Washington ? With relief for famine-plagued and disease-ravaged regions of Africa taking center stage in international negotiations this summer, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair predicted Tuesday that the leading industrial nations would eventually agree to forgive African nations’ debt to aid in their recovery.

The United States also increased its commitment to humanitarian aid for parts of Africa. Yet the new $674 million in U.S. aid – in addition to nearly $1.4 billion already pledged by the U.S. this year – falls short of a doubling of African aid that Blair has pressed major industrial nations to contribute as he attempts to make the issue a priority for all.

It also renews a broader debate over American foreign aid. While the United States ranks as by far the biggest donor-nation in sheer dollars, contributing about one-quarter of all official aid worldwide, it remains outranked by many other nations in the amount devoted to aid as a percentage of its economy.

Facing resistance from the Bush administration, Blair, while en route to his meeting with Bush at the White House on Tuesday, had retreated from his bid for a doubling of U.S. aid. But Blair plans to press his case for full forgiveness of about $40 billion in debt owed by African nations as the Group of 8 major industrial nations prepare for a summit in Scotland in early July. Bush made it clear in a joint appearance Tuesday that Blair has an ally in that cause.

“Our countries are developing a proposal for the G-8 that will eliminate 100 percent of that debt,” said Bush, brushing aside questions about why the United States was not willing to meet the British goal for an immediate doubling of aid to Africa.

U.S. aid to Africa has tripled during his tenure, noted Bush, who also has pledged $15 billion for a five-year campaign against AIDS in Africa.

“When I say we’re going to do more, I think you can take that to the bank, as we say, because of what we have done,” Bush said at a news conference. “We have taken a leadership role.”

Blair, standing alongside Bush in the East Room after a private meeting in the White House and before a working dinner, attempted to display a united front on aid for Africa.

“I think there is a real desire to make sure that we cancel the debt, and cancel the debt in such a way that it doesn’t inhibit or disadvantage the international institutions,” such as the World Bank, that lent the money, Blair said.