution.