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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Executive Order of President Woodrow Wilson

Executive Order

     In Pursuance of the authority conferred upon the President of the United States by the Act approved June 15, 1917, entitled, “An Act making appropriations to supply urgent deficiencies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, and for purposes,” the Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized and directed to take over, on behalf of the United States, possession of all tackle, apparel, furniture and equipment and all stores, including bunker fuel, aboard each of the vessels of Netherlands registry now lying within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, possession of which was taken in accordance with the proclamation of the President of the United States promulgated March 20, 1918;1 and in every instance in which such possession has heretofore been taken of such tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment and stores, such taking is hereby adopted and made of the same force and effect as if it has been made subsequent to the signing of this Executive Order.

     The United States Shipping Board shall make to the owners of any tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment and stores taken under the authority of this order full compensation in accordance with the principles of international law.2

Woodrow Wilson

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     March 28, 1918.

[No. 2825-A.]

 

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: Executive Order No. 1436, 20 March 1918. For more on the American seizure of the Dutch ships, see: William S. Benson to Sims, 16 March 1918.

Footnote 2: The next day, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels issued a directive implementing this order. See, Daniels to Alnav, 29 March 1918, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

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