Legislation on Foreign Relations, with Explanatory Notes

Text of Public Law 665, 83d Congress [H. R. 9678], 68 Stat. 832, approved August 26, 1954, as amended by the Mutual Security Act of 1955, Public Law 138, 84th Congress [S. 2090], 69 Stat. 283, approved July 8, 1955, and by the Mutual Security Act of 1956, Public Law 726, 84th Congress [H. R. 11356], 70 Stat. 555, approved July 18, 1956

AN ACT To promote the security and foreign policy of the United States by furnishing assistance to friendly nations, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Nations of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Mutual Security Act of 1954".

SEC. 2.1 STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) The Congress of the United States recognizing that the peace of the world and the security of the United States are endangered as long as international communism and the nations it controls continue by threat of military action, use of economic pressure, internal subversion, or other means to attempt to bring under their domination peoples now free and independent and continue to deny the rights of freedom and self-government to peoples and nations once free but now subject to such domination, declares it to be the policy of the United States to continue as long as such danger to the peace of the world and to the security of the United States persists to make available to free nations and peoples upon request assistance of such nature and in such amounts as the United States deems advisable compatible with its own stability, strength, and other obligations, and as may be needed and effectively used by such free nations and peoples to help them maintain their freedom.

(b)2 It is the sense of the Congress that inasmuch as

(1) the United States, through mutual security programs, has made substantial contributions to the economic recovery and rehabilitation of the nations of Western Europe;

(2) due in part to those programs, it has been possible for such nations to achieve complete economic recovery and to regain their military strength; and

(3) certain other friendly nations of the world remain in need of assistance in order that they may defend themselves against aggression and contribute to the security of the free world, those nations that have been assisted in their recovery should, in the future, share with the United States to a greater extent the financial burden of providing aid to those countries which are still in need of assistance of the type provided under this Act.

(c) It is the sense of the Congress that assistance under this Act shall be administered so as to assist other peoples in their efforts to achieve self-government or independence under circumstances which

1 22 U. S. C. § 1750. Added by sec. 2 of the Mutual Security Act of 1956. Former secs. 549 (a) and 549 (b) were redesignated as secs. 2 (b) and (c) by sec. 2 of the Mutual Security Act of 1956.

will enable them to assume an equal station among the free nations of the world and to fulfill their responsibilities for self-government or independence.

TITLE I-MUTUAL DEFENSE ASSISTANCE

CHAPTER 1. MILITARY ASSISTANCE

SEC. 101.3 PURPOSE OF CHAPTER.-The Congress of the United States reaffirms the policy of the United States to achieve international peace and security through the United Nations so that armed force shall not be used except in the common defense. The Congress hereby finds that the efforts of the United States and other nations to promote peace and security require additional measures of support based upon the principle of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid. It is the purpose of this chapter to authorize measures in the common defense, including the furnishing of military assistance to friendly nations and international organizations in order to promote the foreign policy, security, and general welfare of the United States and to facilitate the effective participation of such nations in arrangements for individual and collective self-defense. In furnishing such military assistance, it remains the policy of the United States to continue to exert maximum efforts to achieve universal control of weapons of mass destruction and universal regulation and reduction of armaments, including armed forces, under adequate safeguards to protect complying nations against violation and evasion.

The Congress reaffirms its previous expressions favoring the creation by the free peoples of the Far East and the Pacific of a joint organization, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations, to establish a program of self-help and mutual cooperation designed to develop their economic and social well-being, to safeguard basic rights and liberties and to protect their security and independence.

The Congress hereby reiterates its opposition to the seating in the United Nations of the Communist China regime as the representative of China. In the event of the seating of representatives of the Chinese Communist regime in the Security Council or General Assembly of the United Nations, the President is requested to inform the Congress insofar as is compatible with the requirements of national security, of the implications of this action upon the foreign policy of the United States and our foreign relationships, including that created by membership in the United Nations, together with any recommendations which he may have with respect to the matter.

SEO. 102.5 GENERAL AUTHORITY.-Military assistance may be furnished under this chapter on a grant or loan basis and upon such other appropriate terms as may be agreed upon, by the procurement from any source and the transfer to eligible nations and international organizations of equipment, materials, and services or by the provision of any service, including the assignment or detail of members of the Armed Forces and other personnel of the Department of Defense solely

See also sec. 108, Mutual Security Appropriation Act, 1957, page 61, and sec. 12, Mutual Security Act of 1955, page 55.

3 22 U. S. C. § 1811.

5 22 U. S. C. § 1812.

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