Executive Agreement Series No. 31

862.8561/6

The American Ambassador in Germany (Sackett) to the German Minister for Foreign Affairs (Curtius)

No. 585

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to previous correspondence and in particular to Note Verbale 5 845/31, of March 4, 1931,32 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wherein the statement was made that the Government of Germany was prepared to accept the American “Regulations for the Establishment of Load Lines for Merchant Vessels of 250 Gross Tons or over when engaged in a Foreign Voyage by Sea” as equally effective with the German regulations similar thereto and to conclude a reciprocal agreement as well as a temporary reciprocal agreement governing the acceptance by each Government of the regulations of the other.

I now beg to inform Your Excellency that the competent executive authorities of the Government of the United States have examined the German rules and tables of freeboard, which were submitted with the Note under reference, and have found them to be as effective as the United States load line regulations. I am further directed to state, in regard to the reciprocal agreement concerning the acceptance of the mutual regulations, which agreement will remain effective pending the coming into force of the international load line convention in the two countries, that my Government understands that the Governments of the United States and Germany will each recognize [Page 318] as equivalent the load line marks and the certificates of such marking of merchant vessels of the other: provided, that the load line marks are in accordance with the load line certificates; that the hull or superstructure of the vessel certificated has not been so materially altered since the issuance of the certificate as to affect the calculations on which the load line was based, and that alterations have not been made so that the—

(1)
Protection of openings,
(2)
Guard Rails,
(3)
Freeing Ports,
(4)
Means of Access to Crews Quarters

have made the vessel manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without danger to human life.

I have the further honor to inform Your Excellency that it will be understood by the Government of the United States that, upon receipt of a note from Your Excellency expressing the German Government’s concurrence in my Government’s understanding, as above set forth, the agreement will become effective.

I avail myself [etc.]

Frederic M. Sackett
  1. Not printed.