Martens, Privy Councillor, Permanent Member of the Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia, LL.D. of the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh, to be the fifth Arbitrator; And whereas the said Arbitrators have duly entered upon the said Arbitration, and have duly heard and considered the oral and written arguments of the Counsel representing respectively Her Majesty the Queen and the United States of Venezuela, and have impartially and carefully examined the questions laid before them, and have investigated and ascertained the extent of the territories belonging to or that might lawfully be claimed by the United Netherlands or by the Kingdom of Spain respectively at the time of the acquisition by Great Britain of the Colony of British Guiana: Now we, the undersigned Arbitrators, do hereby make and publish our decision, determination, and award of, upon, and concerning the questions submitted to us by the said Treaty of Arbitration, finally decide, award, and determine that the boundaryline between the Colony of British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela is as follows: Starting from the coast at Point Playa, the line of boundary shall run in a straight line to the River Barima at its junction with the River Mururuma, and thence along the mid-stream of the latter river to its source, and from that point to the junction of the River Haiowa with the Amakuru, and thence along the mid-stream of the Amakuru to its source in the Imataka Ridge, and thence in a southwesterly direction along the highest ridge of the spur of the Imataka Mountains to the highest point of the main range of such Imataka Mountains opposite to the source of the Barima, and thence along the summit of the main ridge in a south-easterly direction of the Imataka Mountains to the source of the Acarabisi, and thence along the mid-stream of the Acarabisi to the Cuyuni, and thence along the northern bank of the River Cuyuni westward to its junction with the Wenamu, and thence following the mid-stream of the Wenamu to its westernmost source, and thence in a direct line to the summit of Mount Roraima, and from Mount Roraima to the source of the Cotinga, and along the mid-stream of that river to its junction with the Takutu, and thence along the mid-stream of the Takutu to its source, thence in a straight line to the westernmost point of the Akarai Mountains, and thence along the ridge of the Akarai Mountains to the source of the Corentin called the Cutari River: Provided always that the line of delimitation fixed by this Award shall be subject and without prejudice to any questions now existing, or which may arise, to be determined between the Government of Her Britannic Majesty and the Republic of Brazil, or between the latter Republic and the United States of Venezuela. In fixing the above delimitation, the Arbitrators consider and [1899-1900. XCII.] M decide that in times of peace the Rivers Amakuru and Barima shall be open to navigation by the merchant-ships of all nations, subject to all just regulations and to the payment of light or other like dues: Provided that the dues charged by the Republic of Venezuela and the Government of the Colony of British Guiana in respect of the passage of vessels along the portions of such rivers respectively owned by them shall be charged at the same rates upon the vessels of Venezuela and Great Britain, such rates being no higher than those charged to any other nation: Provided also that no customs duties shall be chargeable either by the Republic of Venezuela or by the Colony of British Guiana in respect of goods carried on board ships, vessels, or boats passing along the said rivers; but customs duties shall only be chargeable in respect of goods landed in the territory of Venezuela or Great Britain respectively. Executed and published in duplicate by us in Paris, this 3rd day of October, A.D. 1899. F. DE MARTENS. MELVILLE WESTON FULLER. DAVID J. BREWER. RUSSELL OF KN. R. HENN COLLINS. COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT between Portugal and the United States. Signed at Washington, May 22, 1899. HIS Most Faithful Majesty the King of Portugal and of the Algarves, and the President of the United States of America, equally animated by the desire to confirm the good understanding existing between them and to increase the commercial intercourse of the two countries, have deemed it expedient to enter into a reciprocal Commercial Agreement to that end; and they have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries for that purpose, to wit: His Most Faithful Majesty, the Viscount de Santo-Thyrso, His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington; and The President of the United States, the Honourable John A. Kasson, Special Commissioner Plenipotentiary; Who, after an exchange of their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon the following Articles : ART. I. Upon the following articles of commerce being the product of the soil or industry of Portugal, or of the Azores and Madeira Islands imported into the United States, the present rates of duty shall be reduced and shall hereafter be as follows, namely: Upon argols, or crude tartar, or wine lees, 5 per cent. ad valorem. Upon still wines in casks, 30 cents per gallon; in bottles, per case of one dozen bottles, containing each not more than 1 quart and more than 1 pint, or twenty-four bottles containing not more than 1 pint, 1 dol. 25 c. per case; and any excess beyond these quantities found in such bottles shall be subject to a duty of 4 cents per pint or fractional part thereof, but no separate or additional duty shall be assessed upon the bottles. Upon sparkling wines, in bottles containing not more than 1 quart, and more than 1 pint, 6 dollars per dozen; containing not more than 1 pint each and more than 1 half-pint, 3 dollars per dozen; containing 1 half pint each, or less, 1 dol. 50 c. per dozen; in bottles or other vessels containing more than 1 quart each, in addition to 6 dollars per dozen bottles, on the quantities in excess of 1 quart, at the rate of 1 dol. 90 cents. per gallon. Upon brandies or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials, whether the product of Portugal or of the Portuguese possessions, 1 dol. 75 c. per proof gallon. Upon paintings in oil or water colours, pastels, pen and ink drawings and statuary, 15 per cent. ad valorem. II. Reciprocally and in consideration of the preceding concessions, upon the following articles of commerce, being the product of the soil or industry of the United States imported into the Kingdom of Portugal and the Azores or Madeira Islands, the rates of duty shall be as low as those accorded to any other country (Spain and Brazil being excepted from this provision) namely: Tariff No. 325. Flour of cereais, except wheat. Tariff No. 97. Tariff No. 98. Tariff No. 99. Tariff No. 373. Lard and grease. Mineral oils, and their products not elsewhere specified in the Tariff. Reaping, mowing, and threshing machines, machines for compressing hay and straw, steam ploughs, and separate parts of these machines and plough-shares. Tariff No. 386. Instruments, implements and tools for the arts, manufactories, agriculture, and gardening; and upon the following articles shall not exceed the rates hereinafter stated, namely: Upon the foregoing machines and articles described in No. 373, 5 reis per kilog. Upon the instruments, implements, and tools described above in No. 386, for use in agriculture and gardening, 60 reis per kilog. Upon lighter mineral oils for illuminating purposes (density of 0.780 up to 0.820; point of ignition from 37° up to 49°), 46 reis per litre. Upon medium mineral oils (density above 0·820 and up to 0-860; point of ignition from 50° up to 150°), 52 reis per kilog. Upon tar and mineral pitch, 10 reis per ton. III. It is mutually understood that His Most Faithful Majesty's Government reserves the right, after three months' prior notification to the United States' Government of its intention to do so, to arrest the operation of this Convention in case the United States shall hereafter impose a duty upon crude cork or coffee, being the product of Portugal or of the Portuguese possessions, or shall give less favourable treatment to the following articles, being the product of Portugal or of her possessions, than that accorded to the like articles being the product of any other country not under the control of the United States, namely: argols, crude tartar or wine lees, coffee, cacao, wines, brandies, cork, raw or manufactured, sardines and anchovies, preserved; and fruits, not preserved; but in respect to fruits the United States reserves the right to make special arrangements applicable to any of the West India Islands. IV. This Agreement shall be ratified by His Most Faithful Majesty, so soon as possible; and upon official notice thereof the President of the United States shall issue his Proclamation giving full effect to the provisions of Article I of this Agreement. From and after the date of such Proclamation this Agreement shall be in full force and effect, and shall continue in force for the term of five years thereafter, and if not then denounced by either Party shall continue in force until one year from the time when one of the Parties shall have notified the other of its intention to arrest the operation thereof. Done at Washington, the 22nd day of May, in the year 1899. SWISS NOTIFICATION of the Accession of Newfoundland to the Postal Insurance Agreement of Washington of the 15th June, 1897.1-Berne, September 29, 1899. M. LE MINISTRE, Berne, le 29 Septembre, 1899. Nous avons l'honneur d'informer votre Excellence que, par note datée du 20 courant, la Légation de Grande-Bretagne à Berne * Confirmed and ratified by Portuguese Decree of July 13, 1899. nous a donné connaissance de l'adhésion, à partir du 1er Octobre prochain, de la Colonie Britannique de Terre-Neuve à l'Arrangement de Washington du 15 Juin, 1897, concernant l'échange des lettres et des boîtes avec valeur déclarée. Vous verrez, par la copie ci-incluse de la note précitée, que la Colonie de Terre-Neuve fait les mêmes réserves que les autres Colonies Britanniques ayant déjà adhéré à cette Union, savoir, qu'elle n'admettra pas de boîtes avec valeur déclarée et restreindra à 1207. ou 3,000 fr. la valeur admise à l'expédition par lettres. Nous nous empressons de notifier cette adhésion à votre Excellence, conformément à l'Article XV de l'Arrangement précité et à l'Article XXIV de la Convention principale. Veuillez agréer, &c. Au nom du Conseil Fédéral Suisse, MÜLLER, Président de la Confédération. RINGIER, Chancelier de la Confédération. SWISS NOTIFICATION of the Accession of the Leeward Islands to the Postal Insurance Agreement of Washington of the 15th June, 1897.*-Berne, December 18, 1899. M. LE MINISTRE, Berne, le 18 Décembre, 1899. Nous avons l'honneur d'informer votre Excellence que, par note datée du 11 courant, la Légation de Grande-Bretagne à Berne nous a donné connaissance de l'adhésion, à partir du 1er Janvier prochain, de la Colonie Britannique des Iles Leeward (Antilles) à l'Arrangement de Washington du 15 Juin, 1897, concernant l'échange des lettres et des boîtes avec valeur déclarée. Vous verrez, par la copie ci-incluse de la note précitée, que la Colonie des Iles Leeward fait les mêmes réserve que les autres Colonies Britanniques ayant déjà adhéré à cette Union, savoir qu'elle n'admettra pas de boîtes avec valeur déclarée et restreindra à 1207. ou 3,000 fr. la valeur admise pour l'expédition par lettres. Nous nous empressons de notifier cette adhésion à votre Excellence, conformément à l'Article XV de l'Arrangement précité et à l'Article XXIV de la Convention principale. Veuillez agréer, &c., Au nom de Conseil Fédéral Suisse, MÜLLER, Président de la Confédération. RINGIER, Chancelier de la Confédération. *Vol. XC, page 1087. |
