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First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 5, 1948
TRUMAN SIGNS AID BILL
Flow Begins To-day
From Our Staff Correspondent and A.A.P.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-
Less than 24 hours after Congress had passed the U.S. Foreign Aid Bill by a sweeping majority, President Truman signed the measure yesterday.
At the White House on October 3, 1949, President Harry Truman, left, congratulates Gen. George Marshall (architect of the Marshall Plan) after the former secretary of state became chairman of the American Red Cross, succeeding Basil O’Connor, right. Credit:AP
Operations under the bill, which will benefit 16 Western European nations and China, Greece, and Turkey, will begin tomorrow - two weeks before the crucial Italian elections.
President Truman declared : “This measure is America’s answer to the challenge facing the free world to-day. It is the best answer this country can make in reply to vicious, distorted misrepresentation» of our efforts for peace.”
BIG IMMEDIATE GRANTS
Under the bill, America will spend 6,098 million dollars (£1,900 million) in 12 months on aid to the 19 countries mentioned in the measure.
Most of the funds will not be voted by Congress until later, but the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which will administer the funds, has been empowered to advance 1,000 million dollars (£A312 million) immediately to
the 16 European countries and 50 million dollars each to China, Greece, and Turkey.