The Most Significant and Important Activity I Have Been Privileged to Engage in during My Years in the Senate

After World War II, it was obvious that a new approach to international relations was essential to avoid in discriminate destruction of life and property. It was hoped that man could be diverted from military to cultural pursuits. The Fulbright Act was introduced in 1945 to enable Americans to study abroad at the graduate level and teach in an elementary or secondary school, lecture in a university, or conduct post doctoral research. Similar opportunities are offered to citizens of other countries to attend American-sponsored schools abroad or in the United States. The program's success depends largely on the support and cooperation of private organiza tions and individuals. After 30 years in the U. S. Senate, I re main convinced that educational and cultural exchange offers one of the best means available for improving international understanding. The inadequacy and peril of traditional methods of solving differences among nations and the hydro gen bomb put us on notice to find a better way to deal with in ternational human relations. Whereas we readily spend billions for the military and hundreds of millions for propa ganda abroad, it is incredibly difficult to get the administra tion and Congress to invest the few score millions necessary to sustain this activity most important to this country's future and world peace.