In the event a national emergency occurs, and public work, being performed by contract, is stopped, directly or indirectly, because of the freezing or diversion of materials, equipment or labor, as the result of an order or a proclamation of the President of the United States, or of an order of any federal authority, and the circumstances or conditions are such that it is impracticable within a reasonable time to proceed with a substantial portion of the work, then the public agency and the contractor may, by written agreement, terminate said contract.

(Added by Stats. 1949, Ch. 1105.)