Editorial Note
On June 1, 1950, President Truman transmitted a special message to Congress on military aid. The President recommended that funds be authorized for fiscal year 1951 to extend the military assistance program. He requested funds in the amount of $1 billion for the North Atlantic area; $120 million for Greece and Turkey; $27.5 million for Iran, Korea, and the Philippines; and $75 million for “the general [Page 322] area of China.” He also asked that the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949 be modified to provide him with the authority to shift a small portion of funds made available for military assistance from one area to another should an emergency situation demand such action. President Truman also requested that limitations as to which nations could receive military assistance and as respecting amount, time, and security of repayment be relaxed. In addition, he asked that the existing prohibition on the furnishing of production equipment other than machine tools be eliminated. For the text of the President’s message, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States; Harry S. Truman, 1950, pages 445–448.
On June 2, 5, 6, and 15, the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate met in joint public session to consider the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Secretary of State Acheson testified on June 6. The joint committee also met in executive session on June 6 and 8, receiving testimony from Generals Bradley and Lemnitzer, Assistant Secretaries of State Rusk and McGhee, John Ohly (Director of Mutual Assistance), and Edward Dickinson (BOA Representative on FMACC). On June 19, the joint committee voted unanimously to report S. 3809 to the Senate for favorable action. That measure authorized a total of $1,222,500,000 for military assistance in fiscal year 1951, including $1 billion for NATO countries; $131.5 million for Greece, Turkey, and Iran; $75 million for “the general area of China”; and $16 million for Korea and the Philippines.
Other provisions of S. 3809 reauthorized the use of $214 million unexpended in FY 1950, permitted the transfer of $250 million worth of surplus war material, and authorized the sale on credit of $100 million in arms. In response to the President’s June 1 request, S. 3809 eased restrictions on the destination of assistance, types of aid which might be rendered, and on other aspects of the administration of MDAP. The bill also increased the President’s authority to transfer funds from one title to another.
The Senate passed S. 3809 on June 30 by a vote of 66–0. Regarding this legislation, see The Mutual Defense Assistance Program: Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate (81st Cong., 2nd sess.), and Mutual Defense Assistance Program: Report of the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, on S. 3809 To Amend the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949 (81st Cong., 2nd sess.).
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives also held hearings on military assistance commencing on June 5. Secretary Acheson presented testimony that day. See To Amend the [Page 323] Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949: Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States House of Representatives (81st Cong., 2nd sess.). On July 19, the House of Representatives approved the Senate legislation by a vote of 362–1. Signed by President Truman on July 26, the measure became PL 81–621, An Act To Amend the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949 (64 Stat. 373). Appropriations were provided as part of the omnibus appropriation bill for FY 1951 which was signed by the President on September 6 (PL 81–759; 64 Stat. 595).