No. 255
Editorial Note
In a national radio and television address on March 6 President Truman urged continuation of the Mutual Security Program for fiscal year 1953 as “essential to advance our program of world peace and to protect the security of the United States.” In order to implement the program, the President requested a Congressional allocation of $7.9 billion, $5,889 million of which would go to Europe in the form of direct military aid ($4,070 million) and defense support ($1,819 million). (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1952–1953, pages 191–196)
Both the Senate Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs Committees began hearings on extension of the Mutual Security Program on March 13. Secretary Acheson and Mutual Security Director W. Averell Harriman testified on behalf of the Administration request before the Senate committee on March 13, and their statements are printed in Department of State Bulletin, March 24, 1952, pages 463–471. Hearings before the House committee concluded on April 29. (82d Congress, 2d Sess., House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Mutual Security Act Extension: Hearings on H.R. 7005, March 13–April 29, 1952) Hearings in the Senate lasted until April 4 and resumed May 8–13. (82d Congress, 2d Sess., Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Hearings on Bill to Amend Mutual Security Act of 1951 and Other Purposes, March 13–April 4, May 8–May 13, 1952) During this period, officers of the Mutual Security Administration and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as General Alfred M. Gruenther, Chief of Staff, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, testified in both open and executive sessions. Highlights of General Gruenther’s testimony of March 26 are printed infra; for a summary of the testimony, in executive session, of General Omar Bradley, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, see Document 258. Further documentation relating to Congressional testimony during March and April by members of the Mutual Security Agency is in MSA files, lot W–3127, “Congressional Testimony”.
On May 11 the House Foreign Affairs Committee reported out a $6.9 billion measure which, after floor debate and a further decrease of $726 million ($615 million of which was for economic aid to Europe) as a result of amendments proposed by Representative [Page 460] John Vorys (R.–Ohio), passed by a vote of 246–109 on May 23. A Senate bill, also authorizing $6.9 billion, passed on May 28 by a vote of 64–10 with amendments by Senator Henry C. Dworshak (R.–Idaho) barring use of funds to publicize the Mutual Security Program in the United States and by Senator James P. Kem (R.–Missouri) barring all aid to countries exporting strategic goods to the Communist bloc. A Conference report, minus the Kem Amendment, was approved by the House 230–115 on June 5 and by the Senate 59–11 on June 9. Public Law 400, the Mutual Security Act of 1952, was signed into law by President Truman on June 20, 1952. (66 Stat. 141) For information on the provisions and regional and functional breakdown of the funds allotted in Public Law 400, see Document 263.