U.S. SCHOLARSHIP PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 149, 21 December 1945, Page 6

U.S. SCHOLARSHIP PLAN

MAY BE EXTENDED-TO N.Z.

WASHINGTON, December 20,

New Zealand may participate in an American scheme for self-perpetuating scholarships which bring foreign students to the United States and finance the studies of Americans abroad.

The United States plans to convert part of its remaining stocks and property in Australia, England, France, Italy,l and China into a self-perpetuat-ing fund for this purpose, aiid the sponsors of the scheme hope that ways will be found to extend the programme to New Zealand, India. Norway, and Russia. . . Senator Fulbright (Arkansas), a former Rhodes Scholar, introduced the Bill which would transfer from the Surplus Property Administrator to the State Department control over the disposition of all surplus property outside the United States and its island possessions. The Bill, which has the department's strong endorsement, authorises the Secretary of. State to accept foreign currencies, credits, intangible rights or discharge of claims against the United States and to make agreements with foreign Governments for the use of funds derived from the sales of. surpluses for, first, financing studies, research, instruction, library operation, and other education activities of or for American citizens, in schools and institutions of higher learning located in such foreign country, or of citizens of such foreign country at American schools and institutions of higher learning located outside the United States, including payment of transportation, tuition, maintenance, and other scholastic expenses; or, secondly, furnishing transportation of citizens of such foreign country who desire to attend American schools and institutions of higher learning in the United States. Australia, Italy, France, China, and possibly India, are expected each to produce credits well in excess of 20,----000.000 dollars, and in any case any country owing the United States money would, it is believed, prefer to discharge its indebtedness in its own currency to using its dollar exchange. The State Department tentatively plans to depend on the large American colleges to nominate outstanding students for foreign scholarships. The Fulbright Bill limits the credits used for any one country to 2,500,000 dollars a year. Mr William Benton, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, said: "The Bill is a sound business measure to -use surplus property and credits, but the State Department considers it is too narrow and intends to propose an amendment to authorise the use of credits simply 'for educational programmes,' thus permitting it to use them for the translation of books, tor libraries abroad and for numerous other educational activities in which it is already engaged."