Executive Order 8972

by President of the United States

Whereas the United States is now at war; and Whereas there exists a serious and immediate potential danger of sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities which may menace our maximum productive effort; and Whereas the Congress of the United States has in recent enactment recognized this danger by enjoining efforts to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national defense, and providing severe penalties therefor; and Whereas it is considered necessary in the interests of national defense that, in particular situations where hazardous, dangerous, or other unfavorable conditions may from time to time exist, special precautionary measures be taken by establishing and maintaining military guards and patrols or other appropriate means to protect from injury or destruction national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities: Now, Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, whenever he deems such action to be necessary or desirable, and the Secretary of the Navy, whenever he deems such action to be necessary or desirable, to establish and maintain military guards and patrols, and to take other appropriate measures, to protect from injury or destruction national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities, as defined in the Act of April 20, 1918, 40 Stat. 533, as amended by the Act of November 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1220, and the Act of August 21, 1941, 55 Stat 655. This order shall not be construed as limiting or modifying the duty and responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, with respect to the investigation of alleged acts of sabotage. Franklin D. Roosevelt The White House, December 12, 1941.

Notes

Amended by:

• Executive Order 9074, February 25, 1942

See Related:

• Executive Order 9066, February 19, 1942
• Executive Order 9165, May 19, 1942
• Transfer Order 22 of the Secretary of Defense dated September 21, 1948 (13 FR 5665)
• Proclamation 2525, December 7, 1941 (Japan)
• Proclamation 2526, December 8, 1941 (Germany)
• Proclamation 2527, December 8, 1941 (Italy)
• Proclamation 2533, December 29, 1941
• Proclamation 2537, January 14, 1942
• Proclamation 2563, July 20, 1942 (Hungary, Romania & Bulgaria)