Act of Congress, approved 4th March, 1915,* to alien seamen within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States involved an abrogation of treaty provision inconsistent therewith. The President, therefore, using the discretion which he considered was granted to him to interpret the Act in the sense contemplated by Congress, authorised this Legation to propose an arrangement between the two Governments which would carry out the purpose of the Act by the elimination of stipulations in the Treaty of the 4th July, 1827, inconsistent with the Act. Since the Swedish Government apparently considers that it is not in a position to acquiesce in an arrangement of this character, it appears that a satisfactory solution of the existing situation with regard to the stipulations in question can only be found in the denouncement of the Treaty in its entirety. I have the honour to request that you be good enough to make acknowledgment to me of this notification.

I avail, &c.

IRA N. MORRIS.

(2.)-The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs to the United States Minister at Stockholm

M. le Ministre,

Stockholm, le 12 février 1918. J'AI l'honneur d'accuser réception de votre lettre, en date du 4 de ce mois, par laquelle vous avez bien voulu notifier au Gouvernement du Roi l'intention du Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d'Amérique de faire cesser, à partir du 4 février 1919, l'effet du traité d'amitié et de commerce conclu entre la Suède et les Etats-Unis d'Amérique le 4 juillet 1827. Veuillez agréer, &c.

HELLNER.

ACT of the Congress of the United States of America to provide a Civil Government for Porto Rico, and for other Purposes.-Approved, March 2, 1917.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. That the provisions of this Act shall apply to the island of Porto Rico and to the adjacent islands belonging to the United States, and waters of those islands; and the name * Vol. CX, page 955.

Porto Rico as used in this Act shall be held to include not only the island of that name but all the adjacent islands as aforesaid.

Bill of Rights.

2. That no law shall be enacted in Porto Rico which shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, or deny to any person therein the equal protection of the laws.

That in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to have the assistance of counsel for his defence, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to have a copy thereof, to have a speedy and public trial, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favour.

That no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offence without due process of law; and no person for the same offence shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

That all persons shall before conviction be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offences when the proof is evident or the presumption great.

That no law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be enacted.

That no person shall be imprisoned for debt.

That the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion, insurrection, or invasion the public safety may require it, in either of which events the same may be suspended by the President, or by the Governor, whenever during such period the necessity for such suspension shall exist.

That no ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

Private property shall not be taken or damaged for publis use except upon payment of just compensation ascertained in the manner provided by law.

Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to Emit the power of the Legislature to enact laws for the protect. n of the lives, health, or safety of employees.

That no law granting a title of nobility shall be enacted. and no person holding any office of profit or trust under th Government of Porto Rico shall, without the consent of the Congress of the United States, accept any present, en la ment, office, or title of any kind whatever from any queen, prince or foreign State, or any officer thereof.

That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excess re fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

That the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.

That no warrant for arrest or search shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

That slavery shall not exist in Porto Rico.

That involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall not exist in Porto Rico.

That no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances.

That no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference shall for ever be allowed, and that no political or religious test other than an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the laws of Porto Rico shall be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the Government of Porto Rico.

That no public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution or association, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary as such, or for charitable, industrial, educational, or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation, or community not under the absolute control of Porto Rico. Contracting of polygamous or plural marriages hereafter is prohibited.

That one year after the approval of this Act and thereafter it shall be unlawful to import, manufacture, sell, or give away, or to expose for sale or gift any intoxicating drink or drug: Provided that the Legislature may authorise and regulate importation, manufacture, and sale of said liquors and drugs for medicinal, sacramental, industrial, and scientific uses only. The penalty for violations of this provision with reference to intoxicants shall be a fine of not less than 25 dollars for the first offence, and for second and subsequent offences a fine of not less than 50 dollars and imprisonment for not less than one month or more than one year: And provided further that at any general election within five years after the approval of this Act this provision may, upon petition of not less than 10 per cent. of the qualified electors of Porto Rico, be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of Porto Rico, and if a majority of all the qualified electors

of Porto Rico voting upon such question shall vote to repeal this provision, it shall thereafter not be in force and effect; otherwise it shall be in full force and effect.

That no money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation by law, and on warrant drawn by the proper officer in pursuance thereof.

That the rule of taxation in Porto Rico shall be uniform.

That all money derived from any tax levied or assessed for a special purpose shall be treated as a special fund in the Treasury and paid out for such purpose only except upon the approval of the President of the United States.

That eight hours shall constitute a day's work in all cases of employment of labourers and mechanics by and on behalf of the Government of the island on public works, except in cases of emergency.

That the employment of children under the age of 14 years in any occupation injurious to health or morals or hazardous to life or limb is hereby prohibited.

3. That no export duties shall be levied or collected on exports from Porto Rico, but taxes and assessments on property, internal revenue, and licence fees, and royalties for franchises, privileges and concessions may be imposed for the purposes of the insular and municipal Governments respectively, as may be provided and defined by the Legislature of Porto Rico; and when necessary to anticipate taxes and revenues, bonds and other obligations may be issued by Porto Rico or any municipal Government therein as may be provided by law, and to protect the public credit: Provided, however, that no public indebtedness of Porto Rico or of any subdivision or municipality thereof shall be authorised or allowed in excess of 7 per cent. of the aggregate tax valuation of its property, and all bonds issued by the Government of Porto Rico, or by its authority, shall be exempt from taxation by the Government of the United States, or by the Government of Porto Rico or of any political or municipal subdivision thereof, or by any State, or by any county, municipality, or other municipal subdivision of any State or Territory of the United States, or by the District of Columbia. In computing the indebtedness of the people of Porto Rico, bonds issued by the people of Porto Rico secured by an equivalent amount of bonds of municipal corporations or school boards of Porto Rico shall not be counted.

4. That the capital of Porto Rico shall be at the city of San Juan, and the seat of Government shall be maintained there. 5. That all citizens of Porto Rico, as defined by Section 7 of the Act of the 12th April, 1900,*"temporarily to provide

* Vol. XCII, page 742.

revenues and a civil Government for Porto Rico, and for other purposes, and all natives of Porto Rico who were temporarily absent from that island on the 11th April, 1899, and have since returned and are permanently residing in that island, and are not citizens of any foreign country, are hereby declared, and shall be deemed and held to be, citizens of the United States: Provided that any person hereinbefore described may retain his present political status by making a declaration, under oath, of his decision to do so within six months of the taking effect of this Act before the district court in the district in which he resides, the declaration to be in form as follows:

"I, being duly sworn, hereby declare my intention not to become a citizen of the United States as provided in the Act of Congress conferring United States citizenship upon citizens of Porto Rico and certain natives permanently residing in said island."

In the case of any such person who may be absent from the island during said six months the term of this proviso may be availed of by transmitting a declaration, under oath, in the form herein provided within six months of the taking effect of this Act to the Executive Secretary of Porto Rico: And provided further that any person who is born in Porto Rico of an alien parent and is permanently residing in that island may, if of full age, within six months of the taking effect of this Act, or if a minor, upon reaching his majority or within one year thereafter, make a sworn declaration of allegiance to the United States before the United States District Court for Porto Rico, setting forth therein all the facts connected with his or her birth and residence in Porto Rico and accompanying due proof thereof, and from and after the making of such declaration shall be considered to be a citizen of the United States.

6. That all expenses that may be incurred on account of the Government of Porto Rico for salaries of officials and the conduct of their offices and departments, and all expenses and obligations contracted for the internal improvement or development of the island, not, however, including defences, barracks, harbours, lighthouses, buoys, and other works undertaken by the United States, shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by the Congress, be paid by the Treasurer of Porto Rico out of the revenue in his custody.

7. That all property which may have been acquired in Porto Rico by the United States under the cession of Spain in the Treaty of Peace entered into on the 10th day of December, 1898, in any public bridges, road houses, water powers, highways, unnavigable streams and the beds thereof, subter

*

* Vol. XC, page 382.