such government agrees to pay the United States for such defense articles, information, or services prior to the receipt thereof and to make such payments from time to time as the President may require to protect the interests of the United States; and, upon payment of the full cost, the President may dispose of such articles, information, or services to such government: Provided, That the total amount of the outstanding contracts under this section, less the amounts which have been paid to the United States under such contracts, shall at no time exceed $600,000,000. (Oct. 28, 1941, ch. 460, title I, § 102, 55 Stat. 746.)

§ 422. Same; retention for United States defense articles procured for foreign governments. Any defense article procured pursuant to section 421 of this title shall be retained by or transferred to and for the use of such department or agency of the United States as the President may determine, in lieu of being disposed of to a foreign government, whenever in the judgment of the President the defense of the United States will be best served thereby. (Oct. 28, 1941, ch. 460, title I, § 103, 55 Stat. 747.)

§ 423. Retention for defense of United States of certain articles, information or service procured for foreign governments.-Any defense article, information, or service procured from funds appropriated by Act June 14, 1943, ch. 122, 57 Stat. 151, or prior Acts appropriating funds to the President for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 411-419 of this title, shall be retained by or transferred to and for the use of such department or agency of the United States as the President may determine, in lieu of being disposed of to a foreign government, whenever in the judgment of the President the defense of the United States will be best served therby: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated in said Act June 14, 1943, shall be used for the payment of any subsidy on agricultural products produced in the continental United States. (June 14, 1943, ch. 122, § 2, 57 Stat. 152.)

HEMISPHERAL RELATIONS

§ 501. Utilization of services of Government agencies to promote inter-American relations. In order to render closer and more effective the relationship between the American republics the President of the United States is hereby authorized, subject to such appropriations as are made available for the purpose, to utilize the services of the departments, agencies, and independent establishments of the Government in carrying out the reciprocal undertakings and cooperative purposes enunciated in the treaties, resolutions, declarations, and recommendations signed by all of the twenty-one American republics at the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace held at Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, and at the Eighth International Conference of American States held at Lima, Peru, in 1938. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 616, § 1, 53 Stat. 1290.)

§ 502. Same; creation of advisory committees.-The President is authorized to create such advisory committees as in his judg

ment may be of assistance in carrying out the undertakings of this Government under the treaties, resolutions, declarations, and recommendations referred to, but no committee or member thereof shall be allowed any salary or other compensation for services: Provided, however, That they may, within the limits of appropriations made available therefor by the Congress, which appropriations are hereby authorized, be paid their actual transportation expenses and not to exceed $10 per diem in lieu of subsistence and other expenses while away from their homes in attendance upon meetings within the United States under instructions from the Secretary of State. (Aug. 9, 1939, ch. 616, § 2, 53 Stat. 1290.)