CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 

 AND GREAT BRITAIN ^ 



ARBITRATION 



The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the 

 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond 

 the Seas, Emperor of India, desiring in pursuance of the principles set forth in Articles 

 15-19 of the Convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes, signed at 

 The Hague July 29, 1899, to enter into negotiations for the conclusion of an Arbitra- 

 tion Convention, have named as their Plenipotentiaries, to wit: 



The President of the United States of America, Elihu Root, Secretary of State of 

 the United States, and 



His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of 

 the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, The Right Honorable 

 James Bryce, O. M., who, after having communicated to one another their full powers, 

 found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles: 



Art. I. Differences which may arise of a legal nature or relating to the interpreta- 

 tion of treaties existing between the two Contracting Parties and which it may not 

 have been possible to settle by diplomacy, shall be referred to the Permanent Court of 

 Arbitration established at The Hague by the Convention of the 29th of July, 1899, 

 provided, nevertheless, that they do not affect the vital interests, the independence, 

 or the honor of the two Contracting States, and do not concern the interests of 

 third Parties. 



Art. II. In each individual case the High Contracting Parties, before appealing 

 to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, shall conclude a special Agreement defining 

 clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the Arbitrators, and the 

 periods to be fixed for the formation of the Arbitral Tribunal and the several stages 

 of the procedure. It is understood that such special agreements on the part of the 

 United States will be made by the President of the United States, by and with the 

 advice and consent of the Senate thereof; His Majesty's Government reserving 

 the right before concluding a special agreement in any matter affecting the interests 

 of a self-governing Dominion of the British Empire to obtain the concurrence there- 

 in of the Government of that Dominion. 



Such Agreements shall be binding only when confirmed by the two Governments 

 by an Exchange of Notes. 



Art. III. The present Convention shall be ratified by the President of the United 

 States of America by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by 

 his Britannic Majesty. The ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon 

 as possible, and the Convention shall take effect on the date of the exchange of its 

 ratifications. 



Art. IV. The present Convention is concluded for a period of five years, dating 

 from the day of the exchange of its ratifications. 



Done in duplicate at the City of Washington, this fourth day of April, in the 

 year 1908. Elihu Root [seal] 



James Bryce [seal] 

 'Appendix, U. S. Case, p. 11. 

 482 



