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World
War Two:
Lend Lease
Agreement
(February
23, 1942)
Lend-Lease
Agreement
Lend-Lease
Map
Preliminary Agreement Between the United States
and the United Kingdom, February 23, 1942
Whereas the Governments of the United States of
America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland declare that they are engaged in a
cooperative undertaking, together with every other
nation or people of like mind, to the end of laying
the bases of a just and enduring world peace
securing order under law to themselves and all
nations;
And whereas the President of the United States
of America has determined, pursuant to the Act of
Congress of March 11, 1941, that the defense of the
United Kingdom against aggression is vital to the
defense of the United States of America;
And whereas the United States of America has
extended and is continuing to extend to the United
Kingdom aid in resisting aggression;
And whereas it is expedient that the final
determination of the terms and conditions upon
which the Government of the United Kingdom receives
such aid and of the benefits to be received by the
United States of America in return therefor should
be deferred until the extent of the defense aid is
known and until the progress of events makes
clearer the final terms and conditions and benefits
which will be in the mutual interests of the United
States of America and the United Kingdom and will
promote the establishment and maintenance of world
peace;
And whereas the Governments of the United States
of America and the United Kingdom are mutually
desirous of concluding now a preliminary agreement
in regard to the provision of defense aid and m
regard to certain considerations which shall be
taken into account in determining such terms and
conditions and the making of such an agreement has
been in all respects duly authorized, and all acts,
conditions and formalities which it may have been
necessary to perform, fulfil or execute prior to
the making of such an agreement in conformity with
the laws either of the United States of America or
of the United Kingdom have been performed,
fulfilled or executed as required;
The undersigned, being duly authorized by their
respective Governments for that purpose, have
agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
The Government of the United States of America
will continue to supply the Government of the
United Kingdom with such defense articles, defense
services, and defense information as the President
shall authorize to be transferred or provided.
ARTICLE II
The Government of the United Kingdom will
continue to contribute to the defense of the United
States of America and the strengthening thereof and
will provide such articles, services, facilities or
information as it may be in a position to
supply.
ARTICLE III
The Government of the United Kingdom will not
without the consent of the President of the United
States of America transfer title to, or possession
of, any defense article or defense information
transferred to it under the Act or permit the use
thereof by anyone not an officer, employee, or
agent of the Government of the United Kingdom.
ARTICLE IV
If, as a result of the transfer to the
Government of the United Kingdom of any defense
article or defense information, it becomes
necessary for that Government to take any action or
make any payment in order fully to protect any of
the rights of a citizen of the United States of
America who has patent rights in and to any such
defense article or information, the Government of
the United Kingdom will take such action or make
such payment when requested to do so by the
President of the United States of America.
ARTICLE V
The Government of the United Kingdom will return
to the United States of America at the end of the
present emergency, as determined by the President,
such defense articles transferred under this
Agreement as shall not have been destroyed, lost or
consumed and as shall be determined by the
President to be useful in the defense of the United
States of America or of the Western Hemisphere or
to be otherwise of use to the United States of
America.
ARTICLE VI
In the final determination of the benefits to be
provided to the United States of America by the
Government of the United Kingdom full cognizance
shall be taken of all property, services,
information, facilities, or other benefits or
considerations provided by the Government of the
United Kingdom subsequent to March 11, 1941, and
accepted or acknowledged by the President on behalf
of the United States of America.
ARTICLE VII
In the final determination of the benefits to be
provided to the United States of America by the
Government of the United Kingdom in return for aid
furnished under the Act of Congress of March 11,
1941, the terms and conditions thereof shall be
such as not to burden commerce between the two
countries, but to promote mutually advantageous
economic relations between them and the betterment
of world-wide economic relations. To that end, they
shall include provision for agreed action by the
United States of America and the United Kingdom,
open to participation by all other countries of
like mind, directed to the expansion, by
appropriate international and domestic measures, of
production, employment, and the exchange and
consumption of goods, which are the material
foundations of the liberty and welfare of all
peoples; to the elimination of all forms of
discriminatory treatment in international commerce,
and to the reduction of tariffs and other trade
barriers; and, in general, to the attainment of all
the economic objectives set forth in the Joint
Declaration made on August 14, 1941, by the
President of the United States of America and the
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
At an early convenient date, conversations shall
be begun between the two Governments with a view to
determining, in the light of governing economic
conditions, the best means of attaining the above
stated objectives by their own agreed action and of
seeking the agreed action of other like-minded
Governments.
ARTICLE VIII
This Agreement shall take effect as from this
day's date. It shall continue in force until a date
to be agreed upon by the two Governments.
Signed and sealed at Washington in duplicate
this twenty-third day of February 1942.
For the Government of the United States of
America:
SUMNER WELLES
Acting Secretary of State of the United States
of America.
For the Government of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
HALIFAX
His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary at Washington.
Source:
Avalon
Project
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