the same character or nature as, or analogous to, those produced by morphine or cocaine. I avail, &c. A. PERCY BENNETT. (No. 2.)-The Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs to the British Minister at San José, Costa Rica. (Translation.) M. le Ministre, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, I ACKNOWLEDGE the receipt of your Excellency's note of yesterday's date, in regard to the restrictions imposed by His Britannic Majesty's Government on the export from the United Kingdom of the drugs specified in that note, and in reply I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Ministry of Finance and Commerce accepts the proposals therein set forth. In the future the Costa Rican houses who wish to purchase in England crude opium, morphine, cocaine, ecgonine, heroin or their respective salts and medicinal opium, and any other preparation, admixture, extract or other substance which contains not less than 5 per cent. of morphine or 10 per cent. of cocaine, ecgonine or diamorphine, or any other drug of a similar character which produces effects analogous to those produced by morphine or cocaine, will, before sending their order, have to prove in the Ministry of Finance that the products which they wish to import are not required for other than the medical or scientific needs of the country, from which they will not be re-exported, all without prejudice to the other requirements of the Law of 1907 regarding the import of such drugs. When the above-mentioned Office is in possession of this proof, it will issue a certificate similar to that which I shall take the opportunity of sending to your Excellency as soon as it is ready in the respective Department, and this document will be sent by the interested party to the English house for production to the British authorities. I avail, &c. ALEJANDRO ALVARADO QUIROS. (No. 3.) The British Minister at Panamá to the Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs M. le Ministre, British Legation, Panamá, March 9, 1923. I HAVE the honour to refer to Señor Alejandro Alvarado's note of the 24th May, 1921, relative to the control of the traffic in drugs between Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, and to transmit to your Excellency herewith copy of a despatch which I have just received from His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, pointing out a slight discrepancy between the terms of my note of the 23rd May, 1921, and of Señor Alvarado's reply above mentioned. The discrepancy referred to in the enclosed despatch is undoubtedly merely the result of an oversight, and I should be much obliged if your Excellency would be good enough to have this error corrected in a supplementary note at your Excellency's earliest possible convenience in order that the registration desired by His Majesty's Government may be duly effected. I would add that a similar emendation will be necessary in the certificate enclosed in Señor Alvarado's note of the 6th June, which was published in the "Official Gazette" of the 11th June, 1921, together with the formal exchange of notes between our respective Governments. I avail, &c. A. PERCY BENNETT. (No. 4.) The Costa Rican Minister for Foreign Affairs to the British Chargé d'Affaires at Panamá. (Translation.) M. le Chargé d'Affaires, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, San José, July 25, 1923. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith two copies of the Gaceta," No. 75, of the 5th April last, in which the Ministry of Finance and Trade of this Republic published the new and corrected model certificate to be issued to Costa Rican importers desiring to introduce from England crude opium, morphine, cocaine, ecgonine, heroin or their respective salts, and medicinal opium, as well as any other substance containing not less than one-fifth per cent. of morphine or one-tenth per cent. of cocaine, ecgonine, diamorphine or any similar drug. The terms of this new certificate will satisfy the requirements expressed by your Legation in notes of the 9th March and the 14th July of this year, respectively; and will likewise correct, as regards the percentage indicated, the note from this Ministry of the 24th May, 1921, concerning the control of the traffic in drugs between Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. I avail, &c. .M. OBREGON L. (Translation.) Enclosure in No. 4. THE following formula for an authority to be issued by the Ministry of Finance to those wishing to order opium and other drugs mentioned therein from England is reproduced on account of a typographical error in the original: "The undersigned, Secretary of State in the Department of Finance and Trade, states that Mr. has presented himself in this office to declare: 1. That he proposes to order from the English house resident in....... and a trader or manufacturer of exclusive consumption in Costa Rica, the following for 2. That whereas the Executive Power has adopted the suggestion of the British Government that Costa Rican firms desirous of purchasing in England crude opium, morphine, cocaine, ecgonine, heroin or their respective salts, and medicinal opium, as well as any other substance which contains not less than one-fifth per cent. of morphine or one-tenth per cent. of cocaine, ecgonine, diamorphine or any other similar drug, must previously prove administratively that the goods ordered are destined exclusively to fill the medical or scientific needs of Costa Rica, the declarant, Mr. solemnly undertakes not to re-export that merchandise to other countries, and to comply strictly with the prevailing law in Costa Rica in regard to opium and its alkaloids, according to which law these substances cannot be delivered to private persons without a medical prescription, that is to say, can only be assigned to medical or scientific requirements, a regulation which the declarant will equally apply to cocaine and to the preparations in which the percentage of morphine is as above indicated. 3. That in the fulfilment of that promise he stakes his good faith as a merchant, and grants the Ministry of Finance the right to deny him authority for other similar orders, should he in any respect fail in the present undertaking, without prejudice to his other responsibilities. "In faith of which this is signed by the Secretary of State and by the interested party, in the City of San José, Republic of Costa Rica, on the day of ..... ..., 192 ." AGREEMENT between Great Britain and the Czechoslovak Republic respecting Commercial Travellers' Samples.London, January 31, 1923.(1) [Ratifications exchanged at Prague. Septeraher 7, 1923.} THE Government of His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic, being desirous of facilitating the clearance through their respective Customs. Departments of samples of dutiable goods brought into Great Britain or the Czechoslovak Republic by commercial travellers of the Czechoslovak Republic or Great Britain respectively to be used as models or patterns for the purpose of obtaining orders and not for sale, mutually agree as follows: Articles liable to duty serving as patterns and samples which are introduced into Great Britain by commercial travellers of the Czechoslovak Republic or into the Czechoslovak Republic by commercial travellers of Great Britain shall henceforth be admitted free of duty, subject to the following formalities requisite to ensure their being re-exported or placed in bond: I. The officers of Customs at any port or place at which the patterns or samples may be imported shall ascertain the amount of duty chargeable thereon. That amount must either be deposited by the commercial traveller in money or ample security must be given. II. For the purpose of identification, the marks, stamps or seals placed upon such samples by the Customs authorities of one of the Contracting Parties shall be recognised as sufficient by those of the other party. Should the samples, however, arrive without bearing the above-mentioned marks of identity, or should the marks not appear sufficient to the Administration interested, a supplementary mark may be affixed to such samples if considered desirable, in such a way as not to injure them, and without charge. III. A permit or certificate shall be given to the importer which shall contain (a.) A list of the patterns or samples imported, specifying the nature of the goods and such marks as may be proper for the purpose of identification. (b.) A statement of the duty chargeable on the patterns or samples, as also whether the amount was deposited in money or whether security was given for it. (c.) A statement relative to the manner in which the patterns or samples were marked. (1) "Treaty Series, No. 19 (1923)." Signed also in the Czechoslovak language. (d.) The appointment of a period, which at the utmost must not exceed twelve months, at the expiration of which, unless it is proved that the patterns or samples have been previously re-exported or placed in bond, the amount of duty deposited will be carried to the public account, or the amount recovered under the security given. IV. Patterns or samples may also be re-exported through any other Custom-house than the one through which they were imported. V. If, before the expiration of the appointed time provided for in paragraph 3 (d) the patterns or samples should be presented at the Custom-house of any port or place for the purpose of re-exportation or being placed in bond, the officers at such port or place must satisfy themselves by examination whether the articles which are brought to them are the same as those for which the permit of entry was granted. If there are no objections in this respect, the officers will certify the re-exportation or deposit in bond, and will refund the duty which had been deposited, or will take necessary steps for discharging the security. The aforesaid Agreement will enter into force on the exchange of ratification documents, which will take place as early as possible at Prague. This Agreement shall remain in operation for three months from the date on which either Contracting Party shall have given notice of its intention of denouncing it. Done in duplicate at London, in the English and Czechoslovak languages, the 31st January, 1923. (L.S.) CURZON OF KEDLESTON. TREATY OF COMMERCE between Great Britain and the Czechoslovak Republic, and accompanying Declaration.London, July 14, 1923.(1) [Ratifications exchanged at London, September 4, 1924.] HIS Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, being desirous of further facilitating and extending the commercial relations already existing between their respective countries, have determined to conclude a Treaty of Commerce with this object, and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say: (1) Treaty Series, No. 35 (1924)." |