President Eisenhower's timely proposal for aid to African education through the family of United Nations organizations is potentially one of the great ideas of the twentieth century. It comes at a point in history when the need for mutual understanding between the United States and Africa has never been greater.

Aware of this growing need, the United States National Commission for UNESCO decided two years ago to devote its Eighth National Conference in 1961 to the vital task of fostering better relations between the United States and Africa. The National Commission was established by Act of Congress in 1946 to further the aims of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization. It is composed of 100 members, 60 of whom represent national organizations having a total membership of over 30,000,000. The Commission believes that the Eighth National Conference can best achieve its objectives by concentrating on relevant educational, scientific, and cultural issues, with emphasis on education. The Conference will focus primarily on Africa of the Sahara.