Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 2.djvu/964

 59 STAT.] BELGIUM-MUTUAL AID- APril 17, 19 4 ,.1 1647 May 19, 1945 MEMORANDUM OF INTERPRETATION with respect to the AGREEMENT between the United States of America and Belgium under Section 3 (c) of the Lend-Lease Act The Government of the United States of America directs the atten- tioIn of the Government of Belgium to the proposed agreement under Section 3 (c) of the Lend-Lease Act and in particular to Article IV thereof. Under Article IV this Government will review, from time to time, and particularly at the conclusion of hostilities in Europe, as determined by the President, articles and services set forth in the Schedule annexed to the Agreement in order to determine whether the delivery of such articles or services should be withheld in the national interest of the United States. The reservation made by this Govern- ment in Article IV to withhold delivery of articles and services "whenever the President determines that such action is in the national interest" constitutes a broad power to cancel or revoke procurement programs or contracts. It is not possible to predict with precision what occasions or circumstances may arise in the future which may require this Government to withhold delivery. Actual delivery will always be subject to the development of the military situation, and the changing demands of strategy, as well as to economic and financial factors which affect the national interest of this Government. The Government of the United States of America expects that all articles and services transferred to the Government of Belgium on or before February 28, 1945, pursuant to the exchange of notes between the Foreign Economic Administration and the Belgian Ambassador to the United States on October 20 and October 25, 1944, ['] will be paid for in United States dollars in accordance with the terms of those notes and any articles and services requisitioned in accordance with the provisions of those notes but transferred after February 28, 19)-15 will be regarded, if appropriate, as deliveries under the Schedule annexed to the Agreement. The Government of the United States of America further wishes to point out that, in view of the existing economic and governmental relationships and arrangements between the Government of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the fact that the Govern- ment of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are employing their resources together in the prosecution of the war against the common enemy, it is understood that some of the articles, or an appro- priate portion thereof, delivered under this Agreement are required for use or consumption within the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and that the Government of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxem- bourg will make such arrangements between them as may be needed to effectuate such use or consumption within the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Government of the United States of America therefore consents to the transfer by the Government of Belgium of '[Not printed.]

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