The Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of Government, popularly known as the Hoover Commission, had recommended that certain offices be upgraded to bureau level and after Congress increased the number of assistant secretaries of state from six to ten.

The final remnant of this practice ended on April 18, 1974, when the department transferred responsibility for Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus to the Bureau of European Affairs.

[3] The Division of Near Eastern Affairs included Egypt and Abyssinia (Ethiopia) from its inception.

Still, relations with North African nations reverted to the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs on April 22, 1974.

At that time, Edward Djerejian became assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; he was also concurrently acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs until May 30, 1993.