Lend-Lease Act

( 1941 ) Commentary by Mark R. Wilson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

“The President may … authorize the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the head of any other department or agency of the Government … to manufacture in arsenals, factories, and shipyards under their jurisdiction, or otherwise procure, to the extent to which funds are made available therefor, or contracts are authorized from time to time by the Congress, or both, any defense article for the government of any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.” - Section 3(a)
“The terms and conditions upon which any such foreign government receives any aid under subsection (a) shall be those which the President deems satisfactory, and the benefit to the United States may be payment or repayment in kind or property, or any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory.” - Section 3(b)
“Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize or to permit the authorization of the entry of any American vessel into a combat area in violation of section 3 of the neutrality Act of 1939.” - Section 3(e)

The Lend-Lease Act (National Archives and Records Administration)

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