U.S. AID APPROVED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22513, 17 December 1947, Page 7

U.S. AID APPROVED

EUROPE AND CHINA PASSED BY CONGRESS FUNDS FOR FOUR STATES WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. Congress today finally approved of the 597,000,000 dollar emergency programme of foreign aid. The Senate and the House of Representatives accepted, without serious opposition, the joint committee’s compromise report on their respective bills authorising stop-gap aid to France, Austria, Italy and China this winter. The bill now goes to President 'Truman for signature. President told Congressional leaders this morning that before Congress adjourns at the end of this week he will deliver a message to a joint session on the Marshall plan for longrange European recovery. The measure, which operates until March 31 1948, does not specify what amount each recipient country is to receive and the actual appropriation of funds is subject to later Congressional action. Points of the bill are: 1. The President is permitted to withdraw aid from any country which falls under Communist domination. 2. Shipment of “incentive” goods, such as cigarettes, is allowed in order to spur foreign production. 3. The nations receiving assistance must own currency equal to the cost of the aid they receive and these trust funds must be spent only by agreement between the United States and the recipient country. 4. The Reconstruction and Finance Corporation is authorised to advance 150,000,000 dollars immediately. 5. Countries receiving aid must admit American journalists as observers and the recipients must publicise the source of the aid. 6. Purchase of 10 per cent of food and other supplies outside the United States is permitted but not at more than the domestic cost.