Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

700.5 MAP/4–2651

The Administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration ( Foster ) to the President ¹

confidential

Washington , April 18, 1951.

Dear Mr. President: The expression of confidence in the Economic Cooperation Administration, in the assignment of further responsibilities, and in the description of the framework of operation with the Department of State as set forth in your letter of April 5, 1951,² is gratifying to every member of this organization. As its Administrator, I will strive to guide the organization along the lines you have directed and to continue to merit this confidence.

A provision of the repeal of the present terminal date of the ECA has been included in the draft of the Mutual Security Assistance Act.

Every appropriate measure is being taken, under the guidance of the Secretary of State, to promote the integration of the economic work of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Organization for European Economic Cooperation.

Coordination of policy and program directives is effected at all levels between the staffs of the Department of State and the ECA. Regionally in Europe, the U.S. Special Representative is a member of the European Coordinating Committee under the chairmanship of the U.S. Deputy; in each country, the ECA Chief of Mission works under the leadership and general guidance of the Ambassador, and supports him in assuring a coordinated U.S. position in that country. I will see to it, with all the means at my command, that the ECA continues to work in this relationship with the Department of State, and that ECA Mission Chiefs in the full spirit of your letter advise and consult with the Ambassador on matters involving foreign policy and program coordination.

Planning is already well advanced for further integration of the work and effective utilization of the staffs of the ECA Missions and the economic sections of the diplomatic missions. We have found from experience, as you indicate in your letter, that there are various arrangements, depending on the circumstances in a particular country, by means of which this purpose can be accomplished.

Since receiving your letter, I have asked the Director of the Budget for guidance on certain questions which have arisen in its interpretation. I will communicate with you further as soon as these matters have been clarified.

Respectfully yours,

William C. Foster

1. On April 26, the source texts of this letter and the letter appearing infra were transmitted to William J. McWilliams, Director of the Executive Secretariat, Department of State, by Gordon E. Reckord, Executive Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Economic Cooperation Administration, accompanied by a memorandum of transmittal which reads as follows:

   • “We have been asked by the Administrator to transmit to the Department of State the attached copies of his letter to the President, and therefore request that the letters be brought to the attention of the Secretary.
   • “There are two letters which were sent on the same day with the thought in mind that the President might wish to make Mr. Foster’s reply public. The first letter (identified as Attach. 1) could then be released to the press. You will note that the second letter (Attach. 2) is still classified Confidential.” (700.5 MAP/4–2651)

2. For text, see circular airgram of April 12, p. 290.