§ 504. — Transfer of hemisphere territory from one nonAmerican power to another; recognition; consultation with American Republics.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC504]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 10--HEMISPHERAL RELATIONS
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERALLY
Sec. 504. Transfer of hemisphere territory from one non-American
power to another; recognition; consultation with American
Republics
(1) The United States would not recognize any transfer, and would
not acquiesce in any attempt to transfer, any geographic region of this
hemisphere from one non-American power to another non-American power;
and
(2) If such transfer or attempt to transfer should appear likely,
the United States shall, in addition to other measures, immediately
consult with the other American republics to determine upon the steps
which should be taken to safeguard their common interests.
(Apr. 10, 1941, ch. 49, 55 Stat. 133.)
Purpose of Enactment
The ``whereas'' clauses preceding the resolving words in Joint Res.
Apr. 10, 1941, provided as follows:
``Whereas our traditional policy has been to consider any attempt on
the part of non-American powers to extend their system to any portion of
this hemisphere as dangerous to the peace and safety not only of this
country but of the other American republics; and
``Whereas the American republics agreed at the Inter-American
Conference for the Maintenance of Peace held in Buenos Aires in 1936 and
at the Eighth International Conference of American States held in Lima
in 1938 to consult with one another in the event that the peace,
security, or territorial integrity of any American republic should be
threatened; and
``Whereas the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American
Republics at Panama October 3, 1939, resolved `That in case any
geographic region of America subject to the jurisdiction of any non-
American state should be obliged to change its sovereignty and there
should result therefrom a danger to the security of the American
Continent, a consultative meeting such as the one now being held will be
convoked with the urgency that the case may require':''.
