美援台灣計劃的企劃經理

This film is dedicated to U.S. Aid to Taiwan and to the Project Manager of the Aid, Mr. Valery S. de Beausset, for their important contributions to Taiwan. U.S. Aid to Taiwan was the major source of revenue for the Nationalist Government of China for the reconstruction and economic development of Taiwan during the early post-war years.

The U.S. Aid was facilitated under the collaboration and supervision of the American Aid Committee and the Economic Cooperation Administration (EAC). They awarded contracts to an American engineering consulting firm, the J.G. White Engineering Corporation, to oversee the aid process.In addition to evaluating and granting projects requested by Taiwan on behalf of the U.S. government, The J.G. White Corporation also acted as an economic advisor to Taiwan’s government.

From 1950 to 1957, the Project Manager in charge of the J.G. White office in Taiwan was Mr. Valery Sergei de Beausset (1915- ), who served as both distributor and advisor for U.S. Aid. He was instrumental in drawing up a list of priorities for granting American aid. The reconstruction of Taiwan’s transportation system and the restoration of the productivity of Taiwan’s national industries were his two primary goals.Partly through his help, Taiwan made tremendous economic progress during those years. In addition to being involved directly in expanding the electrical power dams, the reconstruction of the railway transportation network, and in making recommendations to the construction of harbors and airports, Mr. de Beausset also gave advice in the development of more than 30 industrial enterprises, including machinery factories, shipyards, telecommunications, textiles, and those of other consumer goods. For all these tremendous efforts and contributions, he was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star Medal of Honor from the R.O.C. government before leaving Taiwan.

Mr. and Mrs. De Beausset carefully documented their activities during their stay in Taiwan.In 2006, they donated their collection to the National Taiwan University Library.The de Beausset Collection is an invaluable resource for Taiwan studies of this critical period of national rebirth and economic development. In addition to documents concerning the U.S. Aid to Taiwan, the collection also includes color films and photographs of Taiwan taken in 1950’s, personal letters, diaries, and news clippings.This film presents some results of an initial study of this collection, and provides a glimpse of the wealth of its content.It is also a tribute to Mr. de Beasusset and his family, for the important role they played in the history of Taiwan, and a testimony of the impact of U.S. Aid in the post-war recovery of the island.