TEXT OF AID FOR BRITAIN BILL

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1941, Page 4

TEXT OF AID FOR BRITAIN BILL

House Resolution 1776, which is better known by the title of the Aid to Britain Bill, has now been signed by President Roosevelt. Though there has been much news about this historic measure, the text of the original Bill has just arrived in this country, and in view' of its exceptional import-

ance it is .printed below: A Bill to further promote the defence of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and Hou!;e of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may .be cited as “an Act to promote the defence of the United States.” Section 2.—As used in this Act — (a) The term “defence article” means:

(1) Any weapon, munition, aircraft, vessel, or boat; (2) Any machinery, facility, tool, material, or supply necessary for the manufacture, production, processing, repair, servicing, or operation of any article described in this sub-section;

(3) Any component material or part of or equipment for any article described in this sub-section; (4) Any other commodity or article for defence. Such term “defence article” includes any article described in this sub-section, manufactured or procured! pursuant to section 3; or to which the United States or any foreign Government has or hereafter acquires title, possession, or control. (b) The term “defence information” means any plan, specification, design, prototype, or information pertaining to any defence article.

Export of Arms Section 3 (a).—Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the President may, from time to time, when he deems it in the interest of national defence, authorise the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the head of any other department or agency of the Government: (1) To manufacture in arsenals, factories. and shipyards, under their jurisdiction, or otherwise procure, any defence article for the Government ol any country whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the United States.

(2) To sell, transfer, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such Government any defence article, (3) To test, inspect, pi’ove, repair, outfit, recondition, or otherwise to place in good working order any defence article for any such Government.

(4) To communicate to any such Government any defence information, pertaining to any defence article furnished to such Government under paragraph <2) of this subsection.

(5) To release for export any defence article to any such Government. (b) The terms and conditions upon which any such foreign Government receives any aid authorised under subsection (a) shall be those which the President deems satisfactory, and the benefit to the United States may be payment or repayment in kind oi property, or any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory. Section 4.—A1l contracts or agreements made for the disposition of any defence article or defence information pursuant to section 3 shall contain a clause by which the foreign Government undertakes that it will not without the consent of the President, transfer title to or possession of such defence article or defence information by gift, sale, or otherwise, or permit its use by any one not an officer, employee, or agent of such foreign Government.

Financial Provisions

Section s.—The Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the head of any other department or agency of the Government involved shall, when any such defence article or defence information is exported, immediately inform the department or agency designated by the President to administer section 6 of the Act of July 2, 1940 (54 stat. 714), of the quantities, character, value, terms of disposition, and destination of the article and information so exported.

Section 6 (a).—There is hereby authorised to be appropriated from time to time, out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and accomplish the purposes of this Act. (b) All money and all property which is converted into money, received under section 3 from any Government shall, with the approval of the Director of the Budget, revert to the respective appropriation or appropriations out of which funds were expended with respect to the defence article or defence information for which such consideration is received, and shall be available for expenditure for the purpose for which such expended funds were appropriated by law, during the fiscal year in which such funds are received and the ensuing fiscal year. Section 7.—The Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the head of the department or agency shall in all contracts or agreements for the disposition of any defence article or defence information fully project the rights of all citizens of the United States- who have patent rights in and' to any such article or information which is hereby authorised to be disposed of and the payments collected for royalties on such patents shall be paid to the owner and holders of such patents. Acquiring Weapons

The Secretary of War and of the Navy are hereby authorised to purchase or otherwise acquire arms, ammunition, and implements of war produced within the jurisdiction of any country to which section 3 is applicable, whenever the President deems such purchase or acquisition to be necessary in the interest of the defence of the United States.

Section 9.—The President may, from time to time, promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper to carry out any of the provisions of this Act; and he may exercise any power or authority conferred on him by this Act through such department, agency, or officer as shall direct.

There has been virtually no change in the substance of the measure as it has been passed by Congress, and the chief modifications have been mentioned in the news columns.