Title 31Money and FinanceRelease 119-73not60

§3110 Sale of Obligations of Governments of Foreign Countries

Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter 31— PUBLIC DEBT › Subchapter I— BORROWING AUTHORITY › § 3110

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

With the President’s approval, the Treasury Secretary can sell foreign government obligations that were obtained under the First Liberty Bond Act and that matured before June 16, 1947; the Second Liberty Bond Act and that matured before October 16, 1938; or under section 7(a) of the Victory Liberty Loan Act. The Secretary can set the rules and timing for collecting payments on those foreign obligations. Sales must bring at least the original purchase price plus accrued interest. Money from those sales and payments must be used to redeem or buy U.S. bonds issued under this chapter for no more than face value plus accrued interest. If those U.S. bonds cannot be redeemed or bought, the Secretary must redeem or buy other redeemable interest-bearing government securities under the same price limit.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §3110

Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)With the approval of the President, the Secretary of the Treasury may sell obligations of the government of a foreign country when the obligations were acquired under—
(1)the First Liberty Bond Act and matured before June 16, 1947;
(2)the Second Liberty Bond Act and matured before October 16, 1938; or
(3)section 7(a) of the Victory Liberty Loan Act.
(b)The Secretary may prescribe the conditions and frequency for receiving payment under obligations of a government of a foreign country acquired under the laws referred to in subsection (a) of this section. A sale of an obligation acquired under those Acts shall at least equal the purchase price and accrued interest. The proceeds of obligations sold under this section and payments received from governments on the principal of their obligations shall be used to redeem or buy (for not more than par value and accrued interest) bonds of the United States Government issued under this chapter. If those bonds cannot be redeemed or bought, the Secretary shall redeem or buy other outstanding interest-bearing obligations of the Government that are subject to redemption or which can be bought at not more than par value and accrued interest.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 311031:801.Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, § 3, 40 Stat. 289. 31:802, 803.Mar. 3, 1919, ch. 100, §§ 7(b), 8, 40 Stat. 1312, 1313. 31:804.Apr. 24, 1917, ch. 4, § 3, 40 Stat. 35. In the section, the words “government of a foreign country” are substituted for “foreign governments” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In subsection (a), the text of 31:801 and 802 (related to converting certain obligations of foreign governments into obligations bearing a higher rate of interest or with a longer term to maturity) is omitted as executed. In subsection (b), the text of 31:804 is omitted as unnecessary. The word “conditions” is substituted for “terms and conditions” because it is inclusive. The words “unless otherwise hereafter provided by law” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The First Liberty Bond Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is act Apr. 24, 1917, ch. 4, 40 Stat. 35, which enacted section 746, 755, 755a, 759, 764, 774, and 804 of former Title 31 and section 462a of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and amended section 745 and 768 of former Title 31, and was repealed by Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1072. The Second Liberty Bond Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is act Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, which enacted section 747, 752 to 754b, 757, 757b, 757c to 757e, 758, 760, 765, 766, 771, 773, and 801 and amended section 745, 764, 769, and 774 of former Title 31, and was repealed by Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1072. section 7(a) of the Victory Liberty Loan Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is section 7(a) of act Mar. 3, 1919, ch. 100, 40 Stat. 1309, and was repealed by Pub. L. 97–258, § 5(b), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1072.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 3110

Title 31Money and Finance

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60