264 APPENDIX. 



ARTICLE XIII. 



The Commissioners shall then forthwith proceed to the investigation of the 

 claims which shall be presented to them. They shall investigate and decide 

 such claims in such order and such manner as they may think proper, but upon 

 such evidence or information only as shall be furnished by or on behalf of the 

 respective Governments. They shall be bound to receive and consider all writ 

 ten documents or statements which may be presented to them by or on behalf 

 of the respective Governments in support of, or in answer to, any claim, and to 

 hear, if required, one person on each side, on behalf of each Government, as 

 counsel or agent for such Government, on each and every separate claim. A 

 majority of the Commissioners shall be sufficient for an award in each case. 

 The award shall be given upon each claim in writing, and shall be signed by 

 the Commissioners assenting to it. It shall be competent for each Government 

 to name one person to attend the Commissioners as its agent, to present and 

 support claims on its behalf, and to answer claims made upon it, and to repre 

 sent it generally in all matters connected with the investigation and decision 

 thereof. 



The High Contracting Parties hereby engage to consider the decision of the 

 Commissioners as absolutely final and conclusive upon each claim decided upon 

 by them, and to give full effect to such decisions without any objection, eva 

 sion, or delay whatsoever. 



ARTICLE XIV. , 



Every claim shall be presented to the Commissioners within six months from 

 the day of their first meeting, unless in any case where reasons for delay shall 

 be established to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, and then, and in any 

 such case, the period for presenting the claim may be extended by them to any 

 time not exceeding three months longer. 



The Commissioners shall be bound to examine and decide upon every claim 

 within two years from the day of their first meeting. It shall be competent 

 for the Commissioners to decide in each case whether any claim has or has not 

 been duly made, preferred, and laid before them, either wholly or to any and 

 what extent, according to the true intent and meaning of this Treaty. 



ARTICLE XV. 



All sums of money which may be awarded by the Commissioners on account 

 of any claim shall be paid by the one Government to the other, as the case may 

 be, within twelve months after the date of the final award, without interest, and 

 without any deduction save as specified in Article XVI. of this Treaty. 



ARTICLE XVI. 



The Commissioners shall keep an accurate record and correct minutes or 

 notes of all their proceedings, with the dates thereof, and may appoint and em- 



