THROUGH the Foreign Operations Administration, the United States is working with about 60 other nations to build the mutual security of the free world. We are doing this through joint defense undertakings, through increasing economic strength, and through the sharing of modern techniques. Under the mutual security program, the defenses of the free nations are growing; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is now a strong deterrent to Communist aggression in Western Europe. By 1953, NATO had increased the number of its active divisions threefold over 1951 and had more than doubled its aircraft strength. In 1953, the free world's economic strength reached its highest point since the end of World War II. The United States is cooperating with the peoples of the less developed areas of the world to help build their technical knowledge and skills, with primary emphasis on projects in health, agriculture, and education. Under President Eisenhower, this cooperation has been increased. More United States technicians are serving abroad than ever before. Long before the United States Government, through the Institute of Inter-American Affairs and later through the Act for International Development, entered this field of sharing technical knowledge, many private organizations and institutions of the United States were actively working with the people of other countries. Voluntary agencies, foundations, colleges, commercial firms, and church groups were-and still are-carrying out a host of projects abroad. Their work has been notable, especially in the field of health. Through the medical missionary, for example, several thousand dispensaries and hundreds of hospitals have been set up and are daily helping the people of other countries. The technical cooperation programs of the Foreign Operations Administration, however, are carried out in a different way from the programs of private groups. A church mission may maintain a hospital; a foundation may conduct essential research; an American business firm may provide health care for its employees from the surrounding area in a foreign country. But by their very nature these projects must operate in limited areas. The scope of FOA activity is much broader. This agency works with the governments of the host countries on programs which will eventually result Mr. Stambaugh is assistant to the director of the Foreign Operations Administration. Presented here are excerpts from his address before the Midwest Conference on World Health, held in Chicago, June 10-11, 1954. T'he conference was sponsored by the National Citizens Committee for the World Health Organization.