Page 230
Printed for the Cabinet. July 1952
CONFIDENTIAL
C. (52) 244
Copy No. 63
CABINET OFFICE RECORD COPY
16th July, 1952
CABINET
AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIPS AT BRITISH UNIVERSITIES TO COMMEMORATE THE MARSHALL PLAN
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Her Majesty's Government have now received the last of the United States aid granted under the Marshall Plan, or European Recovery Programme, launched in General George C. Marshall's now famous speech at Harvard in June 1947. It is fitting that Her Majesty's Government should com- memorate in some enduring fashion this generous and far-seeing programme, sponsored by the American Government and people, by which the British people have so greatly benefited.
2. Under the previous Government a project was devised for commemorating the Marshall Plan by founding a number of Scholarships for American students at British Universities, to be known as "Marshall Scholarships." This project was approved in principle by Mr. Attlee, Mr. Morrison and Mr. Gaitskell, but not finally adopted before the former Government fell. After considering a number of other suggestions, I have since revived it and now present it in outline to my colleagues in the Annex to this memorandum.
3. In preparing the project I have had the benefit of the advice of Sir Hector Hetherington, Chairman of the Vice-Chancellors' Committee, Dr. Frank Aydelotte, the American Secretary to the Rhodes Trustees, and Sir Oliver Franks, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Washington. The United States Secretary of State and General Marshall have been sounded informally about the proposal. Both were in favour of it and General Marshall has agreed to the use of his name.
4. Legislation would be required to give effect to the proposal and it is unlikely that any awards could be made before the 1953-54 academic year. Never- theless, it is desirable to announce the scheme soon, before there is a change of Administration in the United States and before the Marshall Plan begins to fade from the public mind in both countries.
5. One aspect of this proposal which might give rise to controversy concerns the value of the Scholarships. Rhodes Scholars receive £500 a year and the Trustees are not at present in a position to increase the amount, even though it is generally considered by University authorities to be inadequate for foreign scholars. Dr. Aydelotte has admitted that Rhodes Scholars are expected to supplement their Scholarships from their private resources and sees no objection to this practice. He considers that it would make an unfortunate impression among ex-Rhodes Scholars in the United States if Marshall Scholars were offered more valuable Scholarships. On the other hand, there are number of points which would differentiate Marshall Scholarships from Rhodes Scholarships; they would be open to women and to married students, and the age limits would be different. And they will be sponsored by Her Majesty's Govern- ment who should not be committed to an inadequate proposition. I have therefore recommended a basic stipend of £600 a year, with an additional £200 a year for a married man. This would mean that, in addition to the estimated cost of administration in the United States of $10,000-$15,000 a year, the sterling cost
42574
Page 230
Page 230
ין
245