Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 3.djvu/447

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [61 STAT. the United Kingdom in the ordinary way against the tort feasor, unless military duties render this impossible. His Majesty's Govern- ment will however except from these arrangements all claims exceed- ing the local financial powers of the United States Claims Commis- sions, and they themselves will take over at once the examination and final settlement of all such claims. The conditions which His Maj- esty's Government wish to attach to the proposals made in this para- Post, p. 2735. graph are set out in paragraphs 13 to 15 of the Annex to this Note. 13. His Majesty's Government are of the opinion that it is essential for the good working of the arrangements proposed in this Note and Annex that particular care should be taken by the British and United States authorities to ensure the prompt settlement of claims arising out of incidents occurring before the 20th March, 1944, and they trust that in this matter as in the other matters previously mentioned they can count on the fullest possible co-operation of the United States authorities. 14. As Your Excellency is aware, I am most anxious to reach a con- clusion of this matter with the least possible delay, and I shall be grateful if I may be informed at the earliest opportunity whether the assumptions and conditions upon which His Majesty's Govern- ment are prepared to agree to the request made by you are acceptable to the United States Government. I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Your Excellency's obedient Servant, AmTHOI EDEN His Excellency The Honourable JOHN GILBERT WINANT, etc., etc., etc., 1, Grosvenor Square, W1. ANNEX Classes of claihs. The conditions upon which His Majesty's Government will take over under reciprocal aid certain classes of claims against members of the United States Forces arising out of their military duties in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. 1. The claims shall be limited to claims in respect of - (a) Traffic accidents (b) Accidental shootings (c) Accidental explosions (d) Loss of or damage to chattels in requisitioned premises occu- pied by United States forces under arrangements made with His Majesty's Government Departments (e) Other claims arising from e.g. practice gunfire, fires in billets etc. which His Majesty's Government would in certain cir- 2732

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