Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 2.djvu/956

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59 STAT.] NETHERLANDS-MUTUAL AID -APR . 30 , 1945 I am pleased to state that the views of your Government coincide with those held by the Government of the Kingdom of the Nether- lands in respect to these matters. Sincerely yours, W. v . BOETZELAER. Minister of the Netherlands The Honorable JOSEPH C. GREW Acting Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. The Netherlands Minister to the Acting Secretary of State NETHERLANDS EMBASSY WASHINGTON, D . 0. WASHINGTON, April SOth, 1945. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Some questions of interpretation have arisen with respect to the language of my note to you dated April 30, 1945, setting forth the understanding of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands of the principles and procedures applicable to the provision of aid by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the armed forces of the United States. I am, therefore, giving you the interpre- tation placed by my Government on those questions, and I would appreciate an expression from you whether or not you agree to these interpretations: 1. The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, taking into consideration its own potentialities and responsibilities, retains the final decision as to the scope, extent and duration of its provision of aid to the armed forces of the United States. 2. As regards services and supplies procured by the armed forces of the United States either by direct requisition or by use of the funds or credits made available under the terms of Section 4 of my note, the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands retains the right of deciding whether or not they can be provided as reverse lend-lease. Finally, I want to state that although the Government of the King- dom of the Netherlands is fully prepared to give reciprocal aid up to the limits of its possibilities, the extent of reciprocal aid will necessarily depend on the economic situation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after its liberation from enemy occupation, on the flow of imported supplies and on the development of its foreign exchange position. Sincerely yours, W. V. BOETZELAER. Minister of the Netherlands The Honorable Mr. JOSEPH C. GREW, Acting Secretary of State, Washington, D.C. 1639