SCHOLARSHIP PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26033, 22 December 1945, Page 6

SCHOLARSHIP PLAN

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE DOMINION MAY PARTICIPATE WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. New Zealand may take part in an American scheme of self-perpetuating scholarships which will 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, and China into a self-perpetuating fund for this purpose. The sponsors of the scheme hope ways will be found to extend the programme to New. Zealand, India, Norway, and Russia. Senator J. W. Fulbright (Arkansas), a former Rhodes Scholar, has introduced a 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 island possessions The Bill, which has the department’s strong endorsement, would authorise the Secretary of State to accept foreign currencies, credits, intangible rights or discharge of claims against the United States and make agreements with foreign Governments for the use of funds derived from sales of surpluses for the following purposes:— “1. 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 in American schools and institutions of higher learning located outside the Continental United States, including payment of transportation, tuition, maintenance, and other scholastic expenses. •• 2. Furnishing transportation for 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 of. well over 20,000,000 dollars. 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’s tentative plans depend upon the large American colleges to nominate outstanding students for foreign scholarships. The Fulbright Bill limits the total 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 was a sound business measure to use surplus property credits. However, the State Department considered it too narrow and intended to propose an amendment to authorise the use of credits simply “ for education programmes.” This would permit the credits to be used for the translation of books in libraries abroad and for numerous other educational activities in which the department is already engaged.