61 STAT.] COLOMBIA-HEALTH AND SANITATION . 2 4, Feb. 12,944 Feb. 14, 19, 1946 sum of six hundred thousand dollars (US$600,000.) and Your Excel- lency's Government has contributed an equivalent amount in Co- lombian pesos or one million fifty thousand pesos (Col.$1,050,000.) for the same purpose. These sums, which are in addition to the serv- ices and expenses of the group of experts, have been paid to and expended by the Servicio Cooperative in the execution of the co- operative program and will be virtually exhausted at the expiration of the present agreement on June 30, 1946. The program has consisted of specific projects agreed upon between the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Welfare and the chief of the group of experts, as representative of the Institute of Inter- American Affairs. While many projects have been completed, others of importance are still in process of execution, and the oppor- tunity exists for the initiation of beneficial new projects. My Government's participation in the program has been carried out through The Institute of Inter-American Affairs, which, as Your Excellency knows, is a corporate agency of my Government and is wholly owned, controlled and financed by it. Your Excellency's Government has indicated in informal conver- sations with me and with the representative of the Institute of Inter- American Affairs its desire that the cooperative program of health and sanitation be further extended after June 30, 1946, and its willingness to make additional funds available for the purpose. I have the honor to state that my Government pursuant to the ex- pressed desire of Your Excellency's Government, is also willing to ex- tend the cooperative program of health and sanitation in Colombia for an additional period, and is prepared to make available through The Institute of Inter-American Affairs, additional funds and to continue to furnish the services of experts, for the purpose of cooperating with Your Excellency's Government in prolonging that program. Such funds would be added to the funds remaliining from the contrilbutions made under the previous agrleecmetllstand to tile new funds otrered by Your Excellency's Governmlent. It is pr'Oposed that the period of ex- tension, the sums to be made available by both Governments anti any additional details with regard to the continuance and scope of the program be worked out by mutual agreement between the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Welfare and Colonel Harold B. Gotaas, President of The Institute of Inter-American Affairs, and be incor- porated in a written agreement between the Ministry and the Insti- tute. It is not contemplated that any substantial change in the modus operandi established under the existing agreement will be required. Colonel Gotaas has now arrived in Bogota to represent the Insti- tute in connection with any extension of the program. I am hopeful that the proposal is agreeable to Your Excellency's Government and I would appreciate receiving an expression of Your Excellency's opinion as soon as may be possible in order that the details of the extension may be worked out during Colonel Gotaas' stay in Bogota. 2881 Projects. Extension o pro- gram after June 30, 1946. Poa!, p. 2S83.
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