EXCHANGE OF LETTERS REGARDING REpurchase OF BELGIAN FRANCS The Belgian Ambassador to the Acting Secretary of the Treasury AMBASSADE DE BELGIQUE D.1056 No. 8112 MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: WASHINGTON, September 24th, 1946 Reference is made to the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Belgium regarding the purchase of Belgian francs for use by the United States Armed Forces, executed in Washington on September 24th, 1946. I have been instructed by my Government to advise you that Belgian francs acquired by finance officers of the United States Armed Forces in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of the agreement referred to above, may be turned over by finance officers of the United States Armed Forces to the Belgian authorities at any time, and such francs will be purchased by the Government of Belgium against dollars at the rate at which they were acquired by such finance officers. Yours sincerely, The Honorable JOSEPH J. O'CONNELL The Belgian Ambassador The Acting Secretary of the Treasury to the Belgian Ambassador THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY SEPTEMBER 24, 1946 MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: Reference is made to your letter to me of September 24, 1946, regarding the repurchase of Belgian francs acquired by finance officers of the United States Armed Forces in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Belgium regarding the Purchase of Belgian Francs for Use by the United States Armed Forces, executed in Washington on September 24, 1946. It is the understanding of the United States Government that in the event of a devaluation of the Belgian franc, the two Governments will cooperate to effect the necessary adjustments expeditiously. In order to prepare for such an eventuality it will be the policy of the United States Government to provide to the Belgian Government relevant information regarding the Belgian franc disbursements and holdings of the military establishment in Belgium. It is the intention of the United States Armed Forces to advise you quarterly through a United States Treasury representative of the amount of francs disbursed for the procurement of goods and services and of the amount of francs reported as in the accounts of Army finance officers. It is our understanding that the obligation of the Belgian Government to repurchase, at the rate of purchase, Belgian francs tendered by the United States Armed Forces shall be limited to the Belgian francs in official United States Armed Forces accounts, and francs held by quasi-official organizations in and under the military establishment. I am pleased to advise you that under new procedures established by the United States Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations on the 16th of September, 1946 the United States Armed Forces are no longer accepting Belgian francs from authorized personnel for their accommodation, except in exceptional cases resulting from the change in procedures and orders. Very truly yours, His Excellency THE AMBASSADOR OF BELGIUM Washington, D.C. JOSEPH J. O'CONNELL, Jr. EXCHANGE OF LETTERS REGARDING RETRANSFER BY BELGIUM TO LUXEM- The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador WASHINGTON September 24, 1946 MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: In the Memorandum of Interpretation, dated April 17, 1945,13 with respect to the agreement between the United States of America and Belgium under Section 3 (c) of the Lend-Lease Act 14 my Government gave its consent to the retransfer by the Government of Belgium to the Government of Luxembourg of articles to be delivered by my Government to the Government of Belgium under the agreement referred to. By a letter of the same date from the Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador my Government pointed out that if it should not be able to conclude arrangements with the Grand 13 EAS 481, ante, p. 599. 14 55 Stat. 32. Duchy of Luxembourg required by the Lend-Lease Act my Government's consent to future retransfers of such articles by the Government of Belgium to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg would have to be qualified or revoked. I now take pleasure in advising you that in consequence of the signing today of the Memorandum of Understanding between our two Governments no requirement of the Lend-Lease Act remains unsatisfied with respect to retransfers of such articles by the Government of Belgium to the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and there will accordingly be no occasion for this Government to qualify or revoke its above-mentioned consent to such retransfers. You will understand, of course, that any contemplated retransfers by the Government of Belgium to the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg of lend-lease supplies of types essentially or exclusively for use in war or warlike exercises will be subject to the provisions of paragraph 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding and will therefore be made only with the consent of my Government. I have your letter of today's date with reference to retransfers by my Government to the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg of articles delivered to my Government by the Government of the United States of America under the Agreement dated April 17, 1945 between our two Governments under Section 3 (c) of the Lend-Lease Act. I take pleasure in noting your assurance that in consequence of the signing today of the Memorandum of Understanding between our two Governments there will be no occasion for your Government to qualify or revoke its previously given consent to such retransfers. My Government shares your understanding that any contemplated retransfers by it to the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg of lend-lease supplies of types essentially or exclusively for use in war or war like exercises will be subject to the provisions of paragraph 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding and will therefore be made only with the consent of your Government. Sincerely yours, The Honorable WILLIAM L. CLAYTON, Acting Secretary of State Washington, D.C. The Belgian Ambassador SILVERCRUYS WAIVER OF VISA FEES FOR NONIMMIGRANTS Exchanges of notes at Brussels March 27 and November 23, 1946, and Entered into force February 17, 1947 Terminated June 22, 1962, by agreement of May 3 and 23, 1962 1 61 Stat. 4117; Treaties and Other International Acts Series 1879 The American Embassy to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs No. 149[631] EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BRUSSELS, BELGIUM The American Embassy at Brussels presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, with reference to the Ministry's letter of January 31, 1946 (No. 2202/pr/ETATS-UNIS), concerning a proposed reciprocal visa fee waiver agreement for non-immigrant travelers, has the honor to quote below a communication dated March 11, 1946, which has been received from the Department of State on the subject: "The Government of the United States is willing to grant gratis passport visas to qualified Belgian nationals who are bearers of valid Belgian passports and who are classifiable as bona fide nonimmigrants under the immigration laws of the United States, if the Belgian Government will waive passport visa fees for qualified nonimmigrants proceeding to Belgian territory and bearing valid passports issued by the Government of the United States. Such an arrangement must be concluded on a fully reciprocal basis in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Congress approved February 25, 1925,2 and the Executive Order of May 15, 1925, which stipulated that arrangements for the waiving or the reduction of passport visa fees shall be accomplished by an exchange of notes and that the concessions granted shall be similar. No arrangement may be concluded affecting the issuance of immigration visas or the fees therefor. "It is noted that the Belgian Government is prepared to waive passport visa fees in cases of applicants for visitor's visas but desires to limit the period 1 13 UST 1246; TIAS 5071. 243 Stat. 976. |