SHIRT-SLEEVE DIPLOMACY: Point Four, in Action

To judge from this book, Jonathan Bingham has performed a noteworthy bit of shirt-sleeve diplomacy in telling the story of Point Four, its history, problems and potentialities. From the day Ben Hardy's memo reached President Truman to the present, Point Four has become a vital pact of our foreign policy, history-making in its concept of national responsibility to help the underdeveloped areas of the world help themselves, by distribution of knowledge rather than money. Point Four in the field found its work in agriculture, health, industry, in helping people understand the program and aiding without hurting cultural sensibilities. The headaches of how much money is enough, how much too much -- for dollar aid may lead to inflation; private investment; the possible intrusion of politics in a nonpolitical program; the question of UN or U.S. aid and interrelation come under discussion. Point Four in action is impressive, and this clear informal and informative interpretation of its role can point up its importance for the general reader.