Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 2.djvu/487

 Armaments, etc., installed upon Norwe- gian ships subsequent to Dec. 7, 141. Ship repairs under Lend-Lease Act. 22 U. S. C., Supp. I, l 411-419. Replacement of merchant ships. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [56 STAT. the Agreement on the Principles Applying to Mutual Aid in the Prosecution of the War Against Aggression signed this day. During the course of these conversations the Norwegian repre- sentatives have referred to the fact that the Royal Norwegian Govern- ment has been driven from its country by Hitler, whose forces are in occupation of the country and are despoiling its resources; they have pointed out that the principal national asset remaining at the disposal of their Government is the Norwegian Merchant Fleet, which that Government is operating for the benefit of the United Nations in the common war effort; that for the protection and maintenance of that Fleet, it is necessary to install armaments and other protective devices and equipment upon its vessels, and to repair damage and replace losses thereto occasioned by acts of war and operation under war conditions; that it will also be necessary for the Royal Norwegian Government, when the invader has been driven from its territory, to ensure the maintenance of reestablished peaceful conditions, and that, for this reason, the need of the Royal Norwegian Government for arms and equipment will not necessarily cease with the general cessation of hostilities. The conversations referred to have disclosed a mutual understanding on the part of the Royal Norwegian Government and the Government of the United States of America with respect to the application of certain provisions of the Agreement signed this day, as follows: 1. Armaments and other protective devices and equipment installed upon Norwegian ships subsequent to December 7, 1941, shall, under the provisions of the Agreement signed this day, remain the property of the Government of the United States of America. The installation of such armaments, protective devices, and other equipment shall be at the expense and for the account of the Government of the United States of America, which shall bear any risk of loss, or damage, and shall not be regarded as giving rise to any financial obligation on the part of the Royal Norwegian Government. Such armaments may if found mutually desirable be manned by American gun crews. 2. The repair under the Lend-Lease Act,['] subsequent to December 7, 1941, of damage to Norwegian ships which is caused by acts of war or by operation under war conditions, as well as repair and replace- ment necessitated by operation under war conditions shall be made at the expense and for the account of the Government of the United States of America, and shall not be regarded as giving rise to any financial obligation on the part of the Royal Norwegian Government. The repair of damage not caused by acts of war or not necessitated by operation under war conditions shall be made at the expense and for the account of the Royal Norwegian Government or the appropriate agency designated by it. 3. The Government of the United States of America recognizes that the Norwegian Merchant Fleet not only constitutes an important contribution to the war effort of the United Nations but is likewise one of the principal national assets of the Royal Norwegian Govern- '[55 Stat. 31.1

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