The provisions of law prescribing that the watch officers of vessels of the United States registered for foreign trade shall be citizens of the United States are hereby suspended so far and for such length of time as is herein provided, namely: All foreign-built ships which shall be admitted to United States registry under said act may retain the watch officers employed thereon, without regard to citizenship, for seven years from this date, and such watch officers shall be eligible for promotion. Any vacancy occurring among such watch officers within two years from this date may be filled without regard to citizenship; but any vacancy which may occur thereafter shall be filled by a watch officer who is a citizen of the United States. * * * (Executive order, Sept. 4, 1914.) Watch officers who are not citizens. Executive order of Sept. 1, 1916: 1. The provisions of the law prescribing that the watch officers of vessels of the United States registered for foreign trade shall be citizens of the United States, are hereby suspended so far and for such length of time as is herein provided, namely: All watch officers now employed on foreign-built ships which have been admitted to United States registry under said Act who, heretofore, have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States and watch officers on such ships who, within six months from this date, shall declare their intention to become such citizens shall be entitled to serve on foreign-built ships so registered until the time shall have expired within which they may become such citizens under their declarations, and shall be eligible for promotion upon any foreign-built ship so registered. Duration of licenses.