611.3931/14
The Dominican Minister ( Ariza ) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of the note dated this day in which your Excellency sums up the agreement reached in the conferences recently held in this city between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Dominican Republic concerning the treatment which the United States will grant to the commerce of the Dominican Republic and which the Dominican Republic will grant to the commerce of the United States. Those conferences disclosed a mutual understanding between the two Governments which is that with regard to importation, exportation and other duties and dues to which commerce is subject as also with regard to the transit, storage, and other facilities, the United States, its territories or possessions will grant to the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Republic will grant to the United States, its territories or possessions, unconditional most favored nation treatment.
It is understood that there shall not be imposed duties of importation or of disposal in the United States, its territories or possessions! on articles that are the products of the soil or of the industry of the Dominican Republic higher or other than those that are, or may be payable on said articles when they proceed from the soil or the industry of any other foreign country and, in the same manner, there shall not be levied duties of importation or disposal in the Dominican Republic on articles that are the products of the soil or of the industry of the United States, its territories or possessions higher or other than those which are or may be payable on said articles when they proceed from the soil or the industry of any other foreign country whatsoever.
In the same sense there shall not be imposed in the United States, its territories or possessions, nor in the Dominican Republic on articles exported from one country to the other or to any territory or possession of the other, export duties higher or other than those that are or may be assessed when the said articles are exported to any other foreign country whatsoever.
[Page 670]Any concession granted or that may be hereafter granted by the United States, or by the Dominican Republic by means of a law, decree, resolution, or agreement on the products of any other country with respect to the duties or dues that affect commerce, will as of right extend without request or compensation of any kind to the commerce of the Dominican Republic and that of the United States, its territories and possessions respectively.
Provided, however, that this understanding does not refer:
- 1.
- To the treatment that the United States now accords or may hereafter accord to the commerce of Cuba or any of the territories or possessions of the United States or the Panama Canal Zone or to the treatment that is granted or may be granted to the commerce between the United States and any of its territories or possessions or to the commerce of its territories and possessions with one another.
- 2.
- To the prohibitions or restrictions of a sanitary character or for the protection of human beings, animals or plants, or the regulations for the enforcement of the revenue or police laws.
It is understood that this agreement will go into effect immediately upon the date of its signature and unless terminated before, by common accord, will continue in force until thirty days shall have elapsed after the notice given by one party to the other of its intention to terminate the agreement; but in case either one of the two parties should be unable to fulfill the terms of this agreement by reason of future action of its legislature the obligations which it imposes will be without effect.
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I have received instructions from my Government to confirm this agreement and to send to Your Excellency this note in reply to yours.
I avail myself [etc.]