Proclamation 2241—Conveying to the People of Puerto Rico Certain Land Heretofore Reserved for Purposes of the United States

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Whereas the President of the United States, under an act of Congress approved March 2, 1917 (39 Stat. 951-968), entitled "AN ACT To provide a civil government for Porto Rico, and for other purposes," is authorized to convey to the people of Puerto Rico from time to time, in his discretion, such lands, buildings, or interests in land or other property now owned by the United States and within the territorial limits of Puerto Rico as in his opinion are no longer needed for purposes of the United States; and

Whereas the island within the territorial limits of Puerto Rico known as Desecheo Island, heretofore reserved by Executive Order No. 1669 of December 19, 1912, as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds, is no longer needed for purposes of the United States; and

Whereas this island is desired by the Insular Government of Puerto Rico for use as a forest reserve and as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds, and may be advantageously used by the people of Puerto Rico;

Now, Therefore, I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, by virtue of the authority in me vested, do hereby proclaim and make known that Desecheo Island, located in Mona Passage, Puerto Rico, approximately in latitude eighteen degrees twenty-three minutes north, longitude sixty-seven degrees twenty-nine minutes west from Greenwich, as indicated upon the diagram hereto attached and made a part hereof, is hereby transferred and conveyed, subject to the reservations and conditions hereafter mentioned, to the people of Puerto Rico to be used for forest reserve and native bird preserve purposes only.

There is reserved to the United States the right to occupy such areas of Desecheo Island as may be needed for the establishment of aids to navigation, together with rights for landing and ingress and egress to the areas so occupied by the United States.

In the event that Desecheo Island shall cease to be used for forest reserve and native bird preserve purposes, or be devoted to any other than forest reserve and native bird preserve purposes, the same shall revert to the United States.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this 16th day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-first.

FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT

By the President:
CORDELL HULL
Secretary of State.