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significant inconsistency between "political" and
"development" criteria. The latter, in any case, involves
a measure of political judgment. But it is useful to use
the term "political objectives" in a more restricted or
residual sense to refer to more specific and perhaps shorter
term objectives related to the conduct of our foreign policy
in particular countries or areas, as distinct from commercial
or economic objectives and, of course, from development
criteria.
The use of aid to further political objectives of
this kind may, on occasion, conflict with developmental
priorities. Nevertheless, the Committee endorsed the
practice of using aid funds where appropriate in support of
specific political objectives which was already well established.
The Committee stressed that it was important that the aid
programme should have a sufficient margin of funds to enable
us to respond rapidly to changes in political circumstances
where this was to our advantage. This flexibility was vital
to cope with political contingencies, sometimes involving
strategic interests. It was recognized that it would be
politically difficult to turn off the "aid tap" once an aid
programme was established but the ability to boost or
inaugurate a country aid programme at short notice was
essential and it might be necessary to do this more frequently
in the future.
3. The following examples serve to illustrate the way in
which aid has in the past been used to serve political ends;
2.
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