Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 47 Part 2.djvu/1105

 LOAD-LINE CERTIFICATES-GEUMANY. 2695 Arrangement between the United States 0' America and Germany jor September 11. Dooem- ~ ., db ber 16. 111 .11 . the reciprocal recognition oj load-line certificates. Elfecte y ex- change oj notes, signed September 11 and December 16,1931. The American Amba~8ador (Sackett) to tM German .Jlini. -; ter jor Foreign Affairs (Curtiu.'1) No. 585 ElI.IBASHY OF THE C:XITED STATES OF AMEIUCA, Berlin, September II, 1931. EXCELLENCY; I have the honor to refer to previous correspondence and ill partic- o::nW~;er:ii~ ular to Note Verbale 5 845/31, of :March 4, 1931, from the Ministrv =li reoogpAti0:'es of of Foreign Affairs wherein the statement was made that the Govern- - necer1ca. ment of Germany was prepared to accept t.he American "Regulations for the Establishmcnt of Load Lines for ~Merchant Vessels of 250 Gross Tons or over when engaged in a Foreign Voyage by Sea" as equally effective with the German regulations similar thereto and to conchide a reciprocal agreement as well as a temporary reciprocal agreement governing the acceptance by each Government of the reO'ulations of the other. i now beg to inform Your Excellency that the competent executive authoriti('s of t.he Govcrnment of the United States have examined the German rules and tables of freeboard, which were submittt·d with the Note under reference, and have found them to be as effecth'e as the United Stat.es load line regulations. I am further directed to state, in regard to the reciprocal agreement concerning the acceptance of the mutual regulations, which agreement will relllain effective pending the coming into force of the international load line convention in the two countries, that my Government undt'rstands that the Governments of the United States and Genllany will each recognize as equivalent the load line marks and the certificat.es of such marking of merchant vessels of the other: provided, that the load line marks are in accordance with the load line ccrtdjcates; that the hull or superstructure of the vessel certificated has not been so materially altered since the issuance of the certificate as to affect the calculations on which the load line wus based, and that alterations have not been made so that the- (1) Protection of openings, (2) Guard Rails, (3) ~"reeing Ports, (4) Means of Access to Crews Quarters ha.ve made the vessel manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without da.nger to human life. I have the further honor to inform Your Excellencv that it will be understood by the Government of the United States that, upon receipt of a note from Your Excellency expl'C'ssing the German (to\,-