By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas a Convention between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Sweden providing for the submission to arbitration [Page 732] of all questions of a legal nature or relating to the interpretation of treaties, which may arise between the two countries and which it many not have been possible to settle by diplomacy, was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington on the second day of May, one thousand nine hundred and eight, the original of which Convention, being in the English and French languages is word for word as follows:
The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Sweden desiring in pursuance of the principles set forth in articles 15–19 of the Convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes, signed at The Hague July 29, 1899, to enter into negotiations for the conclusion of an Arbitration Convention, have named as their Plenipotentiaries, to wit:
- The President of the United States of America, Elihu Root, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and
- His Majesty the King of Sweden, W. A. F. Ekengren, His Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at Washington;
who, after having communicated to one another their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles:
Article I.
Differences which may arise of a legal nature or relating to the interpretation of treaties existing between the two Contracting Parties and which it may not have been possible to settle by diplomacy, shall be referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration established at The Hague by the Convention of the 29th July, 1899, provided, nevertheless, that they do not affect the vital interests, the independence, or the honor of the two Contracting States, and do not concern the interests of third Parties.
Article II.
In each individual case the High Contracting Parties, before appealing to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, shall conclude a special Agreement defining clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the Arbitrators, and the periods to be fixed for the formation of the Arbitral Tribunal and the several stages of the procedure It is understood that on the part of the United States such special agreements will be made by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and on the part of Sweden by the King in such forms and conditions as He may find requisite or appropriate.
Article III.
The present Convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by His Majesty the King of Sweden The ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible, and the Convention shall take effect on the date of the exchange of its ratifications.
[Page 733]Article IV.
The present Convention is concluded for a period of five years, dating from the day of the exchange of its ratifications.
Done in duplicate at the City of Washington, in the English and French languages, this second day of May, 1908.
Elihu Root [seal.]
W. A. F. Ekengren [seal.]
And whereas the said Convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two governments were exchanged in the City of Washington, on the eighteenth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and eight;
Now, therefore., be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Convention to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
By the President:
Alvey A Adee
Acting Secretary of State.