Treaty Series No. 617.]

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas an Agreement between the United States of America and the Netherlands extending the duration of the Arbitration Convention signed on May 2, 1908, between the two countries, was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington, on the ninth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, the original of which Agreement, being in the English and Dutch languages, is word for word as follows:

The Government of the United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, being desirous of extending the period of five years during which the Convention of Arbitration, concluded between them on May 2, 1908, remained in force, which period has expired on March 25, 1914, have authorized the undersigned, to wit: The Honorable William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State of the United States, and W. L. F. C. Ridder van Rappard, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands at Washington, to conclude the following Agreement:

Article I.

The Convention of Arbitration of May 2, 1908, between the Government of the United States of America and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, the duration of which by Article III thereof was fixed at a period of five years from the date of the exchange of ratifications, which period terminated on March 25, 1914, is hereby extended and continued in force for a further period of five years from March 25, 1914.

Article II.

The present Agreement 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 Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, and it shall become effective upon the fourteenth day after the date [Page 1100] of the exchange of ratifications, which shall take place at Washington as soon as possible.

Done in duplicate in Washington, in the English and Dutch languages, this 9th day of May, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.

William Jennings Bryan [seal.]

W L F C v Rappard [seal.]

And whereas the said Agreement has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the City of Washington, on the twentieth day of August, one thousand nine hundred and fifteen;

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Agreement 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.


Woodrow Wilson.

By the President:
Robert Lansing,
Secretary of State.