the respective laws grant to the magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice, and in the other contracting Republics they shall have the privileges and immunities of Diplomatic Agents.

ARTICLE XI.

The office of Justice whilst held is incompatible with the exercise of his profession, and with the holding of public office. The same incompatibility applies to the substitute Justices so long as they may actually perform their duties.

ARTICLE XII.

At its first annual session the Court shall elect from among its own members a President and Vice-President; it shall organize the personnel of its office by designating a Clerk, a Treasurer, and such other subordinate employees as it may deem necessary, and it shall draw up the estimate of its expenses.

ARTICLE XIII.

The Central American Court of Justice represents the national conscience of Central America, wherefore the Justices who compose the Tribunal shall not consider themselves barred from the discharge of their duties because of the interest which the Republics, to which they owe their appointment, may have in any case or question. With regard to allegations of personal interest, the rules of procedure which the Court may fix, shall make proper provision.

ARTICLE XIV.

When differences or questions subject to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal arise, the interested party shall present a complaint which shall comprise all the points of fact and law relative to the matter, and all pertinent evidence. The Tribunal shall communicate without loss of time a copy of the complaint to the Governments or individuals interested, and shall invite them to furnish their allegations and evidence within the term that it may designate to them, which, in no case, shall exceed sixty days counted from the date of notice of the complaint.

ARTICLE XV.

If the term designated shall have expired without answer having been made to the complaint, the Court shall require the complainant or complainants to do so within a further term not to exceed twenty days, after the expiration of which and in view of the evidence presented and of such evidence as it may ex officio have seen fit to obtain, the Tribunal shall render its decision in the case, which decision shall be final.

ARTICLE XVI.

If the Government, Governments, or individuals sued shall have appeared in time before the Court, presenting their allegations and evidence, the Court shall decide the matter within thirty days follow

ing, without further process or proceedings; but if a new term for the presentation of evidence be solicited, the Court shall decide whether or not there is occasion to grant it; and in the affirmative it shall fix therefor a reasonable time. Upon the expiration of such term, the Court shall pronounce its final judgment within thirty days.

ARTICLE XVII.

Each one of the Governments or individuals directly concerned in the questions to be considered by the Court has the right to be represented before it by a trustworthy person or persons, who shall who shall present evidence, formulate arguments, and shall, within the terms fixed by this Convention and by the rules of the Court of Justice do everything that in their judgment shall be beneficial to the defense of the rights they represent.

ARTICLE XVIII.

From the moment in which any suit is instituted against any one or more governments up to that in which a final decision has been pronounced, the court may at the solicitation of any one of the parties fix the situation in which the contending parties must remain, to the end that the difficulty shall not be aggravated and that things shall be conserved in statu quo pending a final decision.

ARTICLE XIX.

For all the effects of this Convention, the Central American Court of Justice may address itself to the Governments or tribunals of justice of the contracting States, through the medium of the Ministry of Foreign Relations or the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Justice of the respective country, according to the nature of the requisite proceeding, in order to have the measures that it may dictate within the scope of its jurisdiction carried out.

ARTICLE XX.

It may also appoint special commissioners to carry out the formalities above referred to, when it deems it expedient for their better fulfillment. In such case, it shall ask of the Government where the proceeding is to be had, its cooperation and assistance, in order that the Commissioner may fulfill his mission. The contracting Governments formally bind themselves to obey and to enforce the orders of the Court, furnishing all the assistance that may be necessary for their best and most expeditious fulfillment.

ARTICLE XXI.

In deciding points of fact that may be raised before it, the Central American Court of Justice shall be governed by its free judgment, and with respect to points of law, by the principles of International Law. The final judgment shall cover each one of the points in litigation.

ARTICLE XXII.

The Court is competent to determine its jurisdiction, interpreting the Treaties and Conventions germane to the matter in dispute, and applying the principles of international law.

ARTICLE XXIII.

Every final or interlocutory decision shall be rendered with the concurrence of at least three of the Justices of the Court. In case of disagreement, one of the substitute Justices shall be chosen by lot, and if still a majority of three be not thus obtained other Justices shall be successively chosen by lot until three uniform votes shall have been obtained.

ARTICLE XXIV.

The decisions must be in writing and shall contain a statement of the reasons upon which they are based. They must be signed by all the Justices of the Court and countersigned by the Clerk. Once they have been notified they can not be altered on any account; but, at the request of any of the parties, the Tribunal may declare the interpretation which must be given to its judgments.

ARTICLE XXV.

The judgments of the Court shall be communicated to the five Governments of the contracting Republics. The interested parties solemnly bind themselves to submit to said judgments, and all agree to lend all moral support that may be necessary in order that they may be properly fulfilled, thereby constituting a real and positive guarantee of respect for this Convention and for the Central American Court of Justice.

ARTICLE XXVI.

The Court is empowered to make its rules, to formulate the rules of procedure which may be necessary, and to determine the forms and terms not prescribed in the present Convention. All the decisions which may be rendered in this respect shall be communicated immediately to the High Contracting Parties.

ARTICLE XXVII

The High Contracting Parties solemnly declare that on no ground nor in any case will they consider the present Convention as void; and that, therefore, they will consider it as being always in force during the term of ten years counted from the last ratification. In the event of the change or alteration of the political status of one or more of the Contracting Republics, the functions of the Central American Court of Justice created by this Convention shall be suspended ipso facto; and a conference to adjust the constitution of said Court to the new order of things shall be forthwith convoked by the respective Governments; in case they do not unanimously agree the present Convention shall be considered as rescinded.

ARTICLE XXVIII.

The exchange of ratifications of the present Convention shall be made in accordance with Article XXI of the General Treaty of Peace and Amity concluded on this date.

PROVISIONAL ARTICLE.

As recommended by the five Delegations an Article is annexed which contains an amplification of the jurisdiction of the Central American Court of Justice, in order that the Legislatures may, if they see fit, include it in this Convention upon ratifying it.

ANNEXED ARTICLE.

The Central American Court of Justice shall also have jurisdiction over the conflicts which may arise between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Powers, and when as a matter of fact the judicial decisions and resolutions of the National Congress are not respected. Signed at the city of Washington on the twentieth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and seven.

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A

CENTRAL AMERICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.

At the city of Washington, at one o'clock in the afternoon of the twentieth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and seven. The undersigned Delegates to the Central American Peace Confer

ence:

For COSTA RICA: Their Excellencies Doctor Luis Anderson and Don Joaquín B. Calvo;

For GUATEMALA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Antonio Batres Jáuregui, Doctor Don Luis Toledo Herrarte and Don Víctor Sánchez-Ocaña;

For HONDURAS: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Policarpo Bonilla, Doctor Don Angel Ugarte and Don E. Constantino Fiallos;

For NICARAGUA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don José Madriz and Doctor Don Luis F. Corea;

For SALVADOR: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Salvador Gallegos, Doctor Don Salvador Rodríguez González and Don Federico Mejía,

Noting that an error has been committed in copying the text of Article III of the Convention for the establishment of a Central American Court of Justice, concluded on this date, make it known that the authentic text of said Article III is as follows:

"It shall also have jurisdiction over cases arising between any of the contracting Governments and individuals, when by common accord they are submitted to it."

In testimony whereof they sign the present Protocol, which shall be considered as an integral part of the Convention.

LUIS ANDERSON

J. B. CALVO

ANTONIO BATRES JAUREGUI
LUIS TOLEDO HERRARTE
VÍCTOR SÁNCHEZ O.

POLICARPO BONILLA

ANGEL UGARTE

E. CONSTANTINO FIALLOS

JOSÉ MADRIZ

LUIS F. COREA

SALVADOR GALLEGOS

SALVADOR RODRÍGUEZ G.
F. MEJÍA.

1907.

EXTRADITION CONVENTION CONCLUDED AT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE CONFERENCE.

The Governments of the Republics of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Salvador, desiring to confirm their friendly relations and to promote the cause of justice, have resolved to cele brate a Convention for the extradition of fugitives from justice, and to that end have named as delegates:

COSTA RICA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Luis Anderson and Don Joaquín B. Calvo;

GUATEMALA: Their Excellencies Doctor Don Antonio Batres Jáuregui, Doctor Don Luis Toledo Herrarte, and Don Víctor Sánchez Ocaña;