The Alianza: A Matter of Tone

One of the architects of the Alliance for Progress is on his way out of Washington. He is Teodoro Moscoso, 53, the Puerto Rican businessman who helped mold the Alianza as its first U.S. coordinator. Last December Moscoso was moved out of the top job in President Johnson’s general reshuffling of Latin American policymakers. Last week it was announced that he is resigning as a special adviser and U.S. representative to the new Inter-American committee (CIAP) that is supposed to guide the program. Wrote Johnson: “It is with the greatest regret that I accept the resignation of this able and dedicated man. His counsel will be sorely missed.”

Noble Rhetoric. The expressions of regret seemed genuine enough—despite rumors of disagreement between Moscoso and the Johnson Administration. For two and a half years, Moscoso was the apostle of the Alianza, the man charged with President Kennedy’s sweeping declaration “to transform the 1960s into an historic decade of democratic progress.” Noble rhetoric, but the performance fell far short of the mark. A start was made on building low-cost houses, schools, roads, clinics and water systems. But Moscoso was frustrated by bureaucracy that delayed loan approvals, and many Latin Americans grew impatient waiting for instant progress. Few nations kept their half of the Alianza bargain by drawing up master development plans; the low rate of private investment was bitterly disappointing.

After Kennedy’s death, Moscoso recognized that Johnson would stamp his own brand on the program. Johnson’s first act was to bring in Thomas C. Mann (TIME Cover, Jan. 31) as Assistant Secretary of State to boss both the Alianza and the State Department’s Latin American end. So far, the difference is largely one of tone. Mann is a pragmatist, a believer in the art of the possible. He has muted the old-style Alliance hoopla for his own soft sell, and encourages such practical reforms as the new computerized tax-collection that helped Mexico enlarge its tax rolls by 1,200,000 people in eight months.

Renewed Pledge. Some Latin Americans are fearful that the tempered approach indicates a fading U.S. interest in the Alianza. With Moscoso’s departure, Johnson made a Texas-size point of dispelling any such notion. He called all Latin American ambassadors in Washington to the White House this week to discuss Alianza problems. And he will personally sign new loans to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and a raft of other countries. Said Johnson last week: “In my first official foreign-policy statement as President, I pledged to the representatives of Latin American countries the best efforts of this nation toward the fulfillments of the Alliance for Progress. We’re carrying out that pledge.”