Editorial Note

The following agreements relating to relief assistance were entered into by the United States: with Austria, signed at Vienna, June 25, 1947, 61 Stat. (pt. 3) 2970, or Department of State Treaties and Other International Act Series (TIAS, No. 1631); with Italy, signed at Rome, July 4, 1947, 61 Stat. (pt. 3) 3135, or TIAS No. 1653; with Greece, signed at Athens, July 8, 1947, 61 Stat. (pt. 3) 3017, or TIAS No. 1637; with China, signed at Nanking, October 27, 1947, 61 Stat, (pt. 4) 3374, or TIAS No. 1674.

In the preamble of each agreement it was stated that the United States desired to provide relief assistance to the people of the designated country “to prevent suffering and to permit them to continue effectively their efforts toward recovery”; and that the Government of such country had requested the United States for relief assistance and had presented information which convinced the United States Government that the people of the named-country “urgently needs assistance in obtaining the basic essentials of life….”

In April 1948, responsibility for administration of the Foreign Relief Assistance Program was transferred from the Department of State to the Economic Cooperation Administration.