12 T H E C U B A R E r I E JV 



Conventions Adopted. 



Three conventions were adopted directly affecting business relations among the New 

 World countries. The first was a trade-mark convention, a revision of the IQIO conven- 

 tion designed to meet the objections of those countries which had failed to ratify the 

 original convention because of national laws or prejudices. The articles of the present 

 convention provide for the establishment of two central offices of registration, one at 

 Habana for North America, Central America, Ecuador, and Colombia, and the other at 

 Rio de Janeiro for the other countries of South America. Countries in which registra- 

 tion is desired are elective. A fee of $50 ( United States currency ) or its equivalent, plus 

 the usual charges fixed by the internal legislation of each respective country, will be 

 charged for each separate registration. Where the owner of a mark has already regis- 

 tered that mark in one country and is refused registration in another country by reason 

 of it having been registered therein prior to his application for registration, he may ob- 

 tain cancellation of such registration by proving his proprietary rights. 



The second convention provides for the publication by all of the signatory countries 

 of the customs regulations of each of the others, and the third convention provides for 

 the use of a more uniform nomenclature in the classification of merchandise in import and 

 export statistics. Commercial interests will be greatly benefited by the application of 

 both of these treaties. They should eliminate the difficulties experienced by business men 

 throughout the United States and Latin America when attempting to ascertain the tariffs 

 under which their merchandise is to be assessed, or to properly interpret the import or 

 export statistics of other nations of this continent. 



Resolutions Passed. 



Probably of greater importance and of more far-reaching application are the resolu- 

 tions passed at this conference. Among the most important of these were those on — 



Uniformity of shipping and insurance documentation. 

 Uniformity of principals and interpretation of maritime law. 

 Uniform parcels post procedure. 



Movement of raw materials from one country to another. 



Promotion of arbitration of commercial disputes between the nationals of different countries by 

 extralegal procedure. 



The calling of a Pan American electrical communication conference. 



The calling of a roads conference. 



Standardization of specifications of machinery, tools, etc. 



A number of others having a less direct commercial aspect were also passed. The 

 importance of those mentioned above is immediately apparent, yet only by an analysis 

 of them can their broad scope be appreciated. 



As an example, on the subject of "Uniformity of customs regulations" 17 distinct 

 points were covered, each of which applies to acute difficulties now existing. In an effort 

 to overcome the many complaints made against the practice of assessing heavy fines by 

 some countries because of slight errors clearly clerical in nature and not designed to 

 defraud in consular or commercial invoices a resolution was passed by which the signatory 

 countries agree to observe reasonable tolerance in the application of this law. Another 

 point provides that when satisfactory evidence has been furnished packages not destined 

 for the port in which they have been landed may be reshipped upon satisfactory guar- 

 antees. In the future the countries of Latin America agree to consider at the time of 

 enacting new tariffs or taxation to consolidate all port dues in total amounts or to make 

 these subject to a definite scale based on the tonnage and service rendered or benefits 

 received. 



This should prove of great assistance to those exporters having their principal busi- 

 ness with countries where, in addition to consular charges, several other taxes are imposedJI 

 for lighthouses, port works, etc. That facility should be accorded to international transitj' 

 of foreign merchandise through different countries is the subject of another point of this 

 resolution, and it was also agreed that provision should be made for full security to 

 exporter or carrier or agent against delivery of "to-order" shipments without indorsed bills 





