BULLETIN WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, January 27, 1920. Section. I II Adaptation of temporary buildings for use as officers' quarters___ General Settlement Agreement dated Nov. 25, 1919, between the United States War Department and the Republic of France_-_ I__Adaptation of temporary buildings for use as officers' quarters.-1. All post, camp, cantonment, and station commanders are authorized to use material and troop labor on hand and available to make certain changes in the interior of unused temporary buildings such as will not make them permanently unfit for the purpose for which they were originally constructed. These changes will be for the purpose of adapting these buildings for temporary use as officers' and noncommissioned officers' quarters. No additional civilian labor will be hired for this purpose. If sufficient material is not on hand, application may be made to the Chief of the Construction Division for the shipment of material from other camps. Attention is directed to the desirability of providing for young unmarried officers and noncommissioned officers assembly rooms in connection with their mess halls or living quarters, where they can enjoy the comforts and conveniences now being provided by other agencies for other members of the command. 2. In event that material is not available after application to the Chief of the Construction Division, application may be made to The Adjutant General of the Army for authority to salvage uncompleted units of construction in the camp or station, or for the salvage of other units where it can be shown that they are unnecessary for the proper functioning of the camp or station for training troops; the material obtained thereby to be used in carrying out the provisions of this section. This salvaging will not be done until receipt of authority from The Adjutant General of the Army. 3. The Construction Division and its local representatives will cooperate to the fullest extent in making possible the furnishing of comfortable living quarters for officers and noncommissioned officers at the camps and cantonments now occupied by troops. The Construction Division is authorized to make such shipments of material as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. [600.4, A. G. O.] II__General Settlement Agreement dated November 25, 1919, between the United States War Department and the Republic 161191-20 Sec. 2 amended by Sec. IV. Bul. 21, 1928 2 of France.-1. The attention of all concerned is directed to the following extract from the General Settlement Agreement entered into by the United States War Department and the Republic of France on November 25, 1919: "Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the agreement on the part of America to pay France the said sum of one billion, four hundred eighty-eight million, six hundred and nineteen thousand and twenty-seven francs and fiftytwo centimes (Frs. 1,488,619,027.52) and the agreement on the part of France to pay America the said sum of one hundred seventy-seven million, one hundred forty-nine thousand, eight hundred sixty-six and 86/100 ($177,149,866.86) Dollars, it is mutually agreed between the parties hereto as follows: "Article I. The Republic of France does hereby fully, completely and in all things release and discharge the United States of America, and the United States of America does hereby fully, completely and in all things release and discharge the Republic of France, in respect of the transactions aforesaid, from all bills, accounts, claims, obligations, demands, rights, causes of action, suits and controversies of every nature whatsoever which either party now has against the other, or which may hereafter arise, whether by reason of or in any wise incident to or growing out of the delivery or contract for the delivery of materials, supplies or equipment, or for services rendered or contracted to be rendered, or for the occupation and use of all public properties of France and all damages thereto or otherwise, initiated, arising or accruing during the said War Period between the said War Department on the one part and the Republic of France on the other part. "Article II. Nothing hereinbefore contained shall be held or construed to in anywise annul, alter, modify or affect the obligations of France held by America or the obligations of either party hereto arising out of the following special contracts or agreements, namely: (a) The contract between America and France dated August 1st, 1919, whereby America sold and France purchased certain properties therein referred to, France agreeing to pay therefor the sum of Four hundred million ($400,000,000) dollars, with interest thereon, at the time and under the terms mentioned therein; (b) The contract between America and France for the settlement of Railroad Transportation and other claims, dated October 1st, 1919, in which America agrees to pay France 3 the sum of Four hundred thirty-four million, nine hundred eighty-five thousand, three hundred eighty-nine and 73/100 (Frs. 434,985,389.73) francs; (c) The contract between America and France for the settlement of all Port Dues and similar claims, dated October 1st, 1919, in which America agrees to pay France the sum of Three Million (3,000,000 Frs.) francs; (d) All contracts, agreements or arrangements entered into between America and France for or in connection with sales made by America to France in the United States since November 11th, 1918. "Article III. This contract shall not operate as a release or modification of or in any wise affect whatever claim France may now have against America growing out of services rendered by France to America during the War Period (April 6, 1917, to Aug. 20, 1919) in connection with the ocean transportation of American troops. "Article IV. This contract shall not be construed to relate to or in any wise affect claims or demands howsoever arising between the nationals of either country, on the one part, and the parties hereto, or either of them, or their nationals, on the other part. Neither shall it in any wise affect transactions pertaining to any department or departments, agency or agencies of the Government of the United States of America other than the said War Department and all of the agencies of the said War Department and the American Army and all of its branches and agencies." 2. Particular attention is directed to the fact that this general settlement agreement covers all claims, bills, accounts, obligations, demands et cetera, of every nature and description, for goods sold or delivered, for services rendered or contracted to be rendered, for the occupation or use of public properties, and damages thereto, initiated or accruing during the period from April 6, 1917, to August 20, 1919. The claims, et cetera, which are included in this agreement may be either (a) actually pending or (b) existing but not presented. 3. The rule to be adopted will be that all claims, et cetera, between the War Department of the United States and the Republic of France have been disposed of by this general settlement agreement, save only those expressly excepted in Articles II, III, and IV of the Agreement, or unless arising prior to April 6, 1917, or subsequent to August 20, 1919. 4 4. In the event that any claim, bill, account, et cetera, is presented by the Republic of France, through any of its agents, to any section, branch or subdivision of the War Department, acknowledgment should be made of the receipt of this claim, bill, et cetera, but the communication making such acknowledgment must also contain a statement that future communications in reference to the matter should be addressed to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic, Munitions Building, Washington, D. C. Under no circumstances will the person receiving such bill, claim, et cetera, commit the United States to make payment thereof. The documents constituting the claim, bill, et cetera, presented by the French Republic will promptly be forwarded to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic, together with a copy of any acknowledgment written to the French representatives by that section, branch, or subdivision of the War Department. Any further communication which the section, branch, or subdivision may thereafter receive in regard to such claim, bill, et cetera, will likewise be submitted to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic, for action. 5. In the event that any claim, bill, account, et cetera, in behalf of the United States against the Republic of France, other than those expressly excepted in the contract of general settlement, shall exist or still be pending, a statement setting forth the facts, together with documents relating thereto, will be prepared by the proper section, branch, or subdivision of the War Department and will be forwarded to the Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic, for appropriate action. 6. The claims, bills, accounts, demands, et cetera, expressly excepted from the effect of the Settlement Agreement and which are to be forwarded to the French Republic or its agents, must be transmitted through the Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic. BULLETIN } WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, February 9, 1920. Act of Congress-Repeal of first proviso of section 12 of national defense act relating to selection of ordnance sergeants...----. Act of Congress-Aid to State and Territorial homes for disabled soldiers and sailors----. Section. I II III Act of Congress-Amendment of Army appropriation act approved I An Act To increase the efficiency of the Military Establishment of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1110, Revised Statutes, and the first proviso of section 12 of the Act entitled "An Act for making further and more effectual provision for the national defense, and for other purposes," approved June 3, 1916, be, and the same hereby are, repealed. Approved, January 24, 1920. [032.01, A. G. 0.1 II An Act To amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide aid to State or Territorial homes for the support of disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States," approved August 27, 1888, as amended March 2, 1889. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1 of an Act entitled "An Act to provide aid to State or Territorial homes for the support of disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States," approved August 27, 1888, as amended March 2, 1889, is hereby amended to read as follows: "That all States or Territories which have established, or which shall hereafter establish, State homes for disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States who served in the Civil War or in any previous or subsequent war who are disabled by age, disease, or otherwise, and by reason of such disability are incapable of earning a living, provided such disability was not incurred in service against the United States, shall be paid for every such disabled soldier or sailor who may be admitted and cared for in such home at the rate of $120 per annum. "The number of such persons for whose care any State or Territory shall receive the said payment under this Act shall be ascertained by the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers under such regulations as it may 163799°-20 |