Treaty Series No. 747
Convention Between the United States of America and Liberia, Signed at Monrovia, February 10, 192664
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Liberia, being desirous of establishing a means for referring to arbitration questions arising between them which they shall consider possible to submit to such treatment, have named as their Plenipotentiaries for that purpose, to wit:
- The President of the United States of America:
- Clifton R. Wharton, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States at Monrovia; and
- The President of the Republic of Liberia:
- Edwin Barclay, Secretary of State of the Republic of Liberia;
Who, after having communicated to each other 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 two 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, 1907,65 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 High 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 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 arrangements will be made by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and that on the part of Liberia they shall be subject to the procedure required by its laws.
Article III
The present Convention shall be ratified by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional methods. It shall come into force on the day of the exchange of the ratifications, which shall take place at Monrovia as soon as possible, and shall remain in force for a period of five years. 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.
[seal]
[seal]