Treaty Series No. 857
Treaty Between the United States of America and China, Signed at Washington, June 27, 193079
The United States of America and the Republic of China,
Determined to prevent so far as in their power lies any interruption in the peaceful relations now happily existing between the two nations;
Desirous of reaffirming their adherence to the policy of submitting to impartial decision all justiciable controversies that may arise between them; and
Eager by their example not only to demonstrate their condemnation of war as an instrument of national policy in their mutual relations, but also to hasten the time when the perfection of international arrangements for the pacific settlement of international disputes shall [Page 314] have eliminated forever the possibility of war among any of the Powers of the world;
Have decided to conclude a treaty of arbitration and for that purpose they have appointed as their respective Plenipotentiaries:
The President of the United States of America:
Mr. Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and
The President of the National Government of the Republic of China:
Mr. Chao-Chu Wu, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of China to the United States of America;
Who, having communicated to one another their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:
Article I
All differences relating to international matters in which the High Contracting Parties are concerned by virtue of a claim of right made by one against the other under treaty or otherwise, which it has not been possible to adjust by diplomacy, which have not been adjusted as a result of reference to the Permanent International Commission constituted pursuant to the treaty signed at Washington September 15, 1914, and which are justiciable in their nature by reason of being susceptible of decision by the application of the principles of law or equity, shall be submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration established at The Hague by the Convention of October 18, 1907, or to some other competent tribunal, as shall be decided in each case by special agreement, which special agreement shall provide, if necessary, for the organization of such tribunal, shall define its powers, shall state the question or questions at issue, and shall settle the terms of reference.
The special agreement in each case shall be made on the part of the United States of America by the President of the United States of America by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and on the part of China in accordance with its constitutional law.
Article II
The provisions of this treaty shall not be invoked in respect of any dispute the subject matter of which
- a)
- is within the domestic jurisdiction of either of the High Contracting Parties;
- b)
- involves the interests of third Parties;
- c)
- depends upon or involves the maintenance of the traditional attitude of the United States concerning American questions, commonly described as the Monroe Doctrine;
- d)
- depends upon or involves the observance of the obligations of China in accordance with the Covenant of the League of Nations.
Article III
The present treaty, in English, Chinese and French, 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 the National Government of the Republic of China in accordance with Chinese constitutional law. The English and Chinese texts shall have equal force, but in case of divergence the French text shall prevail.
The ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible, and the treaty shall take effect on the date of the exchange of ratifications. It shall thereafter remain in force continuously unless and until terminated by one year’s written notice given by either High Contracting Party to the other.
In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this treaty, in duplicate, in the English, Chinese and French languages, and hereunto affixed their seals.
[seal]
[seal]
- In English, Chinese, and French; Chinese and French texts not printed. Ratification advised by the Senate, December 10 (legislative day of December 9), 1930; ratified by the President, December 20, 1930; ratified by China, September 9, 1932; ratifications exchanged at Washington, December 15, 1932; proclaimed by the President, December 20, 1932.↩