917 



oceanographic research and for man's intelligent use of the products 

 of the sea. 



In the light of these discussions the United States Government 

 proposes an agreement with the Government of the Republic of 

 Tunisia for cooperative establishment and operation of a Mediter- 

 ranean Marine Sorting Center, as follows : 



1. The Government of the United States through the Smithsonian 

 Institution will furnish as may be required for the project, United 

 States and other non-Tunisian personnel, equipment and supplies, in- 

 ternational transportation of such personnel, equipment, and supplies 

 and support of such personnel while in Tunisia as well as Tunisian 

 personnel all in an amount not to exceed $175,000, in dollars and Tuni- 

 sian dinars, for the first year. Subsequent years' support will be de- 

 termined on the basis of the first year's operation; 



2. The Government of the United States proposes that the Director 

 of the Sorting Center be an American, the first to be David Damkaer, 

 Oceanographer of the Smithsonian Institution, who will receive gen- 

 eral guidance from an international Advisory Board, the first Chair- 

 man of which would be Dr. Zakaria Ben Mustapha, Director of the 

 Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'^Oceanographie et de 

 Peche ; 



3. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will facilitate the 

 establishment and operation of the Sorting Center including but not 

 necessarily limited to equipment and supplies, transportation, lab- 

 oratory, and living accommodations, and will assist in the recruit- 

 ment of Tunisian personnel including two or more assistant 

 supervisors ; 



4. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will permit and 

 facilitate shipments free of custom duties and all other taxes on all 

 specimens to and from the Sorting Center. Given the fragile and 

 special nature of the specimens, the Government of Tunisia will permit 

 their immediate clearance through customs ; 



5. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall exempt from 

 all custom duties and all other taxes shipments into and out of Tunisia 

 of all supplies and equipment intended for use at the Sorting Center ; 



6. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall accord the 

 American Director and his non-Tunisian associates : 



a) Free entry into and out of Tunisia for all personal property 

 introduced into Tunisia for their own use within a period of six 

 months from the date of their assignment to the Sorting Center; 



b) Temporary free entry of one automobile per family during the 

 period of their assignment to the Sorting Center; 



c) Exemption from the payment of Tunisian income taxes and 

 other direct taxes on income derived from activities related to the 

 Sorting Center. 



If your Government agrees with the above proposal, I propose that 

 this note and your affirmative reply to that effect constitute an agree- 

 m^ent effective on the date of your reply. 



Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest 

 consideration." 



35^15—75 59 



