Ex-USN Motor Launches for Uruguay
In 1922, the Government of Uruguay approached the US with an offer to purchase two or three steam launches belonging to the USN. After consideration, the USN advised that such launches could not be considered vessels of war, inasmuch as war vessels were “commonly understood to be vessels propelled by their own power and constructed to navigate alone,” and did not include such vessels as steam launches usable for ordinary peace purposes and which are designed to be carried by another vessel.
The US Government therefore decided that there was no objection to the sale of the launches, and advised the other signatories accordingly to avoid any future misunderstandings regarding the transaction.