Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§504 Transfer of hemisphere territory from one non-American power to another; recognition; consultation with American Republics

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 10— - HEMISPHERAL RELATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 504

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States will not accept or go along with any transfer of land in the Americas from one country outside the Americas to another such country. If such a transfer seems likely, the United States must immediately talk with the other American republics to decide what steps to take to protect their shared interests.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §504

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Purpose of EnactmentThe “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’:”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 504

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73