Minister Hill to the Secretary of State.

No. 66.]

Sir: Referring to my predecessor’s No. 792,b dated October 4, 1904, announcing the signing of a Netherlands-Portuguese arbitration treaty, I have the honor to inclose herewith, in duplicate, a copy of the law of February 5, 1906, whereby the said treaty is ratified by the Netherlands Government.

I annex a translation of the Dutch law to which the treaty in French text is attached.

I have, etc.,

David J. Hill.

[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]

No. 18. Law of the 5th of February, 1906, containing the ratification of the treaty concluded between the Netherlands and Portugal at The Hague on the 1st of October, 1904, for the submission of certain differences to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

We, Wilhelmina, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange, Nassau, etc.

[Page 1179]

To all whom this shall concern, greeting: I do proclaim—

That whereas we, having deemed it advisable that the treaty concluded at The Hague on the 1st of October, 1904, between the Netherlands and Portugal, to the end that all differences in regard to which, in virtue of former conventions, an arbitral decision should be called in should be submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration affects legal rights and may impose upon the Kingdom pecuniary obligations; and further that it is desirable that in every special case in which, in accordance with article 1 of the said treaty, arbitral decision be called in, we reserve the right to enter into an agreement with Portugal, such as is referred to in article 31 of the convention of the 31st of July, 1899, relating to the pacific settlement of international disputes (approved by the law of the 9th of April, 1900, Official Gazette, No. 54);

Hence we, having heard the council of state and with the general consent and approval of the States-General, have approved and agreed, as we do hereby approve and agree:

Article 1.

That the annexed copy of the treaty concluded between the Netherlands and Portugal at The Hague on the 1st of October, 1904, relating to adjustment by the Court of Arbitration of all differences indicated in former provisions between the two countries respecting arbitral settlements.

Article 2.

In regard to disputes, differences, difficulties, and disagreements mentioned in article 1 of the treaty ratified by this law, we reserve the right regarding every special case to enter into a separate agreement with Portugal, such as is referred to in article 31 of the convention of the 29th of July, 1899, relating to the pacific settlement of international disputes (approved by the law of the 9th of April, 1900, Official Gazette, No. 54).

We do order and command that this shall be inserted in the Official Gazette, and all ministerial departments, authorities, corporations, and officials concerned shall strictly observe the same.


Wilhelmina.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Van Tets Van Goudriaan.
Issued this 17th day of February, 1906.
The Minister of Justice,

E. E. Van Raalte.
  1. Not printed.