Nanking Embassy Files, Lot F79, 842 Fulbright Bill

Revised Draft of an Agreement20 June 16, 1947

(Additions to draft of March 14 underscored,21 deletions in brackets [])

Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China for the use of funds made available in accordance with article 6 b. (1) of the Surplus War Property Sales Agreement of August 30, 1946

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China;

Desiring to promote further mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States of America and the Republic of China by a wider exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts;

Considering that Section 32(b) of the United States Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended (Public Law No. 584, 79th Congress; 60 Stat. 754), provides that the Secretary of State of the United States of America may enter into an agreement with any foreign government for the use of currencies or credits for currencies of such foreign government acquired as a result of surplus property disposals for certain educational activities; and

Considering that under the provisions of the agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China for the sale of certain surplus war property, signed at Shanghai on August 30, 1946, it is provided that the Government of the Republic of China shall make available to the Government of the United States of America the equivalent of $20,000,000 (United States currency) for research, instruction, and other educational activities under the terms of Section 32(b) of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended,

[Page 1272]

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

There shall be established [in the capital city of China] a foundation to be known as the United States Educational Foundation in China (hereinafter designated “the Foundation”), which shall be recognized by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China as [being a legal entity which shall have for its purpose] an organization created and established to facilitate the administration of the educational program to be financed by funds made available by the Government of the Republic of China in accordance with Article 6 b. (1) of the agreement for the sale of certain surplus war property signed at Shanghai on August 30, 1946. Except as provided in Article 3 hereof the Foundation shall be exempt from the domestic and local laws of the United States of America and the Republic of China as they relate to the use and expenditure of currencies and credits for currencies for the purposes set forth in the present agreement.

The funds made available by the Government of the Republic of China shall be used by the Foundation for the purpose, as set forth in Section 32(b) of the United States Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, of

(1)
financing studies, research, instruction, and other educational’ activities of or for citizens of the United States of America in schools and institutions of higher learning located in China, or of the citizens of China in United States schools and institutions of higher learning located outside the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska (including the Aleutian Islands), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, including payment for transportation, tuition, maintenance, and other expenses incident to scholastic activities; or
(2)
furnishing transportation for citizens of China who desire to-attend United States schools and institutions of higher learning in the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska (including the Aleutian Islands), Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and whose attendance will not deprive citizens of the United States of America of an opportunity to attend such schools and institutions.

Article 2

In furtherance of the aforementioned purposes, the Foundation may, subject to the provisions of Article 10 of the present agreement, exercise all powers necessary to the carrying out of the purposes of this agreement including the following:

(1)
Receive funds.
(2)
Open and operate bank accounts in the name of the Foundation [Page 1273] in a depository or depositories to be designated by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.
(3)
Disburse funds and make grants and advances of funds for the authorized purposes of the Foundation.
[(4)
Invest funds subject to the approval of the Secretary of State of the United States of America.]
(4) [(5)]
Acquire, hold, and dispose of property in the name of the Foundation as the Board of Directors of the Foundation may consider necessary or desirable [.], provided however that the acquisition of any real property shall be subject to the prior approval of the Secretary of State of the United States of America.
(5) [(6)]
Plan, adopt, and carry out [such] programs, in accordance with the purposes of [this agreement.] Section 32(b) of the United States Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, and the purposes of this agreement.
(6)[(7)]
Recommend to the Board of Foreign Scholarships, provided for in the United States Surplus Property Act of 1944, as; amended, students, professors, research scholars, resident in China, and institutions of China qualified to participate in the program in accordance with the aforesaid Act.
(7) [(8)]
Recommend to the aforesaid Board of Foreign Scholarships such qualifications for the selection of participants in the programs as it may deem necessary for achieving the purpose and objectives of the Foundation.
(8) [(9)]
Provide for periodic audits of the accounts of the Foundation as directed by auditors selected by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.
(9) [(10)]
Engage administrative and clerical staff and fix the salaries and wages thereof, [subject to an annual budget approved by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.]

Article 3

[On the basis of the recommendations and advice of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, the program to be administered by the Foundation shall be determined annually by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.] All expenditures by the Foundation shall be made pursuant to an annual budget to be approved by the Secretary of State of the United States of America pursuant to such regulations as he may prescribe.

Article 4

The Foundation shall not enter into any commitments or create any obligation which shall bind the Foundation in excess of the funds [Page 1274] actually on hand nor acquire, hold, or dispose of property except for the purposes authorized in the present agreement.

Article 5

The management and direction of the affairs of the Foundation shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of seven Directors (hereinafter designated the “Board”).

The Principal Officer in Charge of the Diplomatic Mission of the United States of America to the Republic of China (hereinafter designated “Chief of Mission”) shall be Honorary Chairman of the Board. He shall have the power of appointment and removal of members of the Board at his discretion. The members of the Board shall be as follows: (a) the Chief Public Affairs Officer of the United States Embassy in China, Chairman; (b) two other members of the Embassy staff, one of whom shall serve as treasurer; (c) two citizens of the United States of America, one representative of American business interests in China and one representative of American educational interests in China; and (d) two citizens of the Republic of China, one of whom shall be prominent in the field of education.

The four members specified in (c) and (d) of the last preceding paragraph shall be resident in China and shall serve from the time of their appointment until the succeeding December 31 next following such appointment. They shall be eligible for reappointment. The United States members shall be designated by the Chief of Mission; the Chinese members by the Chief of Mission from a list of names submitted by the Government of the Republic of China. Vacancies by reason of resignations, transfers of residence outside of China, expiration of term of service, or otherwise shall be filled in accordance with this procedure.

The Directors shall serve without compensation, but the Foundation is authorized to pay the necessary expenses of the Directors in attending meetings of the Board.

Article 6

The Board shall adopt such by-laws and appoint such committees as it shall deem necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the Foundation. [All by-laws adopted by the Board shall become effective upon approval by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.]

Article 7

Reports as directed by the Secretary of State of the United States of America shall be made annually on the activities of the Foundation to the Secretary of State of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China.

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Article 8

The principal office of the Foundation shall be in the capital city of China, but meetings of the Board and any of its committees may be held in such other places as the Board may from time to time determine, and the activities of any of the Foundation’s officers or staff may be carried on at such places as may be approved by the Board.

Article 9

The Board may appoint an Executive Officer and determine his salary and term of service [.], provided however, that in the event it is found to be impracticable for the Board to secure an appointee acceptable to the Chairman, the Government of the United States of America may provide an Executive Officer and such assistants as may be deemed, necessary to ensure the effective operation of the program. The Executive Officer shall be responsible for the direction and supervision of the Board’s programs and activities in accordance with the Board’s resolutions and directives. In his absence or disability, the Board may appoint a substitute for such time as it deems necessary or desirable.

Article 10

The decisions of the Board in all matters may, in the discretion of the Secretary of State of the United States of America, be subject to his review.

Article 11

The Government of the Republic of China shall, within 30 days of the date of the signature of the present agreement, deposit with the Treasurer of the United States of America an amount of Chinese national currency equivalent to $250,000 (United States currency). Thereafter, commencing with [July 1,] October 1, 1947, the Government of the Republic of China shall similarly deposit on [every July 1,] October 1, January 1, April 1, and July 1, of each calendar year within the period [July 1] October 1, 1947 to [March 31] June 30, 1967, inclusive, an amount of Chinese national currency equivalent to $250,000 (United States currency). [The Government of the United States of America shall deposit all Chinese national currency so received to the credit of the Foundation in a depository to be designated by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.] The rate of exchange to be used in determining the amount of Chinese national currency which shall be considered equivalent to $250,000 (United States currency) shall be the rate agreed upon from time to time by the Government of the Republic of China and the Government of the United States of America for transactions pursuant to Article [Page 1276] 6 (b) of the agreement for the sale of certain surplus property signed on August 30, 1946.

The Secretary of State of the United States of America will make available to the Foundation Chinese national currency in such amounts as may be required by the Foundation, but in no event in excess of the budgetary limitation established pursuant to Article 3 of the present agreement.

Article 12

Furniture, equipment, supplies, and any other articles intended for the official use of the Foundation shall be exempt in the territory of the Republic of China from customs duties, excises, and surtaxes, and every other form of taxation.

All funds and other property used for the purposes of the Foundation, and all official acts of the Foundation within the scope of its purposes shall likewise be exempt from taxation of every kind in the territory of the Republic of China.

Article 13

The Government of the Republic of China shall extend to citizens of the United States of America residing in China and engaged in educational activities under the auspices of the Foundation such privileges with respect to exemption from taxation, and other burdens affecting the entry, travel, and residence of such persons as are extended to Chinese citizens residing in the United States of America engaged in similar activities.

Article 14

Wherever, in the present agreement, the term “Secretary of State of the United States of America” is used, it shall be understood to mean the Secretary of State of the United States of America or any officer or employee of the Government of the United States of America designated by him to act in his behalf.

Article 15

The present agreement may be amended by the exchange of diplomatic notes between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of China.

Article 16

The present agreement shall come into force upon the date of signature.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present agreement.

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Done at . . . . . . . in duplicate, in the English and Chinese languages, this . . . . . day of . . . . . . . , 1947.

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For the Government of the United States of America:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For the Government of the Republic of China:

  1. Copy transmitted to the Ambassador in China with Department operations memorandum of July 29.
  2. Printed in italics herein.