No. 73.
Excellencies:
I have the honor to refer to our recent discussions regarding the manner in which
our two Governments, as parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, may further the objectives
of Article III of that Treaty to strengthen their individual and collective capacity
to resist armed attack through the stationing of United States armed forces in The
Netherlands. I have the honor to inform Your Excellencies that the Government of the
United States is willing to conclude with the Government of The Netherlands an agreement
on the following terms.
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1. The Governments of the United States and the Netherlands agree that the United States
Government may station its forces in The Netherlands, as may be mutually determined,
in furtherance of the objectives of the North Atlantic Treaty.
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2. The Netherlands Government will, without cost to the United States, provide land areas
and utilities connections, including access roads, agreed to be necessary for the
purposes of this agreement. The other expenses involved in carrying out this agreement
shall be borne by the United States and the Netherlands Governments in proportions
to be determined between them. Use of the utilities and services required by United
States forces will be facilitated by the Netherlands Government. When at the expense
of the United States Government, charges for the use of such utilities and charges
for services requested and rendered will be no higher than those paid by the Netherlands
armed services.
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3. Title to removable equipment, materials and supplies brought into, or acquired in,
The Netherlands by or on behalf of the United States in connection with this agreement
will remain in the United States Government. This property will be free from all duties,
inspections and other restrictions, whether on import or export, and from all taxes.
At the termination of any operation under this agreement, the United States will be
compensated by the Netherlands Government for the residual value, if any, of installations
developed at the expense of the United States under this agreement. The amount and
manner of compensation shall be determined between the appropriate authorities of
the two Governments.
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4. The provisions of the Agreement signed at London on June 19, 1951, Between the Parties
to the North Atlantic Treaty Regarding the Status of Their Forces, together with such
understandings as the two Governments may reach concerning the implementation of these
provisions, shall govern the status of United States forces in The Netherlands.
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5. It is recognized that the provisions of the exchange of notes on relief from taxes
signed at The Hague on March 7, 1952, as supplemented, are applicable to expenditures
made by or on behalf of the United States for the purpose of this agreement.
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6. The arrangements referred to in this note will remain in effect for the duration of
the North Atlantic Treaty, or until such time as the two Governments mutually agree
upon their termination.
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7. After the approval constitutionally required in The Netherlands has been obtained,
the present agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt by the United
States Government of a relevant notification from the Netherlands Government.
If the foregoing provisions and the Annex attached hereto are acceptable to your Government,
this note and Your Excellencies' reply thereto indicating such acceptance shall be
honored as constituting the agreement of our two Governments concerning this matter.
Please accept, Excellencies, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
(s.) FREEMAN MATTHEWS.
American Embassy,
The Hague, August 13, 1954.
Their Excellencies
J. W, Beyen, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
and
J. M. A. H. Luns, Minister without Portfolio,
Royal Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
The Hague.
