Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 2.djvu/823

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1914 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [60 STAT. recaptured in the course of the operations covered by the memoran- dum or against other vessels so recovered being vessels of the other United Nations entering into similar arrangements. In this connec- tion you call attention to the British Prize Salvage Act, 1944. You further state that "on these understandings and with these expressions of intent the present memorandum meets with the ap- proval of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom". You add that if it likewise meets with the approval of the Government of the United States of America, your note, together with the reply indicating such approval and concurrence by the Government of the United States of America, will be regarded as constituting an agree- ment between the two countries. You further suggest that the agreement should be regarded as being in effect from October 22, 1943. I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States of America approves the memorandum in question and concurs in the understandings expressed in your note, and will apply the principles embodied in the memorandum, on a reciprocal basis, to British vessels and to the vessels of other members of the United Nations which enter into similar agreements with the United States of America. In accordance with the suggestion made in your note, that note and the present note in reply will be regarded as constituting an agreement between the Government of the United States of America and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, which will be regarded as being in effect from October 22, 1943. In view of the present agreement in the case of British vessels, the Government of the United States of America undertakes, on a recip- rocal basis, to take such steps as may be necessary to insure that claims in the nature of prize salvage will not be advanced in the United States courts against British vessels recovered in the course of the operations covered by the memorandum. In case similar agreements are concluded by the United States of America with other members of the United Nations, the United States of America will also undertake on the basis of reciprocity to take such steps as may be necessary to insure that claims in the nature of prize salvage will not be advanced in the United States courts against vessels of such other members of the United Nations recovered in the course of the opera- tions covered by the memorandum. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest con- sideration. JOSEPH C. GREW Acting Secretary of State His Excellency The Right Honorable THE EARL OF HALIFAX, K.G., British Ambassador.