Executive Agreement Series No. 36

865.8561/5

The American Chargé in Italy (Kirk) to the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Grandi)

F.O. No. 693

Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that I have been instructed by my Government to notify Your Excellency that the competent executive authorities of the Government of the United States have examined the Italian rules and tables of freeboard, which were enclosed in the esteemed Note Verbale No. 11196–22 of February 7, 1931,11 and have found them to be as effective as the United States load line regulations.

I have also been instructed to notify Your Excellency in regard to the reciprocal agreement relating to this matter, which was referred to in the abovementioned Note Verbale, that my Government understands that the Governments of the United States and of Italy will each recognize as equivalent the load line marks and the certificates of such marking of merchant vessels of the other country pending the coming into force of the international load line convention in the United States and Italy; provided, that the load line marks are in accordance with the load line certificates; that the hull and superstructures of the vessel certificated have 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,

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

I have the honor to add that it will be understood by my Government that on the receipt of a communication signed by Your Excellency expressing the concurrence of the Royal Italian Government in the understanding of the Government of the United States as above set forth, the agreement in question will become effective.

Accept [etc.]

Alexander Kirk
  1. Not printed.