Kennedy, Plank Discuss Policy in Latin America

The basic assumption of the Alliance for Progress is that we will not help any country that will not help itself," asserted Edward M. Kennedy '54 yesterday.

Speaking at the Harvard Club of Boston, the President's brother pointed to Northeastern Brazil as an area especially serving of American aid "because we know that the aid is being effectively administered."

John N. Plank, assistant professor of Government, who accompanied Kennedy on his summer trip to Latin America, added that in Northeastern Brazil the and reformers favor private ownership of the land.

"Cuba No Better"

"Cuba is no better than what we have are," repiled one Brazilian peasant then Plank questioned him on the tour. The only difference is that there the hacienda-owner is the stato."

"I don't know why Fidel insists that his is the only country with land reform," added Plank. "We saw it everywhere."

In Venezuela, for example, land-reform is being successfully carried on by President Betancourt on a different basis than the one used by Castro. In this manner, Betancourt is showing Latin America that there is an effective alternative to communist revolution.

Both Kennedy and Plank agreed that Betancourt is one of the most heartening figures in Latin America today. In running an anti-communist government that is eliminating corruption, "shouldering its responsibility with regard to the labor movement," and finishing payment of a two billion dollar debt, Betancourt is creating an image of democracy that will help to improve United States' relations with Latin America, Kennedy said.

Communism Identified With Change

He maintained that Communism appeals to the Latins because it identifies itself with the cause of change, but there is more "slogan-mongering than deep ideological commitment."

Communists say that nationalized industry will solve all Venezuela's problems, and they criticize the Alliance for Progress. However, they know little of Marxist doctrine, Plank asserted.

Students, though avowedly communist, show the same lack of commitment to dogma, both speakers agreed. Kennedy commended the Political Institute in Costa Rica, a school educating the democratically oriented in an attempt to "strengthen their ideology and train them to organize parties that can combat the communists."