Memorandum from George Elsey to President Harry S. Truman, with Related Memorandum from James Webb

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 14, 1951 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT: Subject: Voluntary Aid to India Representatives of the American Red Cross, the Department of State, and the President's Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid have worked out a plan for voluntary aid to India. The plan is roughly as follows: The American Red Cross will allocate $1 million to be expended in India by the Indian Red Cross, to be supplemented by whatever voluntary contributions private citizens in this country wish to make. It is recognized that any voluntary effort of this sort can be no more than supplemental to the basic grain program which the U. S. Government will finance. It can, however, have great psychological and moral value if properly handled. The American Red Cross and the State Department are now preparing a proposed press release for your use and a draft letter from you to Chairman Rowland Harriman, as a letter from you to Mr. Harriman is necessary before the Red Cross can allocate $1 million from its current budget to this purpose. These documents will be at the White House in a few days. The whole matter will remain "Confidential' for the time being, and the Red Cross and State will recommend to us when public announcement should be made. Timing is a delicate matter. The announcement would probably be most effective if made about the time Congress is completing action on the Indian grain bill. Respectfully, h.m.E. GEORGE M. ELSEY . ARCHIVES "NATIONAL SERVICE" RECORDS AND