LEND LEASE 1 Exchange of notes at Washington September 3, 1942, supplementing agreement of February 23, 1942 Entered into force September 3, 1942 56 Stat. 1605; Executive Agreement Series 270 The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State BRITISH EMBASSY, September 3, 1942 SIR, In the United Nations declaration of January 1, 1942,2 the contracting governments pledged themselves to employ their full resources, military or economic, against those nations with which they are at war and in the Agreement of February 23, 1942, each contracting government undertook to provide the other with such articles, services, facilities or information useful in the prosecution of their common war undertaking as each may be in a position to supply. It is further the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that the general principle to be followed in providing mutual aid as set forth in the said Agreement of February 23, 1942, is that the war production and the war resources of both Nations should be used by the armed forces of each and of the other United Nations in ways which most effectively utilize the available materials, manpower, production facilities and shipping space. With a view, therefore, to supplementing Article 2 [II] and Article 6 [VI] of the Agreement of February 23, 1942, between our two Governments for the provisions of reciprocal aid, I have the honour to set forth below the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the principles and procedures applicable to the provision of aid by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the armed forces of the United States and the manner in which such aid will be correlated with the maintenance of those forces by the United States Government. 1 See also footnote 1, p. 603. 'EAS 236, ante, vol. 3, p. 697. 8 EAS 241, ante, p. 603. 1. While each Government retains the right of final decision, in the light of its own potentialities and responsibilities, decisions as to the most effective use of resources shall, so far as possible, be made in common, pursuant to common plans for winning the war. 2. As to financing the provision of such aid, within the fields mentioned below, it is the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that the general principle to be applied, to the point at which the common war effort is most effective, is that as large a portion as possible of the articles and services which each Government may authorize to be provided to the other shall be in the form of reciprocal aid so that the need of each Government for the currency of the other may be reduced to a minimum. It is accordingly the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that the United States Government will provide, in accordance with the provisions of, and to the extent authorized under, the Act of March 11, 1941, the share of its war production made available to the United Kingdom. The Government of the United Kingdom will provide on the same terms and as reciprocal aid so much of its war production made available to the United States as it authorizes in accordance with the Agreement of February 23, 1942. 3. The Government of the United Kingdom will provide the United States or its armed forces with the following types of assistance as such reciprocal aid, when it is found that they can most effectively be procured in the United Kingdom or in the British Colonial Empire: (a) Military equipment, munitions and military and naval stores. (b) Other supplies, materials, facilities and services for the United States forces, except for the pay and allowances of such forces, administrative expenses, and such local purchases as its official establishments may make other than through the official establishments of the Government of the United Kingdom as specified in paragraph 4. (c) Supplies, materials and services needed in the construction of military projects, tasks and similar capital works required for the common war effort in the United Kingdom or in the British Colonial Empire, except for the wages and salaries of United States citizens. (d) Supplies, materials and services needed in the construction of such military projects, tasks and capital works in territory other than the United Kingdom or the British Colonial Empire or territory of the United States to the extent that the United Kingdom or the British Colonial Empire is a more practicable source of supply than the United States or another of the United Nations. 55 Stat. 31. 4. The practical application of the principles formulated in this note, including the procedure by which requests for aid by either Government are made and acted upon, shall be worked out as occasion may require by agreement between the two Governments, acting when possible through their appropriate military or civilian administrative authorities. Requests by the United States Government for such aid will be presented by duly authorized authorities of the United States to official agencies of the United Kingdom which will be designated or established in London and in the areas where United States forces are located for the purpose of facilitating the provision of reciprocal aid. 5. It is the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that all such aid, as well as other aid, including information, received under Article 6 of the Agreement of February 23, 1942, accepted by the President of the United States or his authorized representatives from the Government of the United Kingdom will be received as a benefit to the United States under the Act of March 11, 1941. In so far as circumstances will permit, appropriate record of aid received under this arrangement, except for miscellaneous facilities and services, will be kept by each Government. If the Government of the United States concurs in the foregoing, I would suggest that the present note and your reply to that effect be regarded as placing on record the understanding of our two Governments in this matter. I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note of today's date concerning the principles and procedures applicable to the provision of aid by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Bri tain and Northern Ireland to the armed forces of the United States of America. In reply I wish to inform you that the Government of the United States agrees with the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as expressed in that note. In accordance with the suggestion contained therein, your note and this reply will be regarded as placing on record the understanding between our two Governments in this matter. This further integration and strengthening of our common war effort gives me great satisfaction. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. CORDELL HULL Secretary of State of the United States of America His Excellency The Right Honorable The Viscount HALIFAX, K.G., British Ambassador. MILITARY SERVICE Exchanges of notes at Washington March 30, April 29, June 9, and September 30, 1942 Entered into force April 30, 1942 Terminated March 31, 19471 56 Stat. 1906; Executive Agreement Series 307 The Acting Secretary of State to the British Ambassador Department OF STATE WASHINGTON March 30, 1942 EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to refer to conversations which have taken place between officers of the British Embassy and of the Department with respect to the application of the United States Selective Training and Service Act of 1940,2 as amended, to British subjects residing in the United States. As you are aware the Act provides that with certain exceptions every male citizen of the United States and every other male person residing in the United States between the ages of 18 and 65 shall register. The Act further provides that, with certain exceptions, registrants within specified age limits are liable for active military service in the United States armed forces. This Government recognizes that from the standpoint of morale of the individuals concerned and the over-all military effort of the countries at war with the Axis Powers, it would be desirable to permit certain classes of individuals who have registered or who may register under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, as amended, to enlist in the armed forces of a co-belligerent country, should they desire to do so. It will be recalled that during the World War this Government signed conventions with certain associated powers on this subject. The United States Government believes, however, that under existing circumstances the same ends may now be accomplished through administrative action, thus obviating the delays incident to the signing and ratification of conventions. This Government is prepared, therefore, to initiate a procedure which will permit aliens who have registered under the Selective Training and Service 1 Upon termination of functions of U.S. Selective Service System (60 Stat. 341). 2 54 Stat. 885. |