File No. 195/177

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador on Special Mission ( Reading)

Excellency: Referring to your note of February 18, 1918, I have the honor to advise you that I am in receipt of a letter from the Honorable Edward N. Hurley, Chairman of the United States Shipping Board and President of the United States Emergency Fleet Corporation, enclosing an original agreement dated January 30, 1918, covering the payment of eighty million, seven hundred ninety-four thousand, forty-one dollars and sixty-five cents ($80,794,041.65) to Sir Hardman Lever, Financial Secretary to His Britannic Majesty’s Treasury, and party of the fourth part to said agreement.

This agreement is dated January 30, 1918, and is between the United States Shipping Board and the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, parties of the first part; the Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd., party of the second part; Sir Joseph Paton Maclay, Privy Counsellor, as British Controller of Shipping, party of the third part; and Sir Hardman Lever, K.C.B., as Financial Secretary to His Britannic Majesty’s Treasury, party of the fourth part.

The agreement is signed in behalf of the United States Shipping Board by Edward N. Hurley, Chairman, and for the United States Emergency Fleet Corporation by Edward N. Hurley, President.

I take pleasure in certifying to you that Mr. Hurley is chairman of the United States Shipping Board and president of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation.

Mr. Hurley has advised me that this document has been executed in accordance with the provisions of the emergency shipping fund clause of the urgent deficiency act of June 15, 1917, and the executive order of the President of July 11, 1917.1

I take pleasure in advising you that this agreement as signed and executed has the support of the Government of the United States.

I have [etc.]

Robert Lansing