1216
Mutual assistance
in preliminary action.
Period of operation.
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [58 STAT.
The competent American authorities will be prepared to cooperate
with the authorities of the Belgian Congo in setting up a satisfactory
procedure for affording such mutual assistance as may be required in
making investigations and collecting evidence with respect to offenses
alleged to have been committed by members of the armed forces of the
United States. As a general rule it would probably be desirable that
preliminary action be taken by the authorities of the Belgian Congo
on behalf of the American authorities where the witnesses or other
persons from whom it is desired to obtain testimony are not members
of the United States forces. In the prosecution in the courts of the
Belgian Congo of persons who are not members of the United States
forces but where members of such forces are in any way concerned, the
Service authorities of the United States will be glad to render such
assistance as is possible in obtaining testimony of members of such
forces or in making appropriate investigations.
It is proposed that the foregoing arrangement shall be in effect dur-
ing the present war and for a period of six months thereafter.
If the above arrangement is acceptable to the Belgian Government,
this note and the reply thereto accepting the provisions outlined shall
be regarded as placing on record the understanding between our two
Governments.
Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest con-
sideration.
CoRDELL HULL
His Excellency
Count ROBERT VAN DER STRATEN-PONTHOZ,
BelgianAmbassador.
The Belgian Ambassador to the Secretary of State
AMBASSADE DE BELGIQUE
D. 6801
No. 2689
Sm:
WASHINGTON, May 27th, 1943.
I have the honor to refer to Your Excellency's letter of March 31st,
concerning an agreement between the United States and Belgium
relating to the jurisdiction of American Service courts over members
of the armed forces of the United States in the Belgian Congo.
The Belgian Government assumes that in this arrangement the
words "criminal offenses" include all criminal offenses within the law
of the Belgian Congo. My Government also assumes that this ar-
rangement provides only for the punishment of criminal offenses and
that all actions (actions civiles) involving the collection of damages
for injury which may be caused by such offenses will remain within
the province of the courts of the Belgian Congo.
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