Office of the Historian

42. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (Coombs) to President Kennedy0

Washington, August 24, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Polish Exchange Program

The problem you raised about the selection of Polish recipients of private foundation grants has just been resolved—at least for the pres-ent.

On August 22, under threat by the Ford Foundation to terminate the program, the Polish Ambassadors to the United States and United Nations gave satisfactory assurances to Mr. Stone of the Foundation that their government would withdraw its objection to most of the grantees in dispute. You may be interested in the attached details.1

During a courtesy call in my office on August 24, the new Polish Ambassador reaffirmed to me that the issue between his government and the Ford Foundation had been happily resolved. He personally is anxious to expand educational and cultural exchanges between Poland and the United States. At his urging, the Polish embassy here will soon have a cultural attache.

I indicated that we are prepared to cooperate in an expanded exchange effort. We will meet again in a few weeks to discuss concrete plans.

Philip H. Coombs2
  1. Source: Department of State, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 74. No classification marking. Drafted by Coombs. Attached to a memorandum from Battle to Bundy, August 25. This memorandum replied to NSAM No. 74, August 20, which reads: “Is there any pressure that we should put on the Polish Government to permit exchange students to be selected by American foundations rather than the Polish Government?” (Ibid.)↩
  2. Not found.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩