Editorial Note
On October 15, following his return to Washington from his brief visit to Europe, E.C.A. Administrator Hoffman held a press conference at which he made a statement regarding the reparations problem. Hoffman announced that in order to meet the responsibilities imposed upon him in Section 115(f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, he appointed a committee headed by George M. Humphrey to study the reparations and dismantlement problem. Hoffman stated that both Foreign Secretary Bevin and Foreign Minister Schuman had promised to give the fullest cooperation to the Humphrey Committee and had under consideration a proposal that, pending determination by the Humphrey Committee of the list of plants recommended for retention in Germany, dismantling in the British and French zones of occupation would be of such a character that it would not prevent the eventual retention in Germany of such plants. The text of Hoffman’s statement and the transcript of his press conference were transmitted [Page 827] in telegram Torep 1495, October 15, to Paris, not printed (CFM Files, Lot M–88, Box 2234, File–Reparation Plant Review).