Office of the Historian

Treaty Series No. 708

Convention between the United States of America and Sweden, Signed at Washington, June 24, 192413

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of His Majesty the King of Sweden desiring, in pursuance of the principles set forth in Articles XXXVII–XL of the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes signed at The Hague October 18, 1907, 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: Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary of State of the United States; and
  • His Majesty the King of Sweden: Captain Axel F. Wallenberg, His Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 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 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 Conventions of July 29, 1899, and October 18, 1907, 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 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 [Page 703] 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 Contracting Parties. The ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible, and the Convention shall take effect on the date of the exchange of ratifications.

Article IV

The present Convention is concluded for a term of five years, dating from the exchange of ratifications. In case neither Contracting Party should give notice, six months before the expiration of that period of its intention to terminate the Convention, it will continue binding until the expiration of six months from the day when either Contracting Party shall have denounced it.

Done in duplicate at the city of Washington, in the English and French languages, this twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four.

[seal]
Charles Evans Hughes

[seal]
Ax. Wallenberg
  1. In English and French; French text not printed. Ratification advised by the Senate, Jan. 10, 1925; ratified by the President, Jan. 17, 1925; ratified by Sweden, Jan. 16, 1925; ratifications exchanged at Washington, Mar. 18, 1925; proclaimed by the President, Mar. 18, 1925.↩