J. Speeches by George Woods (1963-68)
11 items available
Permanent URI for this collection
George Woods served as the fourth President of the World Bank Group from 1963 to 1968.
Items in this collection
1 - 4 of 4
-
Publication
Finance for Developing Countries: A Time for Decision
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 1967-04-13)George D. Woods, President of the World Bank Group, spoke of a world crisis. Food riots in Asia, government coups in Africa, student violence in this Hemisphere and elsewhere, are among the symptoms of it. It is the crisis of a new world trying to be born--the crisis of the developing countries in their struggle to achieve economic viability, national unity, and the respect of other nations. The task of development assistance has proved to be one of almost infinite complexity. The process of growth, whether of people or countries, is intricate, and when its intricacy is compounded by all the difficulties of relationships between sovereign nations, problems seem to arise in a limitless number of permutations and combinations. The knowledge and the means exist to enlarge greatly the riches of the world, to help many millions to escape hunger and to achieve, or at least approach, decent living standards for the first time. What is needed now are firm political decisions to carry out an intensive, sustained and coordinated attack on underdevelopment, together with the political will and stamina to stay the course. This will require overcoming some paradoxes that have trapped both donor and recipient countries. The World Bank Group is in a strong position to tackle these aid issues due to its articles of agreement which endow it with an aptitude for cooperation, the opportunity to be independent, and a fundamental policy of basing operations on economic factors and staying out of politics. -
Publication
Address to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, December 20, 1966
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 1966-12-20)George D. Woods, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about the Bank and IDA helping to put down the foundations of economic growth in the form of transportation and electric power projects, and going deeper into the development of human resources. He discussed the progress made by World Bank Group in the field of agriculture and education. He mentioned the drafting of a scheme for multilateral investment insurance. He highlighted aid coordination to accelerate development in developing countries. He concluded that the industrialized countries should make a joint and thorough examination of what they are trying to achieve in their relationships with the developing world. -
Publication
Annual Address to the Board of Governors, September 26, 1966
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 1966-09-26)George D. Woods, President of the World Bank Group, points out the activities well established by the Bank in its 20th year. He discusses: 1) International Development Association financing of education and agriculture, which includes among other things fertilizer components and plants, highways, irrigation, and credit for small agriculturists; 2) two projects aimed at increasing the willingness of the private entrepreneur and investor to venture abroad; 3) problems that confront economic developments; and 4) some specific achievements. -
Publication
The Importance of an Old British Habit
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 1965-11-29)George D. Woods, President of the World Bank Group, spoke about empires and some of the great works of their construction. He discussed common illusions about developing countries. He argued for making the rallying cry, “No Taxation without Representation” a cornerstone of development. He explained that it was through adding a measure of the Bank’s experience and wealth to the scarce resources available for increasing productivity in the lands in developing countries that we help economic progress. He concluded by saying that countries with a material surplus must continue to cultivate the habit of investing some of that surplus into development overseas.