The Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis issued today through their Joint Commission on Social Action, a statement aimed at arousing the American people to “a greater level of moral concern over the relation of American abundance to world needs.”
A number of prominent Catholics and Protestants joined in the statement which calls upon our national leaders, both in the social sciences and in the practical realms of business, labor, agriculture and politics, to work together for the following specific policies and programs:
“1. National economic policies designed to achieve and maintain full employment with full and efficient production both in industry and agriculture. With growing population, increasing labor force and mounting productivity this means not a level, but an annually rising gross national product.
“2. Industrial wage and agriculture price policies which will produce a just and equitable distribution of consumer purchasing power throughout the economy. Food and nutrition programs which will assure adequate and healthful diets for all Americans and for as many as can be reached and served abroad.
“3. Expanded programs of technical assistance in the fundamental work of world economic and social development. International trade and monetary policies designed to facilitate and expand the international flow of goods and services. Appropriate public aid should be provided to agricultural and industrial enterprises facing adjustments as trade barriers are progressively removed.
“4. Foreign economic aid programs geared to meet situations of emergency and longtime human need. For this purpose both the offices of government and of the voluntary and religious agencies should be used. The following three principles should be observed in all programs of foreign trade, aid and technical assistance: A. Complete separation of U.S. economic and technical aid from programs of military aid; B. Full utilization of private and non-governmental agencies in trade, aid, and technical assistance programs; C. Maximum utilization of the United Nations and the specialized agencies associated with it.”
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