Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

848A.24/445

The Department of State to the South African Legation

Memorandum

Negotiations have been pending for a considerable period of time between the Government of the Union of South Africa and the Government of the United States with reference to the conclusion of an Agreement on the Provision of Mutual Aid. The progress of events, and particularly the evolution of the financial situation of the Government of the Union of South Africa, has led the Government of the United States to the conclusion that all forms of mutual aid provided by one Government to the other in the course of the war should be financed at this time by cash payments in both directions.

It is intended that this decision be prospective in effect from February 15, 1944, and that the terms and conditions on which war aid was received by the two Governments from each other before that date be determined in accordance with the principles set forth in the Preliminary Mutual Aid Agreement between the United States and Great Britain, dated February 23, 1942,² through an exchange of notes in the form of the draft accompanying this Memorandum.

The supply agencies of the United States Government will continue to be available to the Government of the Union of South Africa for assistance in the handling or facilitating the procurement of necessary supplies in every practicable way.

Washington , May 8, 1944.

[Enclosure]

Proposed Draft of Note From the South African Minister to the Secretary of State

With reference to the aid received before February 15, 1944, by the Government of the Union of South Africa from the Government of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress of March 11, 1941,³ and the mutual aid extended on like terms to the United States by the Government of the Union of South Africa, I refer to the agreement signed at Washington on February 23, 1942, between the Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom on principles applying to mutual aid in the present war authorized and provided for by the Act of Congress of March 11, 1941, and have the honor to inform you that the Government of the Union of South Africa accepts the principles therein contained as governing the provision of mutual aid between itself and the Government of the United States of America.

If the Government of the United States of America concurs in the foregoing, I would suggest that the present note and your reply to that effect be regarded as placing on record the understanding of our two Governments in this matter.

2. Signed at Washington; for text, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 241, or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1433. For correspondence on negotiation of the Agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, pp. 525 ff.
3. Lend Lease Act, 55 Stat. 31.