Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 57 Part 2.djvu/571

 57 STAT.] EGYPT-CRIMINAL OFFENSES, JURISDICTION-MAR. 2, 1943 The American Minister to the Egyptian Prime Minister and Minister of ForeignAffairs LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Cairo, March 2, 1943. MY DEAR MR. PRIME MINISTER: With reference to our exchange of notes of today's date, by which actas a",'isinS fre the Egyptian Government has been so kind as to accord to the Forces in Egypt. United States Government jurisdiction in criminal matters over members of the United States Armed Forces in Egypt, I take pleasure in advising Your Excellency of the existing arrangements for the handling of claims against persons and property arising as a result of the voluntary and involuntary acts committed by Members of the said United States Armed Forces in Egypt, as follows: 1. There is now functioning in Egypt a United States Claims notimexnt ofawards Commission for the Middle East, composed of three members, set up under authority contained in an Act of the Congress of the United States of America approved January 2, 1942, which is competent to 31 S.Ca., Supp hear claims arising out of acts committed by members of the United "IIn, §: States Armed Forces in Egypt and to make and order payment of awards which do not exceed $1,000. 2. With regard to the limitation upon the amount of the awards of $1Caims , excs of the aforementioned Claims Commission, I have been informed by my Government that the War Department is already seeking from the Congress of the United States authority to increase the limitation from $1,000 to $5,000. When such authorization has been obtained, I shall not fail to inform Your Excellency. 3. In addition to the settling of claims by the aforementioned Claims Commission, the United States military authorities in Egypt will undertake to lend their good offices in carrying out tile necessary formalities for petitioning the Congress of the United States to approve claims over $1,000. erstio o 4. The United States military authorities in Egypt agree that claim- claimants t'by gyp- ants may be represented before the United States Claims Commission tia o etc for the Middle East by an Egyptian official and assisted by the special office established for the purpose of assisting claimants in the presen- tation of their claims against members of any of the Allied Armed Forces in Egypt. I feel sure that the Egyptian Government will find satisfactory the aforementioned procedure for the settling of claims arising out of acts committed by members of the United States Armed Forces in Egypt. Please accept, my dear Mr. Prime Minister, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. ALEXANDER KIRK His Excellency Moustapha EI-NAHAS Pasha, Prime Minister and Ministerfor ForeignAffairs, Cairo. 1207

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