Israel Ambassador Abba Eban and Harold Stassen, director of the U.S. Foreign Operations Administration, made known today that they have exchanged letters containing agreements on an additional $9,700,000 in economic aid made available by the Foreign Operations Administration to Israel for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955.
This brings expenditures of the Foreign Operations Administration for projects and commodities in Israel to a total of $40,000,000 for the fiscal year. In a letter to Mr. Stassen, Ambassador Eban expressed the Israel Government’s appreciation “of this renewed evidence of friendship and confidence on the part of the government of the United States.”
Ambassador Eban also signed an agreement with U.S. officials that would make available $9,400,000 in surplus agricultural supplies to Israel. Repayment will be in Israel currency. The agreement covers wheat, rice, and other commodities. After placing his signature to the instrument, Mr. Eban said:
“The agreement which we have just signed has a double significance. It brings valuable aid to Israel’s economy by creating a basic reserve of vital commodities. And it is an illustration of a helpful and friendly approach by the government of the U.S. to some of Israel’s most important problems and needs.
“The signature of this agreement covering a sum of $9,400,000 marks another act of close cooperation in economic and supply questions between our two governments. I have written to the Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Benson expressing gratification at the successful conclusion of these negotiations in which he has taken such a close personal interest at every stage.”
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