Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 3.djvu/1233

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAT. MEMORANDUM WITH RESPECT TO PROCEDURE FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT PRISONERS-OF-WAR OF CLAIMS OF ITALIAN FORMER 61 Stat., Pt. 4, p. 3962. Public announce- ment. Military Payment Orders and Certifi- cates of Credit. "Statement of Credit Balance." Payment of claims. 61 Stat. It. 4, p. 3966. Safeguards against fraud and erroneous payments. The Government of the United States, in order to implement rele- vant provisions of the "Memorandum of Understanding" reached with the Lombardo Mission on August 14, 1947, providing for the set- tlement of certain wartime claims of individuals in Italy who are Ital- ian nationals and who have claims arising from their status as Pris- oners-of-war in custody of the United States, proposes the following procedure for the settlement of such claims: The Italian Government will immediately upon the effective date of implementation of the proposals below regarding procedures. issue a public announcement, to be circulated in every way possible, request- ing Italian nationals who are holders of Military Payment Orders and Certificates of Credit, who have not already done so, to transmit such documents to the Liaison Office, Prisoner-of-war Division, Ministry of Defense. Such Military Payment Orders and Certificates of Credit will be turned over to the appropriate United States authorities for screening and checking. A "Statement of Credit Balance", in lieu of each authentic Military Payment Order or Certificate of Credit pre- sented, will be returned to the Italian Government. The Italian Gov- ernment is requested to undertake to pay promptly in lire at the rate of exchange as provided below all certified claims as indicated in the individual "Statements" transmitted from time-to-time by the United States Government to the designated Italian authorities. In accord- ance with Article II, paragraph 11 of the "Memorandum of Under- standing" referred to above, the United States Government will pay in dollars to the Italian Government an amount equal to the total of Mili- tary Payment Orders and Certificates of Credit collected, as indi- cated in the aforesaid "Statements of Credit Balance". In connection with the acceptance of Military Payment Orders and Certificates of Credit, the Italian Government is requested to observe the following safeguards against fraud and erroneous payments: 1. Payee should be required to present positive identification prior to any acceptance and payment for Military Payment Order or Cer- tificate of Credit held. 2. All Military Payment Orders or Certificates of Credit should be signed in the presence of an official of the Italian Government prior to any acceptance or payment. 3. An affidavit of nationality should be submitted by all persons presenting Certificates for payment to the effect that such persons were nationals of Italy on October 31, 1947. Such affidavits of na- 3854

�