1. Revision of the United Nations Charter.. 2. Amendment of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945-- 3. Raising United States contributions to certain international 4. Bicentennial Exposition at Port-au-Prince-. 5. Inter-American cultural and trade center. M. Claims and other financial arrangements: 3. International Claims Settlement Act_ 4. Payment of claims for Finnish vessels. 5. Claims Convention With Panama. 6. Discharge of fiduciary obligation to Iran. 7. Educational exchange with Finland-- 8. Intercustodial agreements involving enemy property. 9. Amending the Philippine Property Act Appendix I: List of bills and resolutions enacted into law---- Appendix II: Measures reported and passed by Senate but not finally acted 63 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY A. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES The Eighty-first Congress met during a particularly critical period in American foreign relations. It was a period during which the forces of world communism continued in an even more flagrant and open way their aggressive and expansionist tactics. It was a period during which the nations of the free world moved vigorously to build up their strength and to make clear their determination to stand together in defense of their freedom and their civilization. Around this move to strengthen the free world much of the work of the committee centered. In the economic field, the extension of the European recovery program in 1949 and 1950 did much to stimulate world recovery and to help our friends in western Europe develop a sound and healthy economy. In the political field, the Atlantic Treaty underlined the growing unity of the democracies in the North Atlantic area by establishing the principle that an attack upon one would be considered an attack upon all. In the military field, the mutual defense assistance programs of 1949 and 1950 were designed to implement the Atlantic Pact and help build up the individual and collective capacities of friendly countries to defend themselves against aggression. The Eighty-first Congress took a number of other steps to bolster the forces of law and order in the world by strengthening our participation in the United Nations and by supporting various United Nations programs. It accepted membership in two additional specialized agencies the International Maritime Consultative Organization and the World Meteorological Organization-and it approved legislation which permitted the United States to increase its contributions to certain other world agencies. It made available sizable contributions to the Palestine refugee program, the International Children's Emergency Fund, and the point 4 program for the development of the underdeveloped areas. In addition, it thoroughly revised the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 making possible our more effective participation in the United Nations. Including the seven resolutions calling for the strengthening of the United Nations, the creation of an Atlantic union, or the establishment of a world federation, the committee considered some 25 bills, resolutions, and treaties bearing directly upon the work of that organization. While most of the committee's time was devoted to consideration of what might properly be called world problems, considerable attention was given to treaties and legislation of particular interest to the Western Hemisphere. The Charter of the Organization of the American States establishing the organization of the 21 American republics on a permanent treaty basis was approved. The Institute of Inter-American Affairs, with cooperative programs in the field of health, agriculture, education, and sanitation, was extended for a 3-year period. The Niagara Treaty with Canada, the commercial treaty with Uruguay, and the tuna conventions with Mexico and Costa Rica were approved. Finally, a number of bills and resolutions were passed dealing with border problems of particular concern to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Other important matters handled by the committee and approved by the Senate or the Congress, as the case might be, include the following: The reorganization of the Department of State; the International Wheat Agreement; the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation with Ireland; Convention for the North Atlantic Fisheries; the International Claims Settlement Act; the payment of certain claims to Switzerland, Finland, and Panama; the Convention on Road Traffic; and the Telegraphic Regulations. The Genocide Convention was considered by a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Senator McMahon and was reported to the Foreign Relations Committee. No final action was taken on the convention by the committee. The mere listing of these items indicates the exceptionally wide range of problems which confronted the Eighty-first Congress in the international field. The diversity and scope of these problems clearly reflect the new role of the United States in world affairs. They run the gamut from narcotic drugs to foreign economic assistance, from the regulation of whaling to sanitation and bridge projects, from military aid to world organization, from agreements dealing with the marketing of sugar and wheat to the safety of life at sea, from Swiss claims to road traffic, from conflicting claims over enemy assets to technical assistance for the underdeveloped areas of the world. The increased diplomatic activity of the postwar era was again reflected in the large number of nominations handled by the committee. During the 2-year period a total of 964 nominations were passed upon, including 53 ambassadors, the United States High Commissioner to Germany, the United States delegations to the General Assembly, the Secretary of State, and other top officials in the Department of State. Due to the number and importance of the items on the committee calendar it was necessary for the committee to meet 169 times. Seventy of these meetings were held in public, 99 were in executive session. In addition, numerous subcommittees met frequently both to conduct hearings on treaties and legislation and to confer with administrative leaders on important policy questions. There were also 14 meetings between conferees of the Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Four joint sessions were held with the Foreign Affairs Committee; two for the purpose of considering legislation relative to the extension of the European recovery program; one to confer with Secretary Acheson on world problems; and one to hear the Foreign Minister of Australia present his views on world affairs. Through September 1950, 115 Senate bills and resolutions were referred to the committee together with 32 House bills and resolutions, making a total of 147 measures. Of these, 31 were enacted into law. An additional eight requiring Senate action only were approved by the Senate. In addition to these, two measures were approved by the committee and the Senate but were not approved by the House. B. DEVELOPMENT OF CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY In addition to handling its heavy load of treaties and legislation, the committee devoted considerable time to consultation with the Secretary of State and the top officials of the executive branch. Secretary Acheson, for example, appeared on 14 occasions in order to present over-all reviews of American policy to the committee and to discuss particular problems arising in the Far East, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, in addition to appearances in support of specific legislation. Secretary Johnson appeared on five occasions to examine with committee members the relation of the mutual defense assistance program and our own security to foreign policy. Mr. Paul Hoffman, Mr. John J. McCloy, Secretary Snyder, Mr. Philip Jessup, and Mr. Averell Harriman were among others who discussed important questions with the committee on numerous occasions. The most significant development in the organization of the Foreign Relations Committee during the Eighty-first Congress, however, came on April 18, 1950, when the committee approved the establishment of eight subcommittees in order to facilitate consultation with top officials in the Department of State. Subsequently, in accordance with this decision, the chairman invited each member of the committee to serve with two of the consultative groups. A member of the committee's professional staff was also asked to help in connection with the work of each of the subcommittees. The new subcommittee structure, which corresponds generally to the organization of the Department of State, is outlined below: 1. United Nations Affairs: Senator Connally (chairman), Senator Thomas of Utah, Senator Vandenberg, and Senator Wiley. Committee staff member, Mr. Wilcox. 2. Economic and Social Policy Affairs: Senator George (chairman), Senator McMahon, and Senator Hickenlooper. Committee staff member, Mr. Kalijarvi. 3. Far Eastern Affairs: Senator Thomas of Utah (chairman), Senator George, and Senator Smith of New Jersey. Committee staff member, Mr. Wilcox. 4. European Affairs: Senator Tydings (chairman), Senator Connally, Senator Vandenberg, and Senator Lodge. Committee staff members, Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Kalijarvi. 5. Near Eastern and African Affairs: Senator Pepper (chairman), Senator Tydings, and Senator Wiley. Committee staff member, Mr. Marcy. 6. American Republics Affairs: Senator Green (chairman), Senator Pepper, and Senator Hickenlooper. Committee staff member, Mr. Kalijarvi. 7. Public Affairs: Senator McMahon (chairman), Senator Fulbright, and Senator Smith of New Jersey. Committee staff member, Mr. Marcy. 8. State Department Organization: Senator Fulbright (chairman), Senator Green, and Senator Lodge. Committee staff member, Mr. Marcy. In recent years the problems which confront the United States in various parts of the world have increased tremendously in both number and complexity. This means that a degree of specialization in the work of the Foreign Relations Committee has become desirable. 1 |