Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 2.djvu/957

 1640 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [59 STAT. The Acting Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON SIR: April 0S,1945 In reply to your letter of today's date outlining your Government's interpretation of two questions arising in respect to your note on reciprocal aid also of today's date, I am pleased to state that your Government's interpretation is concurred in by the Government of the United States. Sincerely yours, JOSEPH C. GREW The Honorable Acting Secretary The IHonorable Baron W. VAN BOETZELAER, Minister of the Netherlands. The Acting Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON April S0, 1945 MY DEAR MR. MINISTER: A 0, 1945 You will recall that on June 14, 1943, Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State, addressed a letter to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to the receipt by this Govern- ment as reciprocal aid of articles previously purchased abroad and imported into territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In this letter Mr. Acheson stated that this Government does not expect the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands or the authorities in its territories to furnish such articles to American forces as reciprocal aid and that, if such articles were furnished as reciprocal aid in emergency situations, this Government would be entirely agreeable to the principle that they should be replaced from the United States as soon as possible. Mr. Acheson further stated that American forces would not request or accept as reciprocal aid any such articles, the replacement of which was regarded by the Government of the King- dom of the Netherlands as desirable, without specific authorization in each case from the War Department. The exigencies of war has made strict compliance with this procedure impractical, and your Government has furnished such articles to this Government and its armed forces without compliance with this pro- cedure. The quantity and value of the articles so furnished are not yet known and it is anticipated that considerable time may be required before mutual agreement can be reached as to the exact value of the articles to be replaced under the terms of Mr. Acheson's letter. At the time of Mr. Acheson's letter no non-military supplies were being provided by my Government to your Government as straight lend-lease. Now, however, our two Governments have concluded an agreement under Section 3 (c) of the Lend-Lease Act, under which this Government will furnish non-military supplies as straight lend-lease aid to your Government to the extent provided therein.

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