Problems of World War II and Its Aftermath

With the adoption of the Constitution, the actual conduct of foreign affairs came under the executive branch, but Congress continued to influence the development of foreign policy in a number of significant ways, especially in its consideration of the legislation required to carry out our policies. The role of the House of Representatives in this area received more definition with the appointment of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1822. The committee has been one of the standing committees of the House for more than 150 years.

With the recent resurgence of congressional activity in foreign affairs, we appear to be moving into an era of "shared power" between Congress and the Executive in the field of foreign policy and international relations. Therefore, publication of this series of historical studies is a fitting way to mark our Nation's bicentennial. It recalls the fact that it was Congress which charted our foreign policy during the trials of the Revolutionary War. Further, the studies themselves deal with a period in which Congress acquired experiences and background in asserting itself as a significant partner with the President and the Department of State in the making of our foreign policy.

Except for the correction of typographical errors and the insertion of appropriate subheads, the hearings printed in these volumes are published in complete form, as they were taken down at the time. In accordance with the committee's procedures, former members have given their permission for publication of these hearings, and the Department of State has indicated that it has no objection from the standpoint of foreign policy to their release. The volumes are grouped by topics that include the major areas of interest to Congress and the committee during the latter part of World War II, the problems of economic and political reconstruction of the postwar world, and the military responsibilities that fell to the United States as it assumed leadership among the free nations.

The preparation of this historical series was authorized by the committee in April 1975. Miss Helen Mattas, committee staff consultant, served as the project coordinator. The studies were prepared by a group of faculty members and research assistants

from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Harold L. Hitchens, senior research associate in the University Center for International Studies, was the project director. He was assisted by Dr. Donald M. Goldstein, adjunct professor of public affairs, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs; Dr. Peter Karsten, associate professor of history; Dr. Michel Roublev, assistant professor of history; Dr. Al K. DeRoy, research associate in the University Center for International Studies and assistant editor for the project; Martin Greenwald, instructor and research associate, Department of History; Peter Howell, instructor, School of General Studies; and Edward Young and Katherine Conaghan, research assistants.

THOMAS E. MORGAN, Chairman,

Committee on International Relations.