Section 1717 of title 18, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original “section 1 of title XII of the Act of June 15, 1917 (40 Stat. 230)” which was classified to section 343 of former Title 18, Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure. “Section 1717 of title 18” substituted for “section 343 of title 18” on authority of act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 683, section 1 of which enacted Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Prior to general amendment of act June 8, 1938, by act Apr. 29, 1942, section related to retention of statements as public records. Provisions on that subject were incorporated in section 616 of this title by 1942 amendment.

1995—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–65, § 9(4)(B), which directed striking out “and a statement, duly signed by or on behalf of such an agent, setting forth full information as to the places, times, and extent of such transmittal” after “Attorney General two copies thereof”, was executed by striking out such language, which read in part “on behalf of such agent”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 104–65, § 9(4)(A), substituted “informational materials” for “political propaganda”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–65, § 9(5), substituted “informational materials for or” for “political propaganda for or” and substituted “without placing in such informational materials a conspicuous statement that the materials are distributed by the agent on behalf of the foreign principal, and that additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. The Attorney General may by rule define what constitutes a conspicuous statement for the purposes of this subsection.” for cls. (i) and (ii) and concluding provisions which made it unlawful for an agent of a foreign principal to transmit in the United States political propaganda unless the propaganda identified the agent and contained information about the registration of the agent and authorized the Attorney General to prescribe regulations relating to the information to be provided.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–65, § 9(6), substituted “informational materials” for “political propaganda”.

1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–486, § 4(1), inserted “for or in the interests of such foreign principal” after “political propaganda” and substituted “file with the Attorney General two copies thereof” for “sent to the Librarian of Congress two copies thereof and file with the Attorney General one copy thereof”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–486, § 4(2), inserted “for or in the interests of such foreign principal” after “political propaganda”, where first appearing, and “the relationship or connection between the person transmitting the political propaganda or causing it to be transmitted and such propaganda;” after “setting forth” and substituted “such foreign principal” for each of his foreign principals”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–486, § 4(3), substituted “filed with the Attorney General” for “sent to the Librarian of Congress”.

Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 89–486, § 4(4), added subsecs. (e) and (f).

1942—Act Apr. 29, 1942, amended section generally.

1939—Act Aug. 7, 1939, amended section generally.

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–65 effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided, see section 24 of Pub. L. 104–65, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1601 of Title 2, The Congress.

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–486 effective ninety days after July 4, 1966, see section 9 of Pub. L. 89–486, set out as a note under section 611 of this title.

Amendment by act Apr. 29, 1942, effective on the sixtieth day after Apr. 29, 1942, except that prior to such sixtieth day the Attorney General may make, prescribe, amend, and rescind such rules, regulations, and forms as may be necessary to carry out act Apr. 29, 1942, see section 3 of act Apr. 29, 1942, set out as a note under section 611 of this title.

In subsec. (d), “United States Postal Service” substituted for “Postmaster General” in two places pursuant to Pub. L. 91–375, § 4(a), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773, set out as a note under section 201 of Title 39, Postal Service, which abolished office of Postmaster General of Post Office Department and transferred its functions to United States Postal Service.