308 WRIGHT— POWER TO MEET RESPONSIBILITIES. 



but are often accepted. Under the Bryan Peace treaties con- 

 cluded with twenty states in 1914 and 191 5, controversies not 

 otherwise settled must be submitted to a joint commission before 

 force is restored to. Similar provision is made in the League of 

 Nations Covenant (Article XV)." 



The controversy may be settled by the conclusion of a treaty 

 which is of course binding on the United States. Many claims 

 have been thus settled. The claims of the United States on 

 account of spoliations by French vessels before 1800 and the 

 claims of France for reparation on account of the alleged non- 

 fulfillment of the alliance treaty of 1778 were balanced off by the 

 treaty of 1801. Claims against France were liquidated by a 

 treaty concluded in 1831. Treaties of peace usually liquidate pre- 

 war claims. This was true of the treaties of Guadaloupe Hidalgo 

 and Paris. By article VII of the latter: 



" The United States and Spain mutually relinquish all claims for indem- 

 nity, national and individual, of every kind, of either Government, or of its 

 citizens or subjects, against the other Government, that may have arisen since 

 the beginning of the late insurrection in Cuba and prior to the exchange of 

 ratifications of the present treaty, including all claims for indemnity for the 

 cost of the war." 



Often such a treaty liquidation will involve an obligation of the 

 Government to compensate its own citizens.^® This was true of 

 the provision just stated, which was followed by the statement that : 



"The United States will adjudicate and settle the claims of its citizens 

 against Spain relinquished in this article." 



Boundary questions have often been settled by treaty, as was the 

 Maine Boundary by the Webster-Ashburton treaty of 1842 and the 

 Oregon boundary by a treaty of 1846. 



The power to settle claims against the government by agree- 

 ment has sometimes been delegated to officers other than the Secre- 

 tary of State. Thus an act of March 2, 1919, provided :°^ 



s'' Canadian Boundary controversies must be submitted to a commission 

 by art. viii of the treaty of 191 1, Charles, Treaties, p. 42. 

 s8 Borchard, op. cit., p. 379 ; Moore, Digest, 6 : 1025. 

 '840 Stat., c. 94, sec. 3, Comp. Stat., 3115, 14/15C. 



