893.50 Recovery/7–2848
President Truman to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations (Bridges)
My Dear Senator Bridges: Thank you for your letter sent jointly with Chairman Taber, House Appropriations Committee,84 further expressing the views of the Senate–House conferees with respect to the expenditure of the $125 million authorized for grants to China under Section 404 (b) of the China Aid Act.
I have instructed the Secretary of State to check the supporting data submitted by the Chinese Government in connection with requested payments to assure that no authorization for payment is issued in excess of appropriated funds. In addition I have directed the Secretary of Defense to render appropriate assistance to the Chinese Government in the acquisition of such military supplies as the Chinese Government may request.83 Accordingly, due consideration will be given to the general proposals made by Secretary of the Army Royall and General Wedemeyer to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
[Page 126]All administrative checks and controls related to this program will, of course, have to be carried out in a manner consistent with the clearly stated desire of the Congress that assistance furnished under this program shall not be construed as an expressed or implied assumption by the United States of any responsibility for policies, acts or undertakings of the Republic of China or for conditions which may prevail in China at any time.
I have sent a similar letter to Chairman Taber, House Appropriations Committee.
Sincerely yours,