MALACAŃANG PALACE
Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Proclamation No. 553

PUBLISHING THE PROCLAMATIONS AND EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, ALL RELATING TO NEUTRALITY, ISSUED ON APRIL 25, 1940, BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, RESPECTIVELY.

Whereas the President of the United States did, on the 25th day of April, 1940, issue the following proclamations:

1."PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF WAR BETWEEN GERMANY AND NORWAY

"Whereas section 1 of the joint resolution of Congress approved November 4, 1939, provides in part as follows:

"‘That whenever the President, or the Congress by concurrent resolution, shall find that there exists a state of war between foreign states, and that it is necessary to promote the security or preserve the peace of the United States or to protect the lives of citizens of the United States, the President shall issue a proclamation naming the states involved; and he shall, from time to time, by proclamation, name other states as and when they may become involved in the war.’

"And whereas it is further provided by section 13 of the said joint resolution that

"The President may, from time to time, promulgate such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law as may be necessary and proper to carry out any of the provisions of this joint resolution; and he may exercise authority conferred on him by this joint resolution through such officer or officers or agency or agencies, as he shall direct.’

"Now, therefore, I Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, acting under and by virtue of the authority conferred on me by the said joint resolution, do hereby proclaim that a state of war unhappily exists between Germany and Norway, and that it is necessary to promote the security and peace of the United States and to protect the lives of citizens of the United States.

"And I do hereby enjoin upon all officers of the United States, charged with the execution of the roof, the utmost diligence in preventing violations of the said joint resolution and in bringing to trial and punishment any offenders against the same.

"And I do hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the power to exercise any power or authority conferred on me by the said joint resolution, as made effective by this my proclamation issued thereunder, which is not specifically delegated by Executive order to some other officer or agency of this Government, and the power to promulgate such rules and regulations not inconsistent with law as may be necessary and proper to carry out any of its provisions.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

"Done at the City of Washington, this twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-fourth.

"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"By the President:
"Cordell Hull
"Secretary of State;"

2. "PROCLAIMING THE NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAR BETWEEN GERMANY, ON THE ONE HAND, AND NORWAY, ON THE OTHER HAND

"Whereas a state of war unhappily exists between Germany, on the one hand, and Norway, on the other hand;

"Now, therefore, I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, in order to preserve the neutrality of the United States and of its citizens and of persons within its territory and jurisdiction, and to enforce its laws and treaties, and in order that all persons, being warned of the general tenor of the laws and treaties of the United States in this behalf, and of the law of nations, may thus be prevented from any violation of the same, do hereby declare and proclaim that all of the provisions of, my proclamation of September 5, 1939, proclaiming the neutrality of the United States in a war between Germany and France; Poland; and the United Kingdom, India, Australia and New Zealand apply equally in respect to Norway.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

"Done at the City of Washington this twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-fourth.

"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"By the President:
"Cordell Hull
"Secretary of State;"

3. "USE OF PORTS OR TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES BY SUBMARINES OF FOREIGN BELLIGERENT STATES

"Whereas section 11 of the Joint Resolution approved November 4, 1939, provides:

"Whenever, during any war in which the United States is neutral, the President shall find that special restrictions placed on the use of the ports and territorial waters of the United States by the submarines or armed merchant vessels of a foreign state, will serve to maintain peace between the United States and foreign states, or to protect the commercial interests of the United States and its citizens, or to promote the security of the United States, and shall make proclamation thereof, it shall thereafter be unlawful for any such submarine or armed merchant vessel to enter a port or the territorial waters of the United States or to depart therefrom, except under such conditions and subject to such limitations as the President may prescribe. Whenever, in his judgment, the conditions which have caused him to issue his proclamation have ceased to exist, he shall revoke his proclamation and the provisions of this section shall thereupon cease to apply, except as to offenses committed prior to such revocation.’

"Whereas there exists a state of war between Germany and Norway;

"Whereas the United States of America is neutral in such war;

Whereas by my proclamation of November 4, 1939, issued pursuant to the provision of law quoted above, I placed special restrictions on the use of ports and territorial waters of the United States by the submarines of France; Germany; Poland; and the United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa;

"Now, therefore, I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America,a cting under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the foregoing provision of section 11 of the Joint Resolution approved November 4, 1939, do by this proclamation declare and proclaim that the provisions of my proclamation of November 4, 1939, in regard to the use of the ports and territorial waters of the United States, exclusive of the Canal Zone, by the submarines of France; Germany; Poland the United Kingdom, India, Australia. Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, shall also apply to the use of the ports and territorial waters. of the United States, exclusive of the Canal Zone-by the submarines of Norway.

"And I do hereby enjoin upon all officers of the United States, charged with the execution of the laws thereof, the utmost diligence in preventing violations of the said Joint Resolution, and this my proclamation issued thereunder, and in bringing to trial and punishment any offenders against the same.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

"Done at the City of Washington this twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred an fourth.

"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"By the President:
"Cordell Hull
"Secretary of State;

Whereas, the President of the United States did, on the 25th day of April, 1940, issue the following Executive Order:

4. "PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEUTRALITY OF THE UNITED STATES

"Whereas, under the treaties of the United States and the law of nations it is the duty of the United States, in any war in which the United States is a neutral, not to permit the commission of unneutral acts within the jurisdiction of the United States;

"And whereas a proclamation was issued by me on the twenty-fifth day of April declaring the neutrality of the United States of America in the war now existing between Germany, on the one hand, and Norway, on the other hand;

"Now, therefore, in order to make more effective the enforcement of the provisions of said treaties, law of nations, and proclamation, I hereby prescribe that the provisions of my Executive Order No. 8233 of September 5, 1939, prescribing regulations governing the enforcement of the neutrality of the United States, apply equally in respect to Norway.

"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"THE WHITE HOUSE
April 25, 1940;"

And whereas the Secretary of State of the United States did, on the 25th day of April, 1940, issue the following announcements:

5. "REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 2 (c) AND (i) OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS APPROVED NOVEMBER 4, 1939

"The Secretary of State announces that the regulations under section 2 (c) and (i) of the joint resolution of Congress approved November 4, 1939 which he promulgated on November 10 and November 25, 1939, henceforth apply equally in respect to the export or transport of articles and materials to Norway.

"CORDELL HULL
"Secretary of State";

6. "REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION OP CONGRESS APPROVED NOVEMBER 4, 1939

"The Secretary of State announces that the regulations under section 5 of the joint resolution of Congress approved November 4, 1939, which he promulgated on November 6, and amended November 17, 1939, henceforth apply equally in respect to travel by citizens of the United States on vessels of Norway.

CORDELL HULL
"Secretary of State"

7. "RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE SOLICITATION AND COLLECTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR USE IN NORWAY

"The Secretary of State announces that the rules and regulations under section 8 of the joint resolution of Congress approved November 4, 1939, which he promulgated on November 6, 1939, henceforth apply equally to the solicitation and collection of contributions for use in Norway.

"CORDELL HULL
"Secretary of State."

Now, therefore, I, Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, do hereby publish the above proclamations, Executive Order, and announcements for the information and guidance of all concerned.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Commonwealth of the Philippines be affixed.1âwphi1

Done at the City of Manila, this twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty, and of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, the fifth.

MANUEL L. QUEZON
President of the Philippines

By the President:

JORGE B. VARGAS
Secretary to the President


The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation