B-143777, JAN. 18, 1961

B-143777, JAN. 18, 1961

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO OUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, 1960, B-143777, ADVISING YOU THAT SINCE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COMPTROLLER REQUESTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND MONETARY AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS WERE NOT FURNISHED, MUTUAL SECURITY PROGRAM FUNDS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO LIQUIDATE OBLIGATIONS INCURRED AFTER DECEMBER 9, 1960, WITH RESPECT TO OPERATIONS OF THAT OFFICE AND THAT ANY SUCH PAYMENTS WOULD BE DISALLOWED BY THIS OFFICE. THE BASIS FOR OUR DETERMINATION WAS SET FORTH IN OUR LETTER TO YOU DATED DECEMBER 8, 1960, B-143777.

SUBSEQUENT TO OUR LETTER OF DECEMBER 13, THE PRESIDENT, ON DECEMBER 23, 1960, UPON ADVICE IN THE MATTER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DIRECTED YOU, NOTWITHSTANDING OUR DETERMINATION, TO CAUSE TO BE CERTIFIED AND PRESENTED UNTIL JANUARY 20, 1961, VOUCHERS FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COMPTROLLER OUT OF MUTUAL SECURITY PROGRAMS AS THERETOFORE. ADVICE HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THIS OFFICE THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S REQUEST FOR THE DOCUMENTS IN QUESTION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AS OF JANUARY 20, 1961.

IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT OUR INSTRUCTIONS OF DECEMBER 13 WERE BASED UPON A REFUSAL TO FURNISH DOCUMENTS VALIDLY REQUESTED BY A DULY AUTHORIZED SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CONGRESS AND SINCE THE REQUEST FOR THE DOCUMENTS INVOLVED HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AS OF JANUARY 20, 1961, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT NO OBJECTION WILL BE MADE TO THE USE OF MUTUAL SECURITY FUNDS TO LIQUIDATE OBLIGATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND COMPTROLLER INCURRED ON AND AFTER JANUARY 20, 1961. AS TO THE PERIOD PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 1961, DURING WHICH VOUCHERS WERE CERTIFIED AND PRESENTED ON THE BASIS OF THE DIRECTIVE OF THE PRESIDENT TO YOU OF DECEMBER 23, THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UPON WHICH THE DIRECTIVE IS BASED IS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY US, AND WE SHALL ADVISE YOU IN THE MATTER AT A LATER DATE.