Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East: China, Volume VII

893.24/4–547

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chinese Ambassador (Koo)

Washington, April 5, 1947.

Excellency: I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States of America stands ready to negotiate with the Government of the Republic of China an agreement for the use of funds made available in accordance with Article 6b (1) of the Surplus War Property Sales Agreement of August 30, 1946.¹

As your Excellency is aware, the provisions of Public Law No. 584² of the United States of America make it possible to devote certain funds, deriving from the sale of surplus war property, to the carrying out of an education program.

In view of the traditional friendship between our two countries, and particularly in view of the long history of intellectual association between the people of our countries, this government has expressed a desire that China be the first nation with which it will seek to negotiate an agreement for the execution of such a program.

I have great pleasure in transmitting herewith five copies of U. S. Public Law 584, an act to amend the Surplus Property Act of 1944³ to designate the Department of State as the disposal agency for surplus property outside the continental United States, its territories and possessions, and for other purposes, together with five copies of a draft agreement⁴ between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China for carrying out an educational program under the act.

I am convinced, as I am sure you will be, that the negotiation of such an agreement will contribute to the establishment of still stronger ties of friendship through the encouragement and facilitation of intellectual interchange between our countries.

After you have had an opportunity to give ample study to the enclosed document, representatives of this government will be pleased to discuss with you or your representatives the details and terms set forth therein, which might form the basis of a final agreement to be reached between our two countries.

Accept [etc.]

Dean Acheson

1. For text, see Department of State, Report to Congress on Foreign Surplus Disposal, October 1946, p. 40. For correspondence regarding the negotiation of this agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. x, pp. 1033 ff.
2. Approved August 1, 1946; 60 Stat. 754.
3. Approved October 3, 1944; 58 Stat. 765.
4. Dated March 14, not printed.