definite agreement on the question of limits between the two countries, and they agreed on the following articles: 1st. The diplomatic discussion for a direct accord on fixing the limits between Brazil and Peru from the source of the Javary to the line of 11° south latitude will commence on the 1st of August, and shall close on the 31st of December of this year, 1904. 2nd. The two governments, desirous of maintaining and tightening more and more their friendly relations as neighbors, declare now their sincere purpose to resort to some other means of solving in a friendly way the international litigations, that is to say, to the good offices or to the mediation of some friendly government or the decision of an arbiter, if within the indicated period of time or within future limitations of time agreed upon they do not reach a direct satisfactory agreement. 3rd. During the discussion the following territories in litigation shall be neutral: (a) That of the basin of the Alto Juruá from the headwaters of that river, and from its higher affluents, down to the mouth and left margin of the River Breu, and from there to the west along the parallel of the confluents of the same Breu to the western limit of the basin of the Juruá ; (b) That of the basin of the alto Purús from the parallel of 11° to the place denominated Catay, inclusive. 4th. The policing of the two neutral territories shall be done by a mixed commission formed of one Brazilian commission and one Peruvian commission. Each commission shall be composed of a commissary of the rank of major or captain, of a commissary substitute of the rank of captain or lieutenant, and an escort of fifty men, and as many small boats as are necessary. 5th. To the left margin of the confluence of the Breu or at any other point above on the Juruá, as well as in Catay, or in some other near point on the Purús, there shall be established mixed police stations which shall furnish documents in order that the export duties of the products of the two temporarily neutralized regions may be collected in the Brazilian customs house, either of Manaos or of Pará, and shall receive the certificates of the payments of import duties which, in either of the two above-cited Brazilian customs houses of Manaos or Pará, or in the Peruvian customs house of Iquitos, may have been affected in despatching goods to their destination in the said temporarily neutralized territories. The export and import duties shall be the same as those which the Brazilian Federal Government now collects at its fiscal stations, and the half of the same shall fall to each one of the two countries. 6th. The crimes committed by the Brazilians in the two neutral territories shall be tried by Brazilian judges, and those committed by Peruvians by Peruvian judges. Individuals of other nationalities who commit crimes against Brazilians shall be tried by the judges of Brazil, and against Peruvians by the judges of Peru. As to those of other nationalities accused of crimes against individuals who are neither Brazilians or Peruvians, either Brazilian or Peruvian jurisdiction shall be competent to judge them, according to the common agreement of the commissaries of the two republics, after an examination of the case. 7th. Doubts or divergencies which may arise between the commissaries shall be made known to the two governments in order that they may solve them. 8th. The expenses of the respective personnel and material, including those of the escort, shall be charged to the two governments. 9th. Besides the two mixed commissions of administration, each government shall nominate a special commissary for the alto Purús and another for the alto Juruá, with the helpers and escorts that may be necessary, forming thus two other mixed commissions, which shall be charged with making a rapid reconnoissance of the two rivers in neutral territories. 10th. The personnel of the commissions treated of in the foregoing articles shall be designated within thirty days from the date of the present agreement and should reach the indicated regions with the greatest possible brevity. 11th. Both governments, by common agreement, shall formulate the instructions by which the mixed commissions shall govern themselves. 12th. The two governments of Brazil and Peru declare that the clauses of this provisional agreement do not in anywise affect the territorial rights which each of them defends. In the faith of which two copies of this agreement were written, each one of them written in the Portuguese and Spanish language, in the place and date above declared. [L. S.] [L. S.] RIO-BRANCO. [Inclosure 2.] Convention of arbitration between Brazil and Peru for the solution of complaints of their citizens, concluded in Rio de Janeiro on the 12th of July, 1904. The Government of the Republic of the United States of Brazil and the Government of the Republic of Peru desiring in the interests of the good relations of friendship between the two countries that, owing to facts which took place in the alto Juruá and in the alto Purús, the complaints of their citizens be examined and resolved promptly and equitably, gave for this purpose the necessary instructions to their plenipotentiaries, viz: The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil to Mr. José Maria da Silva Paranhos do Rio-Branco, minister of foreign affairs; and The President of the Republic of Peru to Dr. Don Hernán Velarde, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the same Republic in Brazil; Who, properly authorized, agree to the following: ARTICLE I. The complaints of Brazilian and Peruvian citizens for damages or violences which they may have suffered or pretend to have suffered in the alto Juruá and in the alto Purús since 1902 shall be deferred to the judgment of a tribunal of arbitration, which shall sit in the city of Rio de Janeiro and shall begin its functions six months after the exchange of the ratifications of this compact. ARTICLE II. There will be formed a tribunal of two arbiters, one a Brazilian, the other a Peruvian, nominated by the same respective governments one month after the exchange of the ratifications of this convention, and a subarbiter, chosen at the same time by the two governments from among the chiefs of the diplomatic corps accredited to Brazil. ARTICLE III. Within the space of a year, counting from the first meeting, or within six months, if possible, the tribunal should examine and resolve all claims, with the power to judge them according to law or “ex æquo et bono.” Only those claims will be examined and judged which are received within six months, counting from the beginning of their work. ARTICLE IV. The conclusions of the tribunal will be considered by the high contracting parties as decisive and satisfactory, perfect and irrevocable, obliging also the claimants beforehand to accept them as definite. ARTICLE V. The payment of indemnities resolved will be made by one government to the other within the term of a year, counting from the date of the closing of the session of the tribunal, and without interest or any deduction. ARTICLE VI. Each of the two Governments will pay the salary of its arbiter and the helpers of same, as well as half of the salary of the subarbiter, which will be fixed opportunely. ARTICLE XII. The ratifications of this compact will be exchanged in Rio de Janeiro within the space of four months, or sooner if possible. In faith of which, we, the plenipotentiaries above mentioned, sign the same on two copies, each one in the Portuguese and Spanish language, putting upon them our respective seals. Done in Rio de Janeiro the twelfth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and four. [L. S.] [L. S.] RIO-BRANCO. BULGARIA. AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER IN MACEDONIA. No. 33. Bulgarian series.] Mr. Wilson to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, Athens, April 15, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy (London Times, April 11) of the Turco-Bulgarian agreement signed at Constantinople on the 8th instant. A protocol has been added, stating that both parties shall make special arrangements concerning: (1) The measures to be taken to insure the security of the frontier; (2) the regulation of the postal and telegraph service; (3) the reciprocal extradition of criminals and deserters; (4) conditions regarding military service; (5) the powers of their respective commercial agents; (6) arrangements for the future connection of railways, as the interests of the two contracting parties may require. I have, etc., CHARLES S. WILSON. [Inclosure. Translation.] [From the London Times, April 11, 1904.] Turco-Bulgarian agreement. The Imperial Ottoman Government and the principality of Bulgaria have agreed upon the following points: 1. The principality of Bulgaria pledges itself to prevent upon its territory, as well as upon the territory of eastern Rumelia, the formation of revolutionary committees and of armed bands, as well as to prevent all acts and conspiracies directed against the Empire, and to punish with all severity such persons as, having committed acts against public peace in the neighboring provinces, have taken refuge in Bulgaria or in eastern Rumelia. 2. The principality shall take the necessary measures to prevent the introduction into the neighboring vilayets of all explosives or poisons, as well as any article prejudicial to public health. 3. The reforms agreed upon between Turkey, Austria, and Russia for the Vilayets of Salonika, Monastir, and Kossovo shall be applied by the Ottoman Government. The general amnesty which the Sultan in his gracious clemency has been pleased to grant will have full effect, and in consequence such persons as have been imprisoned or exiled on a charge of, or for the prevention of, crime, or who have, directly or indirectly, committed revolutionary acts, and all such as have been convicted of political offenses, shall be set at liberty and repatriated, with the exception of persons convicted of dynamite attacks against ships, railways, bridges, and public institutions. 4. The inhabitants of Rumelia who, in consequence of the recent disturbances, have taken refuge in Bulgaria or eastern Rumelia, or who, while remaining in their homes, have had their houses destroyed, will be granted assistance in their villages by the imperial authorities for rebuilding their homes, and will also have their lands returned to them. 5. A special arrangement shall be made for the reciprocal extradition of criminals and deserters. In order to prevent brigands and revolutionary bands from crossing the frontier, mixed corps shall be established on both sides, and a separate agreement shall be made on this subject. A mixed commission shall be established to settle pending questions and shall begin its work at once. 6. The customs restrictions lately imposed exceptionally upon articles from Bulgaria and eastern Rumelia shall be rescinded, and the former facilities shall be reestablished. 7. Railway trains shall be allowed to cross the frontier without hindrance, and no obstacles shall be placed in the way of Bulgarians traveling on their private business from the principality and eastern Rumelia who are furnished with the regulation papers. 8. Civil and judicial posts shall be open to Bulgarians who have the requisite qualifications. No. 31. Bulgarian series.] CONDITIONS IN MACEDONIA. Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that a hopeful feeling continues to prevail with regard to events in the Balkans in the coming spring. It is reported that engagenments have been made between the Porte and the Bulgarian agent at Constantinople with a view to preventing trouble between Turkey and Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian military authorities have taken measures, much more serious than those taken last year, to prevent the formation of bands on Bulgarian territory and their crossing over into Turkey. Even the insurgent leaders are said to have announced that they are ready to await the result of the so-called reforms and will do nothing to prevent their being a success. The Comitadges continue to terrorize the Macedonian peasants. especially those who have recently detached themselves from the Bulgarian exarchate and have gone over to the orthodox patriarchate. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. No. 35. Bulgarian series.] Mr. Jackson to Mr. Hay. AMERICAN LEGATION, SIR: Although the Comitadges continue to be active on a small scale and there are more or less frequent reports of encounters between small bands and Turkish troops, it can not be denied that the reforms introduced by Russia and Austria and the recent TurkishBulgarian agreement have brought about comparative tranquillity in Macedonia, even if both the reforms and the agreement are as yet but partially and imperfectly effective. In returning to Athens from Belgrade I felt no hesitation in traveling by way of Uskub and Salonika. * * Turkish soldiers (frequently Albanians) were present at every station and at all the tunnels, bridges, etc., but so * FR 1904 M--8 far as could be seen from the train the country seemed to be peaceful, the peasants happy and good-natured, and the fields generally under cultivation. It does not seem probable that any general outbreak will take place this year. Recently Servian and Bulgarian students have exchanged visits— the Bulgarians having been in Belgrade while I was there a few days ago, and having been received with a good deal of enthusiasm-and only a day or two ago there was a meeting between the Prince of Bulgaria on his way to Europe, and the King of Servia at Nisch. I have, etc., JOHN B. JACKSON. |