LOAD-LINE CERTIFICATES-NETHERLANDS. nition by each Government of the load-lines ma.rked and of the certificates issued unc_~r the authority of the other Government, may now be regarded as complete. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. W. R . CASTLE, Jr. Acting Secretary of State. MR. J. H. VAN RoTEN, Minister of the Netherla:ruls. The Netherland Minister (Van Royen) to the Secretary of State (Stimson) No. 2168. LiGATION DES PAys-BAS. Washmgton, D.O ., f!O J'lme lOaf!. Sm: Referring to my note of April 27, 1932,7 No. 1393, regarding the loadline agreement between the Governments of the Netherlands and the United States and to the third paragraph of Your Excellency's letter of April 22, 1932 on the same subject, I have the honor, pur- suant to instructions received from The Hague, to inform you, that, according to article 34 of the Royal Decree of 1929, referred to in articles 5, 9 and 17 of the" Schepenwet" (Netherland Merchant Shipping Act) of July 1, 1909 published in the "Staatsblad" (Offi- cio], Gazette) No. 219 of said year,--o:f which two documents I pre- sented you with a copy by my letter of January 20, 1931,' No. 113,- the Netherland load-line certificates are exclusively issued by the "Commissie tot Vaststelling van de minimum-Uitwatering" (Com- mission for the Determination of loadlines) and never by the classi- fication societies even when recognized in accordance with the "Schepenwet ". These classification bureaux, when recognized by the Netherland Government, act on the subject of the marking of loadlines and the issuance of certificates, only in advisory capacity; however, the advice of the majority of these bureaux is generally followed. I avail my~elf of this opportunity to renew to you Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. THE HONORABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE Washington, D.O. , Not printed. J. H. VAN ROTEN 1761
