784A.5 MSP/5–1952
No. 436
The Director for Mutual Security
(Harriman) to
the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to a letter of May 8, 1952, signed by Ambassador Cowen,1 with attachment, in which the Department of State forwarded a joint recommendation by the Departments of State and Defense that Israel be determined eligible for reimbursable military assistance under Section 408(e) of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended.
This recommendation is based on a joint conclusion by the Departments concerned that Israel’s ability to defend itself and to participate in the defense of the area of which it is a part, is important to the security of the United States. This conclusion, with which I concur, meets the statutory requirements for eligibility for reimbursable military assistance. Accordingly, I hereby find and determine, under the authority delegated to me by Executive Order No. 10300, dated November 1, 1951, that Israel is eligible to receive reimbursable military assistance under Section 408 (e) of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended.
I assume that the Department of State will obtain the necessary assurances from the Government of Israel, as provided for in Section 408 (e), and will consult with the Office of the Director for Mutual Security in the process of formulating any documents which are to be used for this purpose. I further request that this Office be advised sufficiently in advance of the actual shipment of any equipment to Israel so that appropriate letters can go forward to interested Congressional Committees.
I am sending an identical letter to the Secretary of Defense.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩