U.S. AID BILL SIGNED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 April 1948, Page 5

U.S. AID BILL SIGNED

(N.Z.PAr

-Rewter,

Momeniious Occasion, Says Truman

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Receive'd Sunday, 7.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 3. President Truman today signed the 6,098, 000, 000-dollar Foreign Aid Bili providing assistanse to 16 western European nations and Chiha, Greece and Tiu-Key. "Tms signing is a momentous occasion in the world' s f quest for enduring poace," said Fresident Truman. "Those who are • sceptical of the effectiveness of a democratic systehi should ponder the lesson of the enactment of this . measure. "Onr programme of foreign aid perhaps the greatest yentufe in eon ktrvu'tive statesninnship any nation 'has ever taken in foreign assistanee. The Aet is the best answer this eountry cah mahe in reply to the vicioiis and d:-s-torted misreprescntations of our efforls for peace whieh have been spread abroad by ihose who don 't wish oui elforts to' sneceed. This measure is America's answer to the challengv facing the free world todav. It is a measure for reeonstrui'tion, stabihty ;tnd peaee. " President Truman 's signature makes immediately availabte for the tirst eniergeney operution of the longdelayed Marshall Plan an advanee of 1 (h).()()0,()0(). dollar.s. from the Keeonstfuetion Finance ( 'orporation. Oongress has still to pass an Appropriation JBill ho make available the l>alanee of the umount mentioned in today* 's new Aet. A skeleton lntei'im organisation wil! start work in the State Department on Monday 011 plans for the proeurement . and shipmeut of goods. At the eml ot .">0 days this skeleton organisation will be repiaced' Dy -a* new Governmenl agenci', t'be Fcouoniist Pooperation Atliniuistratiou, the liead of which will be appointed at a salai'y of d(),00() dollar.-. a year. The name rhost prominently -mentioned for the post is Puni llolfmaU president of the Studebaker Porporation. t '