ment of the United States and the Imperial Government of Russia have entered into the following temporary agreement, with the understanding that it is not to create a precedent for the future, and that the contracting parties mutually reserve entire liberty to make choice hereafter of such measures as may be deemed best adapted for the protection of the fur-seal species, whether by means of prohibitive zones, or by the complete prohibition of pelagic sealing, or by appropriate regulation of seal-hunting in the high seas. 1. The Government of the United States will prohibit citizens of the United States from hunting fur-seal within a zone of ten nautical miles along the Russian coasts of Behring Sea, and of the North Pacific Ocean, as well as within a zone of thirty nautical miles around the Komandorsky (Commander) Islands and Tulienew (Robben) Island, and will promptly use its best efforts to ensure the observance of this prohibition by citizens and vessels of the United States. 2. Vessels of the United States engaged in hunting fur-seal in the above-mentioned zones outside of the territorial waters of Russia may be seized and detained by the naval or other duly commissioned officers of Russia; but they shall be handed over as soon as practicable to the naval or other commissioned officers of the United States or to the nearest authorities thereof. In case of impediment or difficulty in so doing, the commander of the Russian cruiser may confine his action to seizing the ship's papers of the offending vessels in order to deliver them to a naval or other commissioned officer of the United States, or to communicate them to the nearest authorities of the United States as soon as possible. 3. The Government of the United States agrees to cause to be tried by the ordinary courts; with all due guarantees of defense, such vessels of the United States as may be seized, or the ship's papers of which may be taken, as herein prescribed, by reason of their engag ing in the hunting of fur-seal within the prohibited zones outside of the territorial waters of Russia aforesaid. 4. The imperial Russian Government will limit to 30,000 head the number of fur-seal to be taken during the year 1894, on the coasts of the Komandorsky (Commander) and Tulienew (Robben) Islands. 5. The present agreement shall have no retroactive force as regards the seizure of any seal-hunting vessel of the United States by the naval or other commissioned officers of Russia prior to the conclusion hereof. 6. The present agreement being intended to serve the purpose of a mere provisional expedient to meet existing circumstances, may be terminated at will by either party upon giving notice to the other. In witness whereof, we, Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State of the United States, and Prince Gregoire Cantacuzene, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoteniary of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, have, on behalf of our respective Governments, signed and sealed this Agreement in duplicate, and in the English and French 4 May languages, in the City of Washington, this 1894. 22 April WALTER Q. GRESHAM [SEAL] SALVADOR. (FORMERLY SAN SALVADOR.) 1850. CONVENTION OF AMITY, NAVIGATION, AND COMMERCE. Concluded January 2, 1850; ratification advised by the Senate September 24, 1850; ratified by the President November 14, 1850; time for exchange of ratifications extended by the Senate September 27, 1850; ratifications exchanged June 2, 1852; exchange of ratifications consented to by the Senate April 4, 1853; proclaimed April 18, 1859. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 945.) This treaty of thirty-six articles was superseded by the Treaty of December 6, 1870. 1870. EXTRADITION CONVENTION. Concluded May 23, 1870; ratification advised by the Senate December 9, 1870; ratified by the President December 16, 1870; time for exchange of ratifications extended by convention of May 12, 1873; ratifications exchanged March 2, 1874; proclaimed March 4, 1874. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 955.) This convention, consisting of eight articles, was denounced on notice given by Salvador, to take effect March 2, 1904. 1870. TREATY OF AMITY, COMMERCE, AND CONSULAR PRIVILEGES. Concluded December 6, 1870; ratification advised by the Senate March 31,1871; ratified by the President April 11, 1871; time for exchange of ratifications extended by convention of May 12, 1873; ratifications exchanged March 11, 1874; proclaimed March 13, 1874. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 957.) Upon notice from the Government of Salvador this general treaty of thirty-nine articles was abrogated May 30, 1893. 1873. EXTRADITION CONVENTION. Concluded May 12, 1873; ratification advised by the Senate February 9, 1874; ratified by the President February 16, 1874; ratifications exchanged March 2, 1874; proclaimed March 4, 1874. (U. S. Stats., vol. 18, p. 796). This convention extended for one year the time for the exchange of ratifications of the Extradition Convention of May 23, 1870. 1873. CONVENTION OF AMITY, COMMERCE, AND CONSULAR PRIVILEGES. Concluded May 12, 1873; ratification advised by the Senate March 2, 1874; ratified by the Senate March 10, 1874; ratifications exchanged March 11, 1874; proclaimed March 13, 1874. (U. S. Stats., vol. 18, p. 798.) The time for the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of December 6, 1870, was extended one year by this convention. SAMOAN ISLANDS. 1878. TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COMMERCE. Concluded January 17, 1878; ratification advised by the Senate with amendments January 30, 1878; ratified by the President February 8, 1878; ratifications exchanged February 11, 1878; proclaimed February 13, 1878. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 972.) This treaty, consisting of eight articles, is annulled by treaty of December 2, 1899, between United States, Germany, and Great Britain (p. 685). 1889. GENERAL ACT PROVIDING FOR THE NEUTRALITY AND AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT OF THE SAMOAN ISLANDS. Concluded at Berlin June 14, 1889; ratification advised by the Senate February 4, 1890; ratified by the President February 21, 1890; ratifications exchanged April 12, 1890; assented to by Samoa April 19, 1890; proclaimed May 21, 1890. (U. S. Stats., vol. 26, p. 1497.) This general act, consisting of eight articles, was expressly annulled by treaty of December 2, 1899, between United States, Germany, and Great Britain. 1899. CONVENTION BETWEEN UNITED STATES, GERMANY, AND GREAT BRITAIN RELATING TO SETTLEMENT OF SAMOAN CLAIMS. Concluded November 7, 1899; ratification advised by Senate February 21, 1900; ratified by President March 5, 1900; ratifications exchanged March 7, 1900; proclaimed March 8, 1900. (U. S. Stats., vol. 31, p. 1875.) ARTICLES. I. Claims considered. II. Arbitrator. III. Claims of persons not natives. The President of the United States of America, His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire, and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, being desirous of effecting a prompt and satisfactory settlement of the claims of the citizens and subjects of their respective countries resident in the Samoan Islands on account of recent military operations conducted there, and having resolved to conclude a Convention for the accomplishment of this end by means of arbitration, have appointed as their respective plenipotentiaries: The President of the United States of America, The Honorable John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States; His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, His Minister in Extraordinary Mission, Dr. Jur. Mumm von Schwarzenstein, Privy Councilor of Legation; and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Mr. Reginald Tower, Her Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires ad interim; Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers, which were found to be in due and proper form, have agreed to and concluded the following articles: ARTICLE I. All claims put forward by American citizens or Germans or British subjects respectively, whether individuals or companies, for compensation on account of losses which they allege that they have suffered in consequence of unwarranted military action, if this be shown to have occurred, on the part of American, German or British officers between the first of January last and the arrival of the Joint Commission in Samoa shall be decided by arbitration in conformity with the principles of International Law or considerations of equity. ARTICLE II. The three Governments shall request His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway to accept the office of Arbitrator. It shall also be decided by this arbitration whether, and eventually to what extent, either of the three Governments is bound, alone or jointly with the others, to make good these losses. ARTICLE III. Either of the three Governments may, with the consent of the others, previously obtained in every case, submit to the King for arbitration, similar claims of persons not being natives, who are under the protection of that Government, and who are not included in the above mentioned categories. ARTICLE IV. The present Convention shall be duly ratified by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia; and by Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington four months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible. In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this Convention and have hereunto affixed our seals. Done in triplicate at Washington the seventh day of November, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine. |