mulgated and in force, the texts of which have been communicated to the American Legation in Bangkok, the rights and liabilities of the parties shall be determined by Siamese law. For the purpose of trying such cases and of executing any judgments which may be rendered therein, the jurisdiction of the American Diplomatic and Consular officials in Siam is continued. Should the United States perceive, within a reasonable time after the promulgation of said Codes, any objection to said Codes, namely, the Penal Code, the Civil and Commercial Codes, the Codes of Procedure and the Law for Organization of Courts, the Siamese Government will endeavor to meet such objections. ARTICLE III Appeals by citizens of the United States or by persons, corporations, companies or/and associations entitled to its protection, from judgments of Courts of First Instance in cases to which they may be parties, shall be adjudged by the Court of Appeal at Bangkok. An appeal on a question of law shall lie from the Court of Appeal at Bangkok to the Supreme or Dika Court. A citizen of the United States or a person, corporation, company or association entitled to its protection, who is defendant or accused in any case arising in the Provinces, may apply for a change of venue and should the Court consider such change desirable the trial shall take place either at Bangkok or before the judge in whose Court the case would be tried at Bangkok. ARTICLE IV In order to prevent difficulties which may arise from the transfer of jurisdiction contemplated by the present Protocol, it is agreed, (a) All cases in which action shall be taken subsequently to the date of the exchange of ratifications of the above-mentioned Treaty, shall be entered and decided in the Siamese Courts, whether the cause of action arose before or after the date of said exchange of ratifications. (b) All cases pending before the American Diplomatic and Consular officials in Siam on said date shall take their usual course before such officials until such cases have been finally disposed of, and the jurisdiction of the American Diplomatic and Consular officials shall remain in full force for this purpose. In connection with any case coming before the American Diplomatic or Consular officials under clause (b) of Article IV, or which may be evoked by said officials under Article II, the Siamese authorities shall upon request by such Diplomatic or Consular officials lend their assistance in all matters pertaining to the case. In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have hereto signed their names and affixed their seals, this sixteenth day of December, in the nineteen hundred and twentieth year of the Christian Era, corresponding to the sixteenth day of the ninth month in the two thousand found hundred and sixty-third year of the Buddhist Era. [The Siamese Minister to the Acting Secretary of State.] SIAMESE LEGATION, Washington, December 16, 1920. Mr. Secretary: Referring to Article I of the treaty signed by us this day which provides among other things for the leasing and ownership of real property in Siam by Americans, I have the honor to state that: 1. As to the lands for which the missions now possess papers of any kind or of which the missions are otherwise in legal occupation they should apply to have title papers issued in the regular way. 2. As to the lands held under lease from Government, the Siamese Government will not interrupt the possession by the missions as long as they continue to use the land for mission purposes. 3. However, in Ratburi the Mission is now occupying a house belonging to the Siamese Government; this must be returned when asked for. 4. It should be understood that the Siamese Government is not identified with Wat administration; that is to say, the foregoing understanding must not be construed as a promise by the Government to interfere with lands held and claimed by religious authorities, whether Buddhists or of any other faith. 5. Of course, all Mission lands are held subject to the exercise by the Siamese Government of the right of eminent domain. I avail myself of the occasion to offer to you the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. Sir: The Honorable, NORMAN H. DAVIS, Acting Secretary of State. PRABHA KARAVONGSE [The Acting Secretary of State to the Siamese Minister.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1920. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of this date referring to the provisions of Article I of the treaty signed by us today and relating to the real property now in possession of American missionary societies in Siam. I note that: 1. As to the lands for which the missions now possess papers of any kind or of which the missions are otherwise in legal occupation they should apply to have title papers issued in the regular way. 2. As to the lands held under lease from Government, the Siamese Government will not interrupt the possession by the missions as long as they continue to use the land for mission purposes. 3. However, in Ratburi the Mission is now occupying a house belonging to the Siamese Government; this must be returned when asked for. 4. It is understood that the Siamese Government is not identified with Wat administration; that is to say, the foregoing understanding must not be construed as a promise by the Government to interfere with lands held and claimed by religious authorities, whether Buddhists or of any other faith. 5. All Mission Lands are held subject to the exercise by the Siamese Government of the right of eminent domain. I have the honor to express my satisfaction with this pronouncement. NORMAN H. DAVIS, Acting Secretary of State. PHYA PRABHA KARAVONGSE, Siamese Minister. AN ACT RELATING TO THE LANDING AND OPERATION OF SUBMARINE CABLES IN THE UNITED STATES1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no person shall land or operate in the United States any submarine cable directly or indirectly connecting the United States with any foreign country, or connecting one portion of the United States with any other portion thereof, unless a written license to land or operate such cable has been issued by the President of the United States: Provided, That any such cable now laid within the United States without a license granted by the President may continue to operate without such license for a period of ninety days from the date this Act takes effect: And provided further, That the conditions of this Act shall not apply to cables, all of which, including both terminals, lie wholly within the continental United States. Sec. 2. That the President may withhold or revoke such license when he shall be satisfied after due notice and hearing that such action will assist 1 Public, No. 8, 67th Congress, (S. 535.) in securing rights for the landing or operation of cables in foreign countries, or in maintaining the rights or interests of the United States or of its citizens in foreign countries, or will promote the security of the United States, or may grant such license upon such terms as shall be necessary to assure just and reasonable rates and service in the operation and use of cables so licensed: Provided, That the license shall not contain terms or conditions granting to the licensee exclusive rights of landing or of operation in the United States: And provided further, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit the power and jurisdiction heretofore granted the Interstate Commerce Commission with respect to the transmission of messages. Sec. 3. That the President is empowered to prevent the landing of any cable about to be landed in violation of this Act. When any such cable is about to be or is landed or is being operated, without a license, any district court of the United States exercising jurisdiction in the district in which such cable is about to be or is landed, or any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties, shall have jurisdiction, at the suit of the United States, to enjoin the landing or operation of such cable or to compel, by injunction, the removal thereof. Sec. 4. That whoever knowingly commits, instigates, or assists in any act forbidden by section 1 of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Sec. 5. That the term "United States" as used in this Act includes the Canal Zone, the Philippine Islands, and all territory, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States of America. Sec. 6. That no right shall accrue to any Government, person, or corporation under the terms of this Act that may not be rescinded, changed, modified, or amended by the Congress. Approved, May 27, 1921. TREATY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEACE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND VENEZUELA1 Signed at Caracas, March 21, 1921 The President of the United States of Venezuela and the President of the United States of America, being desirous to strengthen the bonds of amity that bind Venezuela and the United States together and also to advance the cause of general peace, have resolved to enter into a treaty for that purpose and to that end have appointed as their plenipotentiaries: 'U. S. Treaty Series, No. 652. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA: Señor Doctor MANUEL DIAZ RODRIGUEZ, Minister for Foreign Relations; and THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: MR. PRESTON MCGOODWIN, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of said Nation to Venezuela; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found to be in proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: ARTICLE I. The High Contracting Parties agree that all disputes between them, of every nature whatsoever, which diplomacy shall fail to adjust, shall be submitted for investigation and report to a Permanent International Commission, to be constituted in the manner prescribed in article II; and they agree, if the case arises, not to declare war nor to begin hostilities during such investigation and before the report has been considered. ARTICLE II. The International Commission shall be composed of five members, to be appointed as follows: one member shall be chosen from each country, by the Government thereof; one member shall be chosen by each Government from some third country; the fifth member shall be chosen by common agreement between the two Governments, who can also submit his election to the four arbitrators already appointed; it being understood that he shall not be a citizen of either of the two countries. The expenses shall be paid by the two Governments in equal proportion. The International Commission shall be appointed within six months after the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty; and the vacancies shall be filled according to the manner of the original appointment. ARTICLE III. In case the High Contracting parties shall have failed to adjust a dispute by diplomatic methods, they shall at once refer it to the International Commission for investigation and report. The International Commission may, however, before taking diplomatic steps or in the course thereof, act upon its own initiative, and in such case it shall notify both Governments and request their cooperation in the investigation. The High Contracting Parties agree to afford to the Permanent International Commission all the means and facilities required for its investigation and report. In each instance, the report of the International Commission shall be completed within one year after the date on which it shall declare its inves |