A View from Washington

American attitudes towards the Third World are passing through a critical period. Especially because of the Vietnam experience, Americans are plagued with self-doubts and disillusioned with the results of previous involvement. America cannot, however, turn its back on the Third World; it finds important interests there, as well as a pressing humanitarian challenge. The present trend in United States policy involves a rejection of the role of world policeman, tempered by a realization that our power and near-omnipresence place unavoidable responsibilities on us. In establishing a new role for ourselves, we will have to reduce the intensity of our involvement and look more toward multilateral arrangements. Despite the easing of the cold war, there are major problems at stake in dealing with the Soviet Union and communism as an ideology of modernization. In a world in which violence will be widespread but in which our power imposes limitations on our actions, we shall have to develop strong nerves. The major challenge comes in the economic field, at a time when our resources are badly strained. Problems involving investment, trade, and the growing needs of the poorer countries make urgent the development of a new and more productive approach to foreign aid

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