Lewis Arrour McGowan

RANCHO SANTA FE
CALIFORNIA

‘

December 2, 1958

Hon, John KE. Fogarty
House Office Building
Washington, D. C.

Dear John:

I am interested in extending the benefits of the Hill-Burton
Act to American Missionaries so as to enable them to fight communism,
One of the best ways for us to carry on an effective campaign to defeat
communism is through the activities of American Missionaries engaged
in bettering the health and welfare of people in countries where Commu-
nism is prevelant. Two of the outstanding American Missionary organ-
izations engaged in such activities are located in your district, i.e.,
Maryknoll Sisters and Seventh Day Adventist. Such remedial legislation
could be called the Fogarty Act same as Hill-Burton names are identified
with the other legislation.

Iam attorney for the Maryknoll Sisters, hence, my interest in
the subject. Iam somewhat familar with the provisions of the Hill-
Burton Act. I would like to discuss the subject with you sometime at
your convenience, You may recall the favorable publicity few years
ago Dr. Schweitzer received for his mission medical work in Africa.
What gives merit to what I suggest is that it constitutes one practical
way for us to fight communism. I quote from Senate Report No, 729
dated September 4, 1951 with respect to S. 1415 which was approved
April 9, 1952 by the President:

"It is the traditional policy of the American Government to
foster and protect the activities of the missionaries who bring
the principles and techniques of the Christian and democratic
way of life to the Orient. The missionaries are teachers,
nurses and scientists who are especially trained to work in
foreign lands and most of whom will devote their entire lives
to this work without compensation, It is the view of this
committee that this work must continue to fight effectively
the ideologies of communism in the Orient, and particularly
the Philippines. In addition, it is acknowledged that the mission-
aries are effectuating the objectives of the point 4 program
without cost to the American taxpayer."

I also quote from the House Report on H.R. 5385, companion bill
to S. 1415:

“The institutions which will be benefited by this bill are
affiliated with institutions in the United States, which insures
that the work carried on by them will afford a visual demonstra-
~-2-

tion to the people of the Philippines of American principles
in action, These demonstrations should prove invaluable
in the world-wide struggle against Communism, which is
carried on in the Philippine Republic as well as elsewhere
in the world,"

The above mentioned Committee Reports emphasize the aid given
American Missionaries to fight communism. I enclose copies of the Reports
for your consideration. I am a co-author of the text of S. 1415 which Senator
O'Conor introduced in the Senate, which was sponsored by the Maryknoll
Sisters, Ihave given a lot of consideration to the subject matter of the legis-
lation I respectfully propose you consider, So far as I know, no such proposal
has ever been considered by any governmenta gency.

A great amount of money has been spent by our government abroad
for economic and educational purposes to prevent the spread of communism,
but very little for medical purposes. Most of the American Missionaries
abroad are women engaged in welfare work having contacts with native
womane who can become a great force in our fight against communism. We
have concentrated our activities amongst the men abroad, giving little atten-
tion to the native women. Appears to me we have overlooked the possibilities
among native women in foreign countries to come to our aid in establishing
a bulwark against the spread of communism. I believe American Missionary
Religious organizations are qualified to do the job. They are doing it in the
Philippines at present and can do it in other countries where communism
is prevalent.

I will be deeply appreciative of whatever consideration you may give
to the proposal Iam submitting to you.

With every good wish, Iam

_ Respectfully yours,

   

LAMc/ba

Enc,