UN Expert Urges Care on Point 4

President Truman's Point Four, which provides for aid to backward parts of the world, can be carried too far, John Fletcher-Cooke, British delegate to the United Nations, said at last night's Dunster Forum on "The Problem of the Emergent Peoples."

If we assume that all people want the same "high standard of living" and "gadget civilization" that this country does, we will reduce the benefit that backward areas can get from technical and educational improvements under the plan, the British colonial expert added.

Fletcher Cooke discussed the achievement of self-government in large portions of Asia and Africa, the present and past colonial policy of Great Britain, and aspects of the UN decisions on trusteeships and non-self-governing colonies.

An audience of about 40 heard him stress the importance of former colonial areas with their tremendous populations. These areas will turn to communism as a means of maintaining order, he stated, if they are not well-trained in democracy before being granted their independence.