Executive Order 10214

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the act of Congress entitled ‘‘An Act to unify, consolidate, revise, and codify the Articles of War, the Articles for the Government of the Navy, and the disciplinary laws of the Coast Guard, and to enact and establish a Uniform Code of Military Justice,’’ approved May 5, 1950 (64 Stat. 107), and as President of the United States, I hereby prescribe the following Manual for Courts-Martial to be designated as ‘‘Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1951.’’

This manual shall be in force and effect in the armed forces of the United States on and after May 31, 1951, with respect to all court-martial processes taken on and after May 31, 1951:


 * Provided, That nothing contained in this manual shall be construed to invalidate any investigation, trial in which arraignment has been had, or other action begun prior to May 31, 1951; and any investigation, trial, or action so begun may be completed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws, Executive orders, and regulations pertaining to the various armed forces in the same manner and with the same effect as if this manual had not been prescribed:


 * Provided further, That nothing contained in this manual shall be construed to make punishable any act done or omitted prior to the effective date of this manual which was not punishable when done or omitted:


 * Provided further, That the maximum punishment for an offense committed prior to May 31, 1951, shall not exceed the applicable limit in effect at the time of the commission of such offense:


 * And provided further, That any act done or omitted prior to the effective date of this manual which constitutes an offense in violation of the Articles of War, the Articles for the Government of the Navy, or the disciplinary laws of the Coast Guard shall be charged as such and not as a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice; but, except as otherwise provided in the first proviso, the trial and review procedure shall be that prescribed in this manual.

, February 8, 1951.