UNESCO Farewell

Citing anti-Western bias, the U.S. pulls out

A year ago the U.S. formally served notice that it would resign from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unless the Paris-based group streamlined its bloated bureaucracy and righted its anti-Western tilt. Last week, asserting that "an unacceptable gap clearly remains," Washington made good its threat. Gregory Newell, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, announced that the U.S. will withdraw from UNESCO at the end of this month. He said that the U.S. was pulling out because the organization continued to exhibit "an endemic hostility toward the institutions of a free society--particularly those that protect a free press, free markets and, above all, individual human rights."

When UNESCO was founded in 1945, its stated goals were to foster literacy and education, encourage international scientific exchanges and preserve cultural heritage. But with the ascendancy of Third World countries, which now make up nearly three-fourths of UNESCO'S membership, the organization has gradually edged toward the left. Especially troubling to the U.S. was a proposed "new world information order" that called for increased government control of the press. The U.S. was also rankled by some of the agency's projects. The Palestine Liberation Organization, for example, received 7% of UNESCO's fellowships and study grants in 1981-83.

A pivotal factor in the pullout decision may have been Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow, UNESCO'S Senegalese director-general, whose autocratic style made negotiation difficult. In a recent meeting in Paris with Jean Gerard, U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO, M'Bow seemingly accused Gerard of racism, telling her that she could not treat him as she was accustomed to treating Americans "who come from the same continent as me."

Despite the frosty tone of Newell's announcement, the Administration left open the possibility of rapprochement, saying that the U.S. would rejoin the 160-nation group "when UNESCO returns to its original purposes and principles." As a practical matter, that may not be until 1987, when a successor to the combative M'Bow is chosen. Newell said, however, that the U.S. will establish an "observer mission" in Paris to monitor UNESCO activities.

The most immediate effect on UNESCO will be financial: the U.S. contributes 25% of the group's $374 million biennial program budget. That will leave the Soviet Union, which contributes 12% of the budget, as the group's largest backer. Said Ambassador Gerard: "Since some of UNESCO'S most objectionable programs resemble the Soviets' policies, let them pay for them."

Conservative groups hailed the U.S.withdrawal, but some U.N. officials, educators and legislators on Capitol Hill maintained that the U.S. should reform UNESCO from within. Said Republican Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa: "It is difficult to know how U.S. views will be better protected from an empty chair." By this time next year, another chair may be empty. Great Britain last month gave notice that it intends to withdraw from UNESCO at the end of 1985.