Mr. Strobel to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Santiago
,
April 25, 1896
.
(Received June 2.)
No. 82.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 47 of October 24 last,
with which I forwarded to the Department copy and translation of the
convention between France and Chile, I have now the honor to inclose
copy and translation of a further agreement between the two Governments
terminating the tribunal established by the above convention and
providing for the settlement by Chile of all the French claims by the
payment of £5,000 (125,000 francs).
The total sum of these claims was 344,041 pesos (18d.) and 324,326
francs, or somewhat over 1,000,000 francs in all.
In securing the settlement on a basis of about 12 per cent of the gross
amount the French Government has escaped the expenses of arbitration,
and has probably secured a much larger amount than it would have
received from the awards of the tribunal.
* * * * * * *
I have, etc.,
[Page 43]
[Inclosure in No. 82.—From Diario
Oficial, March 20, 1896.—Translation.]
Agreement for settlement of claims of French,
citizens against Chile, February 2, 1896.
In the ministry of foreign relations of Chile, Señor Adolfo Guerro,
minister of foreign relations, and Monsieur Leopold Fernand Balny
d’Avricourt, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
France, officer of the National Legion of Honor, etc., being duly
authorized for the purpose, have agreed to settle all the claims of
French citizens based on the civil war of 1891, which have been
presented to the tribunal of arbitration, in accordance with the
following conditions:
I. The functions of the Franco-Chilean tribunal established by the
convention of October 13, 1895, for the purpose of examining and
deciding claims presented against the Government of Chile by French
citizens, are hereby declared terminated.
II. All French claims which have been presented to the tribunal,
which amount on the one hand to 344,041 pesos and on the other to
324,326 francs, shall be paid and completely extinguished, however
important may be their nature, or their present status in the
tribunal, for the sum of £5,000, which the Government of Chile will
deliver to the diplomatic representative of France in Santiago,
within fifteen days following the approval of this convention by the
Congress of the Republic.
The said sum of £5,000 shall be distributed among the claimants by
the French Government in the proportion and in the form which it may
think proper; and such distribution shall not in any way affect the
responsibility of Chile.
III. It is expressly admitted that the Government of Chile has made
this friendly arrangement for the purpose of bringing pending claims
to a prompt settlement; and that this arrangement neither directly
nor indirectly affects the principle and jurisprudence which the
Government of Chile has supported and maintained before the
tribunals of arbitration.
In witness whereof the minister of
foreign relations and the envoy extraordinary of France sign
this protocol in duplicate and seal it with their respective
seals, in Santiago, February 2,
1896.
-
Adolfo Guerro.
-
Balny d’Avricourt.
