Text of bill proposing aid to Britain (1-19-41)

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The Pittsburgh Press (January 19, 1941)

COMPLETE TEXT OF BILL PROPOSING AID TO BRITAIN

Editor’s note:
We print herewith the full text of House Resolution 1776 – the measure otherwise referred to as the “all-out” bill for aid to Britain and her allies, or as the “lend-lease” bill. Hearings on this measure have been started by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It will soon be before the House for debate, and then will proceed to hearings and debate in the Senate. We suggest that you clip and save this text, for understanding reference as the discussions in Congress go forward. It will enable you to follow any possible modifications of President Roosevelt’s original proposal as set forth in this bill, which was introduced in the House by Democratic Leader McCormack of Massachusetts, and in identical form in the Senate by Democratic Leader Barkley of Kentucky.

A BILL
Further to promote the defense of the United States, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States.”

SECTION 2
As used in this Act –
a) The term “defense 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 subsection;

  3. Any component material or part of or equipment for any article described in this subsection;

  4. Any agricultural, industrial or other commodity or article for defense. Such term “defense article” includes any article described in this subsection: 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 “defense information” means any plan, specification, design, prototype, or information pertaining to any defense article.

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 defense, authorize 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, to the extent to which funds are made available therefor, or contracts are authorized from time to time by the Congress, or both, any defense article for the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.

  2. To sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government any defense article.

  3. To test, inspect, prove, repair, outfit, recondition, or otherwise to place in good working order, to the extent to which funds are made available therefor, or contracts are authorized from time to time by the Congress, or both, any defense article for any such government, or to procure any or all such services by private contract.

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

  5. To release for export any defense article to any such government.

b) The terms and conditions upon which any such foreign government receives any aid authorized 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 or property, or any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory.

SECTION 4
All contracts or agreements made for the disposition of any defense article or defense 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 defense article or defense information by gift, sale, or otherwise, or permit its use by anyone not an officer, employee, or agent of such foreign government.

SECTION 5
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 defense article or defense 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 authorized to be appropriated from time to time, out of any 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 defense article or defense 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; but in no event shall any funds so received be available for expenditure after June 30, 1946.

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 defense article or defense information fully protect the rights of all citizens of the United States who have patent rights in and to any such article or information which is hereby authorized to be disposed of and the payments collected for royalties on such patents shall be paid to the owners and holders of such patents.

SECTION 8
The Secretaries of War and of the Navy are hereby authorized 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 interests of the defense 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 he shall direct.

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