Foreign Economic Administration - Statutory History

Statutory History

The Office of Arms and Munitions Control established in the Department of State to administer provisions of Joint Resolution 67 (49 Stat. 1081), August 31, 1935, which established a National Munitions Control Board to consist of the Secretaries of State, War, the Treasury, the Navy, and Commerce, and imposed registration and licensing requirements on arms and munitions importers and exporters. Redesignated as the Division of Controls, November 22, 1938, pursuant to an act of June 8, 1938 (52 Stat. 631), which provided for registration of foreign agents in the United States. The FES Issued licenses, in accordance with directives from the Office of the Administrator of Export Control, to exporters of such defense materials as had been subjected to export control by Presidential Proclamation 2413, July 2, 1940, pursuant to the Export Control Act (54 Stat. 714), July 2, 1940. Licensing function was transferred to the Economic Defense Board, September 15, 1941. Division of Controls abolished, October 8, 1941, with residual functions, except registration of foreign agents, to Board of Economic Operations, established by departmental order, October 7, 1941, with responsibility for State Department functions relating to foreign economic affairs. Board abolished by departmental order, June 24, 1943, with functions to newly established Office of Foreign Economic Coordination. Office abolished by departmental order, November 6, 1943, pursuant to EO 9380, which consolidated its functions and personnel with those of Office of Lend-Lease Administration (SEE 169.3), Office of Economic Warfare (SEE 169.4), and Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations (SEE 169.5), to create FEA. SEE 169.1.