Treaty Series No. 603.]
By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas a Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica looking to the advancement of the cause of general peace was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington on the thirteenth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, the original of which Treaty, being in the English and Spanish languages, is word for word as follows:
The United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica, being desirous to strengthen the bonds of amity that bind them together and also to advance the cause of general peace, have resolved to enter into a treaty for that purpose, and to that end have appointed as their plenipotentiaries:
The President of the United States, the Honorable William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State; and
The President of Costa Rica, Senor Don Joaquin Bernardo Calvo, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Costa Rica to the United States;
Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found to be in proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:
Article I.
The High Contracting Parties agree that all disputes between them, of every nature whatsoever, to the settlement of which previous arbitration treaties or agreements do not apply in their terms or are not applied in fact, shall, when diplomatic methods of adjustment have failed, be referred for investigation and report to a permanent International Commission, to be constituted in the manner prescribed in the next succeeding article; and they agree not to declare war or begin hostilities during such investigation and before the report is submitted.
Article II.
The International Commission shall be composed of five members, to be appointed as follows: One member shall be chosen from each country, by the Government thereof; one member shall be chosen by each Government from some third country; the fifth member shall be chosen by common agreement between the two Governments, it being understood that he shall not be a citizen of either country. Each of the High Contracting Parties shall have the right to remove, at any time before investigation begins, any Commissioner selected by it and [Page 172] to name his successor, and under the same conditions shall also have the right to withdraw its approval of the fifth Commissioner selected jointly; in which case a new Commissioner shall be selected jointly as in the original selection. The Commissioners shall, when actually employed in the investigation of a dispute, receive such compensation as shall be agreed upon by the High Contracting Parties. The expenses of the Commission shall be paid by the two Governments in equal proportion.
The International Commission shall be appointed as soon as possible after the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty; and vacancies shall be filled according to the manner of the original appointment.
Article III.
In case the High Contracting Parties shall have failed to adjust a dispute by diplomatic methods, they shall at once refer it to the International Commission for investigation and report. The International Commission may, however, spontaneously offer its services to that effect, and in such case it shall notify both Governments and request their cooperation in the investigation.
The High Contracting Parties agree to furnish the Permanent International Commission with all the means and facilities required for its investigation and report.
The report of the International Commission shall be completed within one year after the date on which it shall declare its investigation to have begun, unless the High Contracting Parties shall limit or extend the time by mutual agreement. The report shall be prepared in triplicate; one copy shall be presented to each Government, and the third retained by the Commission for its files.
The High Contracting Parties reserve the right to act independently on the subject matter of the dispute after the report of the Commission shall have been submitted.
Article IV.
The present treaty 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 the President of Costa Rica, with the approval of the Congress thereof; and the ratifications shall be exchanged as soon as possible. It shall take effect immediately after the exchange of ratifications, and shall continue in force for a period of five years; and it shall thereafter remain in force until twelve months after one of the High Contracting Parties have given notice to the other of an intention to terminate it.
In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty and have affixed thereunto their seals.
[seal.]
And whereas the said Treaty has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two governments were exchanged in the [Page 173] City of Washington, on the twelfth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen;
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Treaty 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:
W. J. Bryan
Secretary of State.