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do not believe that two different reports on one and the same subject can ever be accepted. One having been accepted, and with it the recommendation which it makes, all others are thereby excluded.

I think that at the proper time all the amendments and modifications deemed to be proper can be introduced in the report of the majority, but after the said report is approved all other votes are, in my opinion, improper.

In recapitulation the delegation of Guatemala will say that, although in its opinion the especial declaration made by the minority ought not to have been made, it nevertheless concurs in the idea that a Customs Union between all the nations of America is at present impracticable; but for the same reason it thinks that it is proper to recommend at least the negotiation of reciprocity commercial treaties.

This meaning of the report of the majority is also the meaning of my vote on this subject.

FERNANDO CRUZ.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONFERENCE AS ADOPTED.

To recommend to such of the Governments represented in the Conference as may be interested in the concluding of partial reciprocity, commercial treaties, to negotiate such treaties with one or more of the American countries as it may be in their interest to make them, under such a basis as may be acceptable in each case, taking into consideration the special situation, conditions, and interests of each country, and with a view to promote their common welfare.

COMMUNICATION ON THE ATLANTIC.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION ON THE ATLANTIC.

[As submitted and adopted by the Conference.]

To the President of the International American Confer

ence:

The Committee on Communication on the Atlantic has the honor to address itself to the President in order that he may be pleased to make known to the honorable Conference the agreement arrived at by the respective delegations concerning the encouragement of navigation on the Atlantic.

The committee hopes that the honorable Conference will view with pleasure the success of these labors, and moves the adoption of the following resolution:

The International American Conference, etc., would see with satisfaction the Governments interested in communications on the Atlantic give their assent to the plan subscribed to by their representatives. It salutes the President with its most distinguished consideration.

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T. JEFFERSON COOLIDGE,
SALVADOR DE MENDONÇA.
ROQUE SAENZ PEÑA.
JOSÉ S. DEcoud.

PLAN.

First. The Committee on Communication on the Atlantic resolves to recommend to the respective Governments the aiding of one or more lines of steam navigation between ports of the United States and those of Brazil and Rio de la Plata.

Second. The companies receiving Government aid shall establish a fast bi-monthly service of steam navigation between the ports of the United States, Rio Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buenos Ayres, and the vessels shall have the accommodations and capacity necessary for the transportation of freight and passengers, and shall carry the mails. Third. These steam-ships shall only touch at one port of the intermediary countries on the trips to and from Buenos Ayres; but during the quarantine season they shall only discharge mails and passengers and shall not embark anything subject to infection. In the countries of clearance and ultimate destination, they may touch at two ports.

Fourth.-The speed of the fast steam-ships shall be at least 16 knots per hour and they shall be of not less than 5,000 tons, and a time schedule of arrivals at and departure from the ports shall be established in conformity with the speed required.

Fifth.-Your committee recommends also an auxiliary line of freight steam-ships which shall sail twice a month making not less than 12 knots an hour, and touching at ports of the United States and Brazil. The United States of America and the Republic of Brazil shall pay one-half each of the amounts paid to these vessels, taking into due consideration the contract of the existing. line with the latter Government.

Sixth. The awarding of the contract with the steamship companies shall take place in the city of New York; bids being solicited of the companies by advertisement in at least five daily newspapers having the largest circulation in each contracting country. The advertisement shall designate a time within which proposals may be presented, which time shall not be less than ninety days. The bids are to be opened in the presence of the representatives appointed for this purpose by the Governments interested.

Seventh.-Bidders must state the tonnage of the vessels, in accordance with article four, and the amount of Government aid required, calculating the latter at the rate per ton for every 1,000 miles, and also the amount of payment for the round trip.

Eighth.-The Governments reserve the right to reject all bids if, in their judgment, they should be excessive.

Ninth. The States shall have the right to impose their flag and register upon the vessels to a number proportionate to the percentage of the aid they pay. In that case it is understood that the quota of each nation shall be paid directly to the vessel or vessels carrying its flag. In case of war, each State may use as transports and arm as cruisers, upon payment therefor, the vessels carrying its flag.

Tenth. The vessels receiving Government aid, whatever flag they may carry, shall enjoy in the ports of the contracting Governments all the rights and privileges accorded to national vessels for the sole purpose of international commerce, but not including rights to coastwise trade.

Eleventh.-The contracting Governments shall contribute aid to the fast line in the following proportion:

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Twelfth.—The contracting States shall accept only vessels constructed in the United States, in consideration of the higher aid paid by that Government.

Thirteenth.-The term of the contract shall be ten years. Fourteenth.-The committee recommends to the Governments interested the encouragement of direct cable lines to connect the countries represented in said committee with regular service and equitable rates.

Fifteenth.-The Republic of Bolivia and of Paraguay hereby agree to the plan of the committee, and will contribute to the payment on condition that the companies agree to establish subsidiary lines of river navigation that shall reach their ports.

T. JEFFERSON COOLIDGE.
SALVADOR DE MENDONÇA.
ROQUE SAENZ PEÑA.
JOSÉ S. DECOUD.

DISCUSSION.

SESSION OF MARCH 24, 1890.

The PRESIDENT. Is the Conference ready for the consideration of the report of the Committee on Communication on the Atlantic?

REMARKS OF MR. SAENZ PEÑA.

Mr. SAENZ PEÑA. I should make some explanations to the honorable Conference in the name of the Committee on Communication on the Atlantic, of which I have the honor to be chairman.

It will be observed that the signature of Mr. Laforestrie does not appear on the report. It is well known that our esteemed colleague was compelled to leave the Conference and return to his country because of ill health; but he had time to take part in the sessions of our committee, aiding it with his intelligence and his labor, and I believe I express the sentiment of all my colleagues when I make this declaration of proper acknowledgment of his services. Upon distributing the quota of the subsidy which each State should pay to the lines to be created we have assigned 5 per cent. to the Republic of Uruguay, and, as that is the only nation interested whose representative has not signed the report, I should state that Mr. Nin was invited to take part in the meetings of the committee, and he indicated that his country would be willing to contribute in that proportion; and if his signature does not appear in the report it is because the delegate from Uruguay has retired from the Conference.

Regarding the last paragraph of the seventh article, I would submit a substitute. The paragraph authorizes the States giving Government aid to use as transports or cruisers, in case of war, the vessels carrying their flags. This provision might be understood to be contrary to the sentiment of fraternity and of peace which animates all and each one of the nations here represented, and this point was raised and sustained in the meetings of the committee

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