Editorial Note
The work of preparing the legislative programs and supporting materials continued. On December 9 Acting Secretary Lovett cabled to Secretary Marshall at London as follows: “The basic ERP program is complete and the President’s message should be in final draft form the end of this week. As a result of delay caused by violent debate in the House on interim aid measures and flood of amendments offered, it is not likely that there will be action on the enabling legislation and the appropriations legislation before the middle of next week. We have in consequence been advised by our Congressional supporters to delay submission of President’s message and ERP. I have passed this word on to the President and am today informed he will call in certain leaders on Monday the fifteenth and discuss matter with them, our concern being to get it in sometime during special session provided it does not jeopardize interim aid action.” (To London, Telmar 57, top secret, Eyes Only for Marshall, Dec. 9, 1947, 7 p. m., 840.50 Recovery/12–947.)
On December 15 the Congress completed action on an interim aid bill, which was approved by the President on December 17 as Public Law 389, the Foreign Aid Act of 1947; 61 Stat. 934. Funds were provided by Public Law 393, Third Supplementary Act, 1948, approved December 23, 1947; 61 Stat. 941. (For documentation on interim aid agreements of the United States with France and Italy, see pages 688 ff. and 861 ff.)
The President sent to the Congress on December 19 a special message on the European Recovery Program. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1947, page 515.