(3) the furnishing of certain urgently needed informational materials, such as microfilms of scholarly and scientific articles and books and documentary and educational motion pictures. 7. Apart from the intensification of the cooperative program on an emergency basis necessitated by the conduct of the war, the widening horizon of international responsibilities opened to the United States by the war and its probable effects requires for the future a continuing and coordinated program to promote mutual understanding with other peoples. Provisions of the lend-lease agreements already negotiated commit the signatory governments to continuing collaboration and cooperation for an indefinite period after the cessation of hostilities. A program underlying and supporting these cooperative efforts, recognized as an important factor to their success in wartime, would be no less vital in the period of post-war adjustment. If the past decades have brought close contacts among those peoples having similar interests, the post-war world, with increased facilities. for transportation and communication, will undoubtedly see these contacts grow both more numerous and more continuous. Programs of this character are an effective means of achieving international, hence national, security. Measures which spread an understanding of the democratic way of life and diffuse scientific knowledge useful in organizing it may be made the support of political and economic peace measures. In this connection it should be emphasized that the amelioration of the lives of common men is actually achieved only as they learn new ways of doing things. Thus the cooperative program may provide means of creating necessary conditions for orderly and peaceful development. In providing the world's peoples with the means of doing better for themselves, the American people will be creating conditions favorable to the development of their own way of life; and in this prospect alone is true national security. Since these cooperative activities provide the means of social advancement to peoples in the shape of books, trained persons, and other means of diffusing knowledge, they do not excite either political antipathy or fear of foreign domination or dread of interference with domestic politics. As nonpolitical and nonpatronizing activities, they are truly the means of implementing a foreign policy of a democratic people whose national interest is the maintenance and orderly development of their democracy. 8. From the foregoing it may be seen that a twofold need exists. First, it is evident that there is an urgent need for a constructive program of long-term and continuing character, not only with the republics of the Western Hemisphere but on a world-wide basis. Secondly, it is desirable that activities developed in furtherance of the program should not be inaugurated merely on an opportunistic basis as crises arise but should be part of a considered and integrated plan. To insure the formulation of a suitable and comprehensive program and its effective operation, funds should be provided in one appropriation administered under the direction of one responsible agency. In developing the program applicable only to the American republics which was authorized under Public, No. 355, it is believed that suitable machinery has been set up for the centralization of appropriations, the concentration of directive responsibility, and the most effective coordination of effort. Public, No. 355 as now worded does not authorize the appropriation of funds for the carrying on of an active cooperative program beyond the republics of the Western Hemisphere. The limitations of Public, No. 355 also preclude the use of the valuable advisory committees, already functioning in relation to the program in the Americas, for dealing with the preliminary studies of programs for other regions. Such guidance would be of inestimable benefit at this time in laying the groundwork on which the permanent post-war structure might be erected as well as in meeting the urgent current needs of the war period. I have the honor, therefore, to recommend that the Congress be requested to enact legislation amending Public, No. 355, in order to authorize extension of the program therein comprehended to any other country, countries, or regions, in furtherance of the objectives of the United States in the present war and in the peace to follow. A draft of the proposed legislation is enclosed for your convenience. Respectfully submitted. E. R. STETTINIUS, Jr., DRAFT OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION A BILL To amend the Act approved August 9, 1939, entitled, “An Act to authorize the President to render closer and more effective the relationship between the American Republics" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the President to render closer and more effective the relationship between the American Republics," approved August 9, 1939 (53 Stat. 1290), is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the two following sections: "SEC. 3. The President is also hereby authorized, subject to such appropriations as may be made available for the purpose, to develop and maintain, under the direction of the Secretary of State, such cultural and cooperative programs with other countries of the world as he may consider justified in furtherance of the purposes of the United States in the present war and in the peace to follow; and to create and utilize to such extent as may be necessary, subject to the foregoing limitations respecting salary, travel, and expenses, advisory committees for assistance in the development of such programs. "SEC. 4. The title of this Act is hereby corrected to read, and it may be cited as 'An Act to promote, through mutual understanding with other peoples, more effective cooperation for a durable peace'." ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES TOWARD AUSTRIA STUDY OF THE LEGALITY OF THE ANNEXATION OF AUSTRIA BY THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1944 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 458 [Reported by Mr. JARMAN] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Resolved, That the manuscript entitled "A study of the legality of the annexation of Austria by Germany under international law and Austrian constitutional law and the policy of the United States toward the annexation" be printed as a document. Attest: SOUTH TRIMBLE, Clerk |