Executive Agreement Series No. 35
858.8561/5
The American Minister in Sweden (Morehead) to the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ramel) 12
Excellency: Referring to Minister Gyllensward’s note of June 29, 1931,13 expressing the willingness of the Government of the King to conclude a reciprocal load line agreement with my Government, I have the honor, acting under instructions from my Government, to inform Your Excellency that the competent executive authorities of my Government have examined the Swedish load line regulations and have found them to be effective as the United States load line regulations.
I am also instructed to state to Your Excellency that my Government is prepared to agree that, pending the coming into force of the international load line convention14 in the United States and Sweden, the competent authorities of the Governments of the United States and Sweden, respectively, will recognize as equivalent the load line marks and the certificate of such marking of merchant vessels of the other country made pursuant to the regulations in force in the [Page 604] respective countries: 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,
have made the vessel manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without danger to human life.
I am also desired to state that my Government is prepared to agree that the competent authorities of the Governments of the United States and Sweden, respectively, will recognize load lines applicable to tankers and to vessels of special type which have been determined in accordance with tanker and vessels of special type rules as set forth in the international load line convention of 1930. In this connection my Government is desirous that the Government of Sweden agree that the load line certificates of Swedish tankers and Swedish vessels of special type contain information, when applicable, to the effect that the load line marks are located in accordance with the terms and conditions of the international load line convention of July 5, 1930.
I am further desired to state that it will be understood by my Government that on the receipt by the Legation of a note from Your Excellency expressing the concurrence of the Government of Sweden in the agreement and understanding as above set forth, the reciprocal agreement will be regarded as having become effective.
I avail myself [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in Sweden in his despatch No. 512, June 3, 1932; received June 22.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Signed at London, July 5, 1930, Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. i, p. 261.↩