(a)The President may, in his discretion, authorize the Secretary of the Army to manufacture in factories and arsenals under his jurisdiction, or otherwise procure, coast-defense and antiaircraft matériel, including ammunition therefor, on behalf of the government of any American republic; to sell such matériel and ammunition to any such government; to test or prove such matériel and ammunition prior to sale or delivery to any such government; to repair such matériel on behalf of any such government; and to communicate to any such government plans, specifications, or other information relating to such matériel and ammunition as may be sold to any such government.
(b)The President may, in his discretion, authorize the Secretary of the Navy to construct vessels of war on behalf of the government of any American republic in shipyards under his jurisdiction; to manufacture armament and equipment for such vessels on behalf of any such government in arsenals under his jurisdiction; to sell armament and equipment for such vessels to any such government; to manufacture antiaircraft artillery and ammunition therefor, on behalf of any such government in factories and arsenals under his jurisdiction; to sell antiaircraft artillery and ammunition therefor to any such government; to test or prove such vessels, armament, artillery, ammunition, or equipment prior to sale or delivery to any such government; to repair such vessels, armament, artillery, or equipment on behalf of any such government; and to communicate to any such government plans, specifications, and other information relating to such vessels of war and their armament and equipment or antiaircraft artillery and ammunition therefor, as may be sold to any such government or relating to any vessels of war which any such government may propose to construct or manufacture within its own jurisdiction: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall be construed as authorizing the violation of any of the provisions of any treaty to which the United States is or may become a party or of any established principles or precedents of international law: And provided further, That no transaction authorized herein shall result in expense to the United States, nor involve the extension of credits by the United States: And provided further, That no contract shall be entered into under the terms of this subchapter which shall interfere with or delay the United States in the full use of its shipyards, arsenals, munition plants, and other equipment for its own purposes.
