Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 4.djvu/438

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [61 STAT. August 5, 1944 [T. I. A. . 1722] Common responsi- bility. Maintenance of powers of control. Agreement between the United States of America and other governments respectingprincipleshaving reference to the continuance of co-ordinated control of shipping. Signed at London August 6, 1944; entered into force May 24, 1945. AGREEMENT ON PRINCIPLES HAVING REFERENCE TO THE CONTINUANCE OF CO-ORDINATED CONTROL OF MERCHANT SHIPPING. THE undersigned representatives, duly authorised by their respective Governments or Authorities, hereinafter referred to as contracting Governments, have agreed as follows:- 1. The contracting Governments declare that they accept as a com- mon responsibility the provision of shipping for all military and other tasks necessary for, and arising out of, the completion of the war in Europe and the Far East and for the supplying of all the liberated areas as well as of the United Nations generally and territories under their authority. 2. The contracting Governments undertake to continue to maintain such powers of control over all ships which are registered in their territories or are otherwise under their authority as will enable them effectively to direct each ship's employment in accordance with the foregoing declaration. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 9, this control shall continue to be exercised by each contracting Government through the mechanism of requisitioning for use or title. 3. The contracting Governments agree not to release from control any ships under their authority or permit them to be employed in any non-essential services or for any non-essential cargo unless the total overall tonnage is in excess of the total overall requirements, and then only in accordance with a mutually acceptable formula which shall not discriminate against the commercial shipping interests of any nation and shall extend to all contracting Governments an equitable opportunity for their respective tonnages to engage in commercial trades. 4. Neutral Governments having ships under their control in excess of the tonnage required to carry on their essential import requirements shall be invited to subscribe to obligations in respect of all their ships which shall ensure that their employment is in conformity with the general purposes of the United Nations. 5. The contracting Governments undertake to exercise control over the facilities for shipping available in their territories, by suitable measures on the lines of the United States and British Ship Warrant Schemes, and to take such other measures as may be necessary to secure that ships under all flags are used in conformity with the purposes of 3784

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