Treaty Series No. 602.]
By the President of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, a Treaty between the United States of America and Great Britain looking to the advancement of the cause of general peace was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington on the fifteenth day of September, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, the original of which Treaty is word for word as follows:
The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and [Page 305] of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, 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 of the United States; and
- His Britannic Majesty, the Eight Honorable Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice, G. C. V. O., K. C. M. G., etc., His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Washington;
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, other than disputes the settlement of which is provided for and in fact achieved under existing agreements between the High Contracting Parties, 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. The expenses of the Commission shall be paid by the two Governments in equal proportions.
The International Commission shall be appointed within six months 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 by unanimous agreement offer its services to that effect, and in such case it shall notify both Governments and request their cooperation in the investigation.
In the event of its appearing to His Majesty’s Government that the British interests affected by the dispute to be investigated are not mainly those of the United Kingdom but are mainly those of [Page 306] some one or more of the self governing dominions, namely, the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and Newfoundland, His Majesty’s Government shall be at liberty to substitute as the member chosen by them to serve on the International Commission for such investigation and report another person selected from a list of persons to be named one for each of the self governing dominions but only one shall act, namely, that one who represents the dominion immediately interested.
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.
This treaty shall not affect in any way the provisions of the Treaty of the 11th January, 1909, relating to questions arising between the United States and the Dominion of Canada.
Article V.
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 His Britannic Majesty; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington 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.
Done in duplicate at Washington on the 15th day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fourteen.
| [seal.] | William Jennings Bryan |
| [seal.] | Cecil Spring Rice |
And whereas, the said Treaty has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the City of Washington, on the tenth 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,
[Page 307]In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
By the President:
William Jennings Bryan
Secretary of State.