265. Editorial Note
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported the Mutual Security appropriations bill, H.R. 12619, on August 19. Although the bill provided $270 million less than President Eisenhower’s total Mutual Security request, including his August 8 petition, the committee in effect restored nearly all funds cut by the House of Representatives, except $200 million cut from the Military Assistance Program. It also removed most of the restrictions the House had placed on spending the appropriation. (S. Rept. 1849, Eighty-sixth Congress, Second Session)
After brief debate, the Senate passed H.R. 12619 on August 24. House and Senate conferees reported a compromise version of the bill the following day, cutting $534 million from the President’s request and restoring some of the earlier House restrictions. (H. Rept. 2164, Eighty-sixth Congress, Second Session) On August 26, President Eisenhower released a statement declaring he was “gravely concerned by the conference action.” Failure to restore the funds would impede whoever succeeded him as President: “He, no less than I, must have adequate funds to do the job.” (American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pages 857–858) The President also sent letters pressing his point to Senate Majority Leader Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Dirksen, Speaker of the House Rayburn, and House Minority Leader Halleck. For texts, see Department of State Bulletin, September 12, 1960, pages 417–418.
Nevertheless, the House and the Senate approved the bill August 26. H.R. 12619 thus became P.L. 86–704, the Mutual Security and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1961, which appropriated $3,716,350,000 for the Mutual Security Program. Eisenhower signed P.L. 86–704 on September 2. For text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pages 858–862. On August 26, the House Appropriations Committee also reported a catch-all spending bill for fiscal year 1961, H.R. 13161 (H. Rept. 2166, Eighty-sixth Congress, Second Session), which the House passed with amendments that day. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 13161 on August 27, having added $190 million for the Mutual Security Program and having recommended alteration of a section of P.L. 86–704 which restricted expenditure of certain Mutual Security funds. (S. Rept. 1925, Eighty-sixth Congress, Second Session)
The Senate passed H.R. 13161 with amendments August 29; House and Senate conferees reported a compromise version of the bill August 30. The conference report disagreed on the additional $190 million for the Mutual Security Program. (H. Rept. 2211, Eighty-sixth Congress, Second Session) On August 31, the Senate and House [Page 520] agreed to the conference report by voice votes. The House, however, accepted only the Senate amendment adding $65 million for Defense support, and the Senate concurred. H.R. 13161 thus became P.L. 86–722, Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1961, which President Eisenhower signed September 8. For text of the provision adding $65 million for Defense support, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, page 863. For complete text, see 74 Stat. 821. Together, P.L. 86–704 and P.L. 86–722 provided $3,781,350,000 for the Mutual Security Program in fiscal year 1961.
On September 17, Secretary of State Herter reported to the President on the institution of a Mutual Security information program. In accordance with the President’s instructions, the Department of State had established a position for a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs who would create and implement “a program to build public understanding of the Mutual Security Program;” created positions for four Regional Information Specialists in the field who would provide Washington with factual material on accomplishments of the Mutual Security Program, which in turn would be passed on to the media; coordinated Department of Defense, U.S. Information Agency, International Cooperation Administration, and other agency participation in this public information program; and started providing information about the Mutual Security Program to the private sector. For text of Herter’s report, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, page 866. Eisenhower’s July 14 directive is printed as Document 260.