INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [59 STAT. The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON May 19, 1945 MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 19, 1945 in which you state that in respect to the price arrangements contained in para- Ante, p. 1644. graph B of the Schedule attached to the Lend-Lease Agreement of April 17,1945 between the United States and Belgium, your Govern- ment would expect to obtain the benefit of comparable price provisions contained in a similar Agreement between the United States and any other country. The Government of the United States has the intention of treating each country in its individual relationship with the United States fairly and equitably in all matters pertaining to lend-lease and the general procurement of supplies in the United States. However, the United States does not consider it necessary that comparable arrange- ments in similar agreements between the United States and any other country should contain identical or equally favorable provisions. It is sufficient that the individual lend-lease arrangements established be- tween the United States and each country shall be reasonable. The relatively temporary character of lend-lease, the numerous and dis- similar factors involved in the lend-lease relationships of the United States and the rapidly changing war situation compel this Govern-
ment to retain freedom of action in negotiating individual lend-lease agreements. Sincerely yours, JOSEPII C. GREW Acting Secretary His Excellency Baron ROBERT SILVERCRUYS, Belgian Ambassador. The Belgian Ambassador to the Secretary of State AMBASSADE DE BELGIQUE WASHINGTON, April 17, 1945. SIM: 55 stat. 1600. In the United Nations declaration of January 1,1942, the contracting governments pledged themselves to employ their full resources, mili- tary and economic, against those nations with which they are at war; 5 Stat. 1504. and in the Agreement of June 16, 1942, each contracting government undertook to provide the other with such articles, services, facilities or information useful in the prosecution of their common war under- taking as each may be in a position to supply. It is further the understanding of the Government of Belgium that the general prin- ciple to be followed in providing mutual aid as set forth in the said Agreement of June 16, 1942, is that the war production and the war 1652
�
