Visits of experts and teams may be made thereafter without regard to reciprocity at the option of the visiting agency and subject to arrangements with the host agency. Each side will bear its own travel and related living costs under the program.

It is understood that the pace of the program outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding will be contingent upon the availability of funds and other resources on each side.

This Memorandum of Understanding will become effective when signed by authorized representatives of the Department of Housing and Urban DevelopIment of the United States and the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom and will remain in effect for five years. It may be renewed by mutual agreement, and may be terminated at any time by either party on thirty days' notice.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN

Within the scope of mutual understanding and collaboration provided for by Chapter IV of the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement between Spain and the United States, signed on August 6, 1970, this Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Housing of Spain outlines a program for cooperation in matters concerning the urban environment falling within their competence, such as housing, building technology and urban and regional planning and management. The goal of this program is to achieve the maximum exchange of experience in specified subject areas. The program will begin with an organized exchange of documents and visits and may be extended as mutually agreed to such other activities as expert consultations, the long-term exchange of scholars and professionals, or joint research projects. In carrying out specific activities under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Department of Housing and Urban Development may invite participation by other U.S. departments and agencies or private groups; the Ministry of Housing may similarly invite participation by other agencies and organizations in Spain.

The general subject areas for initial cooperation may include, but are not limited to, urban and regional planning and management, including new town planning; statistics, data processing and urban information systems; building technology; and housing programs, including market analysis and financing. These general subject areas may be expanded, added to, or modified by mutual agreement. Further discussions and exchange of correspondence will further define these general areas, and it is specifically envisaged that joint projects of mutual interest, when proposed by either side and accepted by the other, will be undertaken.

Apart from an immediate exchange of bibliographic material, basic programs and technical documents, the program will begin with an exchange of experts within six months from the date of this Memorandum. This first exchange will further define the interests of each country in the other's specific programs. The visits of experts will be made at the option of the visiting agency and subject to arrangements with the host country. Each side will bear its own travel and related living expenses under the program.

It is understood that the pace of the program outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding will be contingent upon the availability of funds and other resources on each side.

This Memorandum will become effective on the date of its signature and is to run concurrently with the term of the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement, and may be renewed independently of the Agreement upon agreement of both parties.

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS-CHRONOLOGY ON INTERNATIONAL HOUSING

1944

The National Housing Agency (NHA) established an office to maintain liaison with other governments on housing matters. It also suggested the estab lishment of clearing house machinery to assure the exchange of housing data which might be of value to all governments. Bilateral exchange and technical assistance programs that first year involved Britain, France and Sweden, with assistance to less developed countries in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Far East.

1945

NHA's Technical Division provided technical assistance to some 30 countries, and complete sets of information on housing were distributed through 62 U.S. Embassies, legations and consultates all over the world.

In recognition of the growing need for data exchange, technical assistance in the reconstruction of Europe, and control of scare commodities, U.S. Housing Attache posts were established in US Embassies in London, Paris and Rome to carry out and supervise these functions.

1946

NHA representatives sat on five interdepartmental committees on international affairs, worked with the Pan American Union, the UN, and numerous other international bodies. The Technical Division instituted a training program which handled 100 visitors from 35 countries, and assigned UNRRAsponsored architects from seven countries to apprenticeship program with the Agency. 1947

The Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) was established as successor to NHA and HHFA officials participated in many international housing activities. An HHFA representative served as a part-time consultant to the UN Secretariat on housing questions; an HHFA staff member was housing adviser to the American Mission for AID to Greece; and another was housing adviser to the US delegation to the Economic Commission for Europe. About 100 missions from countries in both hemispheres came to the US to study US housing policies and methods.

Reporting systems were established with various US Embassies, and a steady flow of incoming data was reviewed, classified and reported on accession lists for the use of the US housing industry.

1948

During 1948, the world-wide housing crisis deepened. The Housing Act of 1948 was passed during a special session of Congress in August 1948, "to develop and promote and standardized building codes, standardized dimensions and methods for the assembly of homebuilding material and equipment" and appropriated an additional $300,000 for research.

HHFA took part in the systematic examination of information from other countries which could be tapped for use in the US, advised American non-governmental groups on the methods of other countries, and continued cooperation with other agencies of the Government on international aspects of housing subjects.

1949

Official recognition of HHFA's well established international role in foreign assistance was forthcoming through a State Department directive to the Agency to "assign experts abroad, train foreign housing and planning officials, and establish tropical housing research stations. HHFA's role included full responsibility for the housing element of the proposed Point Four Program of technical assistance to developing countries.

Further cooperation developed through the State Department with international organizations such as the UN, on experience in tropical housing and the assembly of national experience for UN publication; the Economic Commission for Europe Subcommittee on Housing; the Pan American Union on the agenda and documentation for regional seminars for experts in housing and city planning. Documents were exchanged with similar agencies in foreign countries. Materials were also provided to the State Department for exhibits in Japan, Yugoslavia, Uruguay and other countries, and to the Voice of America.

1950

established

The International Housing Activities Office of the HHFA was and continued to service the US housing industry and US international programs. HHFA received 95 missions from foreign countries, an increase of 50% over 1949.

Eighteen-hundred documents relating to foreign housing were acquired, reviewed and cataloged. A reporting system was developed between HHFA and the State Department for the guidance of US embassies and consulates. Comprehensive reports were received from US missions in 55 countries.

1951

Under the Point Four Program, HHFA became heavily involved in technical assistance programs and sent a five-man team to Germany for a 15 project demonstration program in reconstruction.

HHFA's International Activities Staff published a manual on “Aided SelfHelp Housing Techniques," and assisted in the establishment of the InterAmerican Housing Research and Training Center (CINVA) in Bogotá, Colombia.

Work with international organizations increased during the year. Included were UN activities in building documentation and building research in Europe, a housing survey mission to South Asia, the multilateral Technical Assistance Program involving housing in a number of countries such as Israel, Pakistan and El Salvador, International Bank activities in Iraq, Costa Rica and Guatemala required advice and assistance from HHFA.

The Agency established new relationships for the exchange of housing publications and information with housing and research organizations abroad. The routine exchange of information on housing increased markedly-during the year, a total of about 2400 documents were received and cataloged. The more important were abstracted and made available in the form of a monthly bulletin to the Agency's technicians in the US and in US housing missions abroad.

1952

HHFA staff service continued to US agencies, public and private, and cooperation with international programs abroad continued. Inquiries from abroad exceeded 600 from 50 countries; approximately 100 official visitors were received and briefed. Training of foreign nationals continued, and HHFA staff represented the US in international congresses and conferences on housing and town planning.

The Administrator represented the US at the 8th Pan American Congress of Architects in October 1952, and the Assistant to the Administrator traveled to advise the staff of the Inter-American Housing Research and Training Center at Bogotá, Colombia, to the Caribbean area to advise on aided self-help for shelter improvement, and to advise governments in Southeast Asia.

1953

After nine years of complete responsibility for the housing component of the US foreign assistance program, the newly formed Foreign Operations administration (FOA) assumed administrative responsibility for technicians abroad. IIHFA continued to provide personnel and all training, documentation and technical services.

HHFA, in addition to helping FOA select personnel for foreign housing and planning missions, assisted in drafting policies and programs for these missions to help overcome serious housing problems in countries receiving technical assistance under FOA programs.

HHFA also trained foreign nationals in housing and town planning who were brought to the US either under the auspices of the FOA or the UN. HHFA conducted training programs, planned studies, itineraries and programs for about 50 such individuals.

1954

The first formal operating agreement with the Foreign Operations Administration was signed (PASA). The agreement covered reimbursable services rendered by HHFA for: (1) nominating and training US housing technicians for overseas assignments; (2) providing technical advice at FOA request; (3) consultation with FOA officials on operation of housing programs in foreign countries; (4) arranging for the training of foreign nations in the US.

The Assistant to the Administrator for International Housing Activities, on invitation of the UN, attended a UN Seminar and International Housing Exhibition in India, and also served as Housing Adviser to the US delegation to

the 10th Inter-American Conference of the OAS. The International Housing Adviser was detailed for about 2 months to FOA to consult with the US Operations Missions and the Governments of Nationalist China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

1955

New emphasis was given to UN and OAS activities with the International Staff involved with the International Council for Building Documentation in Paris and with the Bogotá Research Center (CINVA).

Forty HHFA-International Cooperation Administration (successor to FOA) technicians went abroad and started five new programs in Guatemala, Cambodia, Korea, Costa Rica, and Italy. Programs were arranged for 24 training participants from 12 countries. Countries in which US housing and planning advisers and technicians were serving with the ICA as of December 1955 were: Italy, Cambodia, Formosa, Indonesia, Korea, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Turkey, Pakistan, Brazil, British Guiana, Trinidad, Surinam, Barbados, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

A technician from the international staff spent 2 months advising the new housing research center established in Egypt with the assistance of the ICA. Another staff technician visited Japan, Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Iran, Iraq and Greece to consult with and advise ICA officials and local Government officials on solutions to their housing problems.

1956

The international staff became the International Housing Service (IHS) in January 1956. It provided US representation at the ECE, trained 77 participants for the ICA and provided services and information for 113 official visitors from 35 nations.

Improvements were made in coordinating the work of the US in the international housing field with the housing activities of the UN and OAS. The international staff assisted the Department of State in connection with the assembly of information and the preparation of US position papers for the guidance of representatives at a number of international conferences.

IHS represented the US at the first Inter-American Technical Meeting on Housing and Planning, Bogotá, and provided a finance team to South America to assess the potential for what was to be the new Savings and Loan Industry.

1957

The IHS planned and supervised study program in the US and Puerto Rico for 209 training participants from 34 countries sponsored by the Department of State, ICA, the US and the European Productivity Agency. In addition, information and assistance in planning itineraries in the US were provided to 166 official visitors coming from 4 countries. The total of all foreign visitors for the year was 375 from 50 different nations.

Technical support of the ICA bilateral programs continued and at the request of ICA, various country programs were reviewed and evaluated; answers were provided for special questions on housing law, finance, architecture, site planning, utilities and realted problems; and guidance was provided on special problems in aided self-help housing.

For the first time in the international cooperation program, IHS provided orientation and briefings on the HIIFA/ICA training programs for foreign nationals to 12 US Training Officers who were assigned by ICA to the following countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, USRO/Paris, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Pakistan, Thailand, and Taiwan.

1959

The Office of International Housing succeeded to the role played by the International Housing Service. Three divisions were established to better permit a limited staff to handle an increasing workload.

The year saw both national and international policy changes directed to the support of international housing activity. A directive from the Committee of Foreign Economic Policy to "promote home ownership abroad" was the first of its kind giving clear direction to all agencies concerned with foreign housing.

With the State Department's approval, HHFA became the US member of the International Council for Building, Research Studies and Documentation (CIB) with the Assistant Administrator for International Housing being appointed to the Executive Committee.

As a service to domestic organizations, staff members participated in the World Housing Forum of the New York Chapter of the AIA, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Association of Homebuilders Conventions and Exhibition in Chicago, and represented HHFA on the International Committee of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

Training programs were arranged for 413 foreign visitors from 60 countries to the US for periods varying from 5 weeks to 12 months under programs sponsored by ICA, the State Department, the UN, OAS and their own govern

ments.

1960

The 21 American Republics in the "Act of Bogotá" gave housing a high priority in the programs for economic and social betterment in Latin America. The US Delegation at the Conference pledged a half billion dollars to a program which, among other things, would help mobilize local financial resources in each country as a means to improve housing.

Congress directed the Development Loan Fund to include housing in its objectives, and the Assistant Administrator for International Housing, among others, recommended greater use of local foreign currencies paid to the US for the sale of Government-owned farm products for financing housing and community facilities (PL 480 funds).

At the State Department's request, OIH drafted 7 position papers for US delegations at international meetings. The International Housing Architect of the OIH Staff (Director of the Division of Documentation) served as US Delegate at the Bangkok Meeting of the Working Party on Housing and Building Materials of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East.

At the request of several US embassies and missions, OIH informed pertinent trade associations of business opportunities in the field of housing. It also made available to the US housing industry and professionals information on foreign developments in the field of housing and planning.

OIH responded to 949 requests from US sources and 513 from foreign sources for information on the US and foreign housing, planning and technology. OIH also produced and published another in the Ideas and Methods Exchange series on the establishing of savings and loan associations in less industrialized countries. Technical films were also loaned during the year to 17 US and 10 foreign borrowers.

1961

The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 gave significant new emphasis to the unique role played by the Office of International Housing in the fields of international housing and urbanization. Both US policy and that of the United Nations took strong note of the need for simultaneous economic and social development in the growth of underdeveloped countries.

The Congress launched the Alliance for Progress and appropriated $500 million for a large scale social and economic development program for Latin America. High priority in this cooperative international effort was accorded to housing and community facilities.

The Inter-American Development Bank made loans or commitments to aid housing or urban facilities in a number of countries. Emphasis was on aided self-help and establishment of savings and loan associations.

In connection with the above activities, HHFA personnel visited South American countries to give advice and assistance in setting up housing programs, drafting effective legislation, installing financial procedures and controls, and provided services as needed. OIH also prepared for the Inter-American Development Bank detailed reports on housing needs in 16 Latin American countries.

The Office of International Housing continued to give important support to the UN and the ECE. For the first time, the ECE adopted a work program for the future which emphasized urbanization and urban problems.