§ 964. Delivering armed vessel to belligerent nation

Statutory text

During a war in which the United States is a neutral nation, it shall be unlawful to send out of the United States any vessel built, armed, or equipped as a vessel of war, or converted from a private vessel into a vessel of war, with any intent or under any agreement or contract that such vessel will be delivered to a belligerent nation, or to an agent, officer, or citizen of such nation, or with reasonable cause to believe that the said vessel will be employed in the service of any such belligerent nation after its departure from the jurisdiction of the United States.

Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the United States.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1948
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 964
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 747
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 747
1994
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 title XXXIII § 330016(1)(L) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 964(b)
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(L) in sections 33, 224, 231, 241, 245, 246, 286, 289, 332, 335, 337, 351, 371, 437, 440, 441, 493, 496, 500, 510, 545, 595, 599, 600, 601, 641, 664, 665, 667, 757, 792, 793, 798, 844, 892, 893, 894, 924, 952, 955, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 970, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1019, 1020, 1022, 1023, 1027, 1082, 1084, 1115, 1202, 1361, 1362, 1364, 1365, 1385, 1461, 1462, 1464, 1587, 1623, 1654, 1656, 1735, 1737, 1751, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1910, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1992, 2101, 2113, 2153, 2154, 2155, 2156, 2231, 2232, 2271, 2274, 2275, 2314, 2315, 2383, 2386, 2387, 2388, and 2512 by striking “not more than $10,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;

1 of 2 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 33, 36 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title V, §§ 3, 6, 40 Stat. 222; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, § 5, 54 Stat. 79).

Section consolidates said sections of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed.

Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction” etc., in view of the definition of United States in section 5 of this title.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

The conspiracy provision of said section 36 was omitted as covered by section 371 of this title. See reviser’s note under that section.

Minor changes of phraseology were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.

Credits

1948–1994 · 2 acts

1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 747
1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.

Show as published

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 747; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)