August 17, 1967
Page 23039
MAINE'S GOVERNOR CURTIS TOURS RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, BRAZIL
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, under the dynamic leadership of Gov. Kenneth M. Curtis, the State of Maine is now participating in the Partners program of the Alliance for Progress. Accompanied by six Maine citizens, who are leaders in their communities, Governor Curtis recently completed a 3-day visit to Maine's partner State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Upon his return to Maine, Governor Curtis commented on his impressions of Rio Grande do Norte and the potential of the Partners program for fostering economic development and international understanding. I ask unanimous consent that the text of his remarks be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
STATEMENT BY GOV. KENNETH CURTIS, OF MAINE, MADE AT CONCLUSION OF HIS VISIT TO MAINE'S PARTNER STATE, RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
I have just returned from a three-day visit to Rio Grande do Norte, Maine's Partner under the Alliance for Progress.
This visit has been one of great historical significance to our Partners of the Alliance program – and in a large context, it has revealed to me three important concepts integral to international understanding; they are:
I
Geographical and historically Maine and Rio Grande do Norte have much in common. They are both in the Northeast areas of their countries, both relatively small states with populations under two million, both agricultural and fishing economies, and both populated with energetic, creative, deeply moral people who want to participate in the Alliance for Progress. The people of Maine recall with pride that Rio Grande do Norte played a vitally important role in World War II when the capital of Natal was a key ferry point for U.S. aircraft operations. Many Maine pilots passed through this airport. For this reason among others the two states feel particularly close, and are joining together for international progress.
II
I was accompanied to Rio Grande do Norte by six citizen-leaders of the state of Maine. Those in my party include Allan A. Rubin, President of the Gardner Shoe Co., and Chairman of the Maine Partners of the Alliance Committee; Dr. T. Hedley Reynolds, President of Bates College; Dr. Clement Hiebert, a prominent Portland "open-heart" surgeon who visited Latin America on the Hospital Ship HOPE; Dr. Robert Dow, Director of Research Maine Sea and Shore Fisheries Department; Kenneth E. Gray, chief photographer of the Agriculture Department who is making a documentary film of this historic visit; and Shep Lee, of Auburn, a businessman, and a member of the national board of the Small Business Administration.
These men are now traveling throughout Rio Grande do Norte with their counterpart Brazilian Partners committee to examine economic and cultural projects of mutual interest. Already projects in the fields of health; administration; education; agriculture; and business and industry have revealed surprising opportunities for mutual assistance. Foremost among the new projects is the agreement by Rio Grande do Norte Governor Walfredo Gurgel to visit Maine next April as the guest of the State of Maine where he personally will visit economic and cultural entities and private organizations of mutual interest. He will also lecture at Maine educational institutions; and will be awarded an honorary degree at Bates College.
III
I personally visited fifteen institutions of educational and social interests in Rio Grande do Norte. I was overwhelmed with the courtesy of the city people, the workers, the farmers, businessmen, educators, and the state administration. I was deeply touched, everywhere I went, by the zeal, enthusiasm, and intellect of students. In fact, at the John Kennedy School, in Natal, while making a brief speech, I was almost overrun by hundreds of boys and girls trying to shake my hand. This zeal, friendship and sincere hospitality has a special meaning for those active in international development.
I have concluded:
Our nation needs friends like these as never before, and I am grateful for having a small part in the friendship development process. I can say, without reservation, we need more, many, many more American leaders in every field of endeavor to visit Brazil not just as "camera-carrying" tourists, but as friends, counselors, partners, to see the students in schools, the people in hospitals, industries, and the cultural organizations, in addition, to the natural beauty of this growing land; to learn from Brazilians; and, at the same time, to offer our own wisdom, experience and technical know-how to these fine, strong, generous people who are anxious and willing to join with us in positive efforts to engender growth and development under the Partners Program of the Alliance for Progress. It is people and people alone who through creative efforts build and better a nation. I urge all the people, of not only my own state, but those of all America, to join in this non-government private cooperation Partners program.
I commend and compliment those of the Partners of the Alliance for conceiving this unique development process. Fourteen states of Brazil are now partnered with 14 U.S. states with its potential of some one hundred million people. It is of vast scope involving masses of people at practically negligible cost to both governments. At the same time, it has in it powerful, creative seeds of economic and social growth germinating in the hearts and minds of men. It will yield rich fruits of progress, friendship and understanding between our nations in the years ahead.