ARGENTINA. FIRST PAN AMERICAN FINANCIAL CONFERENCE AND HIGH COMMISSION. (See Circulars. See also International expositions, conferences and congresses.) MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT, VICTORINO DE LA PLAZA, TO THE File No. 835.032/15. No. 45.] CONGRESS. Ambassador Stimson to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Buenos Aires, May 12, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to report that on Monday, May 10, I assisted at the formal opening of Congress by the President of the Nation, and enclose herewith a copy of the message which he read on that occasion. I have [etc.] [Inclosure Extract-Translation.] F. J. STIMSON. At the opening of your last ordinary session, I communicated to you the steps that had been taken by the Argentine Government, in conjunction with the Governments of Brazil and Chile, to arrive at a solution of the armed conflict that had a short time previously arisen between the United States of America and Mexico. I said to you then: "It will be a great day for America when peace is reestablished between these nations, through a friendly mediation which aims at terminating a conflict which is contrary to the spirit of solidarity and of harmony, linked together in a community of sentiment in the PanAmerican Congresses." This desire has been realized, and in a measure beyond that which in our most optimistic moods we thought possible. When the conference met at Niagara Falls the representatives of the belligerent countries approached the study of their subject in an atmosphere of the greatest harmony, under the auspices of the diplomats of the mediating countries. The high spirit of equanimity which presided at the meetings allowed both parties to find a solution of their problems worthy of both adversaries, and as a consequence, a peace protocol was signed, whose stipulations were accepted without protest and carried out loyally. In this way, a conflict that had led to the outbreak of hostilities and which threatened the serenity of the whole continent was peacefully and decorously settled. I have reason to think that the solution so happily arrived at in this case has met with equal sympathy both in the two countries concerned and in the three nations which lent the weight of their moral influence to the mediation. Shortly after the signing of the protocol, the United States Government and the Government of Mexico expressed their gratitude to the mediators in cordial and effusive terms, significant for the unanimity they evidenced and for the marks of spontaneity they bore. From the first moment our chancellery accepted the proposition of the United States to establish closer financial relations between the Republics of America. When we were invited to send a representative to the Financial Congress shortly to be held in Washington for the purpose, the Executive Power appointed Mr. Samuel Hale Pearson, director of the Bank of the Nation, and Dr. Ricardo C. Aldao, former Minister of Finance for the Province of Buenos Aires, as delegates to represent the Argentine Government in this important conference, at which consideration will not only be given to banking matters but to transport and commerce between the various countries concerned. You were duly informed of the invitation of the United States to this Government to raise the grading of their respective diplomatic representations. This proof of friendly deference was peculiarly agreeable to the Executive Power, for it meant that the progress made by our country in the realm of the moral and the material was recognized by the powerful Republic of the north. To fill the new role, the North American Government has appointed Dr. Frederic J. Stimson, a distinguished citizen and one exceptionally well fitted to assume the position. We have appointed Dr. Rómulo S. Naón to represent us at Washington, where he was formerly our Minister Plenipotentiary, a man whose earlier capability and skill and whose brilliant work elected him for the post. The creation of these two Embassies is a mile-stone on the road of our diplomatic progress. It is significant of the state of our international standing, and it binds us still closer to the United States of America, already linked to this Republic by a similar act. BOLIVIA. TREATY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF GENERAL PEACE, CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BOLIVIA. Signed at Washington, January 22, 1914: ratification advised by the Senate, August 13, 1914; ratified by the President, January 4, 1915; ratified by Bolivia, November 14, 1914; ratifications exchanged at Washington, January 8, 1915; proclaimed, January 9, 1915. Treaty Series No. 606.] BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, a Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Bolivia looking to the advancement of the cause of general peace was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at Washington, on the twenty-second day of January, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, the original of which Treaty, being in the English and Spanish languages, is word for word as follows: The United States of America and the Republic of Bolivia, being desirous to strengthen the bonds of amity that bind them 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: The President of the United States, the Honorable William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State; and The President of Bolivia, Señor Don Ignacio Calderon, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Bolivia to the United States: 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, to the settlement of which previous arbitration treaties or agreements do not apply in their terms or are not applied in fact, shall, when diplomatic methods of adjustment have failed, be referred for investigation and report to a permanent International Commission, to be constituted in the manner prescribed in the next succeeding article; and they agree not to declare war or begin hostilities during such investigation and before the report is submitted. 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, it being understood that he shall not be a citizen of either country. Each of the High Contracting Parties shall have the right to remove, at any time before investigation begins, any Commissioner selected by it and to name his successor, and under the same conditions shall also have the right to withdraw its approval of the fifth Commissioner selected jointly; in which case a new Commissioner shall be selected jointly as in the original selection. The Commissioners shall, when actually employed in the investigation of a dispute, receive such compensation as shall be agreed upon by the High Contracting Parties. The expenses of the Commission shall be paid by the two Governments in equal proportion. The International Commission shall be appointed as soon as possible after the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty; and 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, by unanimous agreement spontaneously offer its services to that effect, and in such case it shall notify both Governments and request their cooperation in the investigation. The High Contracting Parties agree to furnish the Permanent International Commission with all the means and facilities required for its investigation and report. The report of the International Commission shall be completed within one year after the date on which it shall declare its investigation to have begun, unless the High Contracting Parties shall limit or extend the time by mutual agreement. The report shall be prepared in triplicate; one copy shall be presented to each Government, and the third retained by the Commission for its files. The High Contracting Parties reserve the right to act independently on the subject matter of the dispute after the report of the Commission shall have been submitted. ARTICLE IV. The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by the President of Bolivia, with the approval of the Congress thereof; and the ratifications shall be exchanged as soon as possible. It shall take effect immediately after the exchange of ratifications, and shall continue in force for a period of five years; and it shall thereafter remain in force until twelve months after one of the High Contracting Parties have given notice to the other of an intention to terminate it. In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty and have affixed thereunto their seals. Done in Washington on the 22d day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fourteen. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN [SEAL.] [SEAL.] And whereas, the said Treaty has been duly ratified on both parts and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the City of Washington on the eighth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and fifteen; Now, therefore, be it known that I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Treaty to be made public to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, [SEAL.] and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-ninth. By the President: W. J. BRYAN Secretary of State. WOODROW WILSON ABROGATION BY THE UNITED STATES OF ARTICLE 34 OF THE TREATY OF MAY 13, 1858, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BOLIVIA. ACCEPTANCE THEREOF BY BOLIVIA. (See Circulars: Abrogation of provisions of certain treaties, etc.; Mr. Belden's telegram of October 6, 1915.) BOUNDARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOLIVIA AND PARAGUAY.' File No. 724.3415/27. No. 67.] Minister Mooney to the Secretary of State. [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Asunción, Paraguay, July 29, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to advise you that on July 19 a protocol was signed at Asunción by the Bolivian Plenipotentiary, Dr. Ricardo Mujía, and the Paraguayan Plenipotentiary, Dr. Fulgencio Moreno, extending the Ayala-Mujía Agreement of April 5, 1913, relative to the Paraguay-Bolivia boundary dispute, until July 28, 1916. * 1 Continued from For. Rel. 1914, p. 27. |