This is the one that was worked out with and is agreeable to Sir
Arthur Salter. Brig[adier] Napier of General Dill’s staff also
participated.
Draft Agreement by the President and the Prime
Minister
Joint Memorandum by the
President and the Prime Minister Creating an “Adjustment
Board for the Use of Merchant Ships”
To prosecute the war efficiently, it is necessary and desirable
that our Governments make the fullest and best possible use of
ships under both American and British control in the interest of
all of the United [Page 359]
Nations. To meet this objective, we hereby create “The
Adjustment Board for the Use of Merchant Ships”.
This Board shall have the following composition and powers:
a) Mr. . . . . . will be the United States
member of the Board. Sir Arthur Salter, as representing the
Minister of War Transport, will be the British member. The
members shall have the power to appoint the staff which is
necessary to carry out the responsibilities vested in the
Board.
b) Subject to such instructions as its
members receive from their respective Governments, the Board
shall coordinate the use of merchant ships (including tankers)
under American and British control, and make the necessary and
appropriate recommendations as to requisitioning, allocating and
any other ways of securing the best utilization of the shipping
available.
Requests for shipping involving the allocation of vessels
controlled by one country for the service of the other shall be
referred to this Board.
c) The Board shall consult the interested
authorities with a view to obtaining agreement, so far as
possible, as to priorities and allocation.
The policy formulated after such consultation will be subject to
appeal, where necessary, to us, or to such appeal authorities as
are established.
d) The policy so formulated will be
executed by the Maritime Commission, the Ministry of War
Transport and the other appropriate departments of the
Governments.
__________
President
________
Prime Minister
