856.24/63¾
Lend-Lease Agreement Between the United States and the Netherlands
Whereas the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands declare that, with self-restraint and sober purpose, they are engaged in a cooperative undertaking, together with every other [Page 809] nation or people of like mind, to the end of laying the bases of a just and enduring world peace securing order under law to themselves and all nations;
And whereas the President of the United States of America has determined, pursuant to the Act of Congress of March 11, 1941, that the defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands against further aggression is vital to the defense of the United States of America;
And whereas the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are mutually desirous of concluding an agreement for the providing of defense articles and defense information by either country to the other country, and the making of such an agreement has been in all respects duly authorized, and all acts, conditions and formalities which it may have been necessary to perform, fulfil or execute prior to the making of such an agreement in conformity with the laws either of the United States of America or of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have been performed, fulfilled or executed as required;
The undersigned, being duly authorized for that purpose, have agreed as follows:
Article I
The United States of America will supply the Kingdom of the Netherlands with such defense articles and defense information as the President shall authorize to be transferred.
Article II
The Kingdom of the Netherlands will, until further notice, pay in advance for all defense articles and defense information requested by it and the transfer of which has been authorized. The United States of America, however, reserves the right at any time to suspend, defer, or stop deliveries of such articles or information whenever in the opinion of the President further deliveries are not consistent with the needs of the defense of the United States of America.
Records shall be kept of all defense articles transferred under this Agreement, and not less than every ninety days schedules of such defense articles shall be exchanged and reviewed.
Article III
The Kingdom of the Netherlands will not, without the consent of the President of the United States of America, transfer title to or possession of any defense article or defense information transferred to the Kingdom of the Netherlands under this Agreement, or permit its use by anyone not an officer, employee, or agent of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
[Page 810]Article IV
If, as a result of the transfer to the Kingdom of the Netherlands of any defense articles or defense information, it becomes necessary for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to take any action or make any payment in order fully to protect any of the rights of a citizen of the United States of America who has patent rights in and to any such article or information, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will take such action or make such payment when requested to do so by the President of the United States of America.
Article V
In the event that circumstances arise in which the United States of America in its own defense or in the defense of the Americas shall require defense articles or defense information which the Kingdom of the Netherlands is in a position to supply, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will make such defense articles or defense information available to the United States of America on terms similar to the terms expressed above in this Agreement.
Article VI
This Agreement shall continue in force from the date on which it is signed until a date agreed upon between the two Governments.
For the United States of America:
Secretary of State of the United States of America
For the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Her Majesty the Queen of The Netherlands at Washington