grounds, for the revision of an international award and that in accordance with the terms of the Buchanan-Guinan protocol of February 13, the Hague court is as a preliminary question, to decide whether or not “in view of all the circumstances and under the principles of international law" the decision of the umpire, Dr. Barge, is final, or whether it is properly subject to revision. If the Hague court holds the decision to be final the case is closed. If on the other hand the court sustains the contention of the Department of State that the decision is subject to revision, the court is to proceed to a reconsideration of the entire case. upon its merits. It is submitted that far from imperilling the sanctity of international awards or the cause of international arbitration, the Department of State has done a great service to international law and international arbitration in endeavoring to secure a judicial determination by the Hague tribunal, the ultimate authority in international law, of the grounds upon which an international award may be set aside, at least so far as these grounds are alleged in this particular case. It is a matter of general satisfaction that the relations between the United States and Venezuela, so long disturbed by the claims which have now been either adjusted or put in the way of settlement through arbitration at The Hague, should as the result of the spirit in which the negotiations leading to the settlement have been handled on both sides, be once more reestablished upon a basis of genuine regard and cordiality. CHRONICLE OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS WITH BEFERENCES Abbreviations: Ann. sc. pol., Annales des sciences politiques, Paris; Arch. dipl., Archives diplomatiques, Paris; B., boletín, bulletin, bollettino; B. A. R., Monthly bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, Washington; Doc. dipl., France: Documents diplomatiques; Dr., droit, diritto, derecho; For. rel., Foreign Relations of the United States; Ga., gazette, gaceta, gazzetta; Cd., Great Britain: Parliamentary Papers; Int., international, internacional, internazionale; J., journal; J. O., Journal Officiel, Paris; Mém. dipl., Mémorial diplomatique, Paris; Monit., Moniteur belge, Brussels; N. R. G., Nouveau recueil général de traités, Leipzig; Q. dipl., Questions diplomatiques et coloniales; R., review, revista, revue, rivista; Reichs-G., Reichs-Gesetzblatt, Berlin; Staatsb., Staatsblad, Gröningen; State Papers, British and Foreign State Papers, London; Stat. at L., United States Statutes at Large; Times, the Times (London); Treaty ser., Great Britain: Treaty Series. February, 1909. 1 SWEDEN. Adhesion to international convention signed at The Hague, December 21, 1904, to exempt hospital ships from port dues in time of war. Monit., February 12. See March 26, August 14, 1907, and February 26, 1909. Staatsb., 1908, No. 120; for procès-verbaux of the international conference respecting hospital ships held at The Hague December, 1904, see Arch. dipl., 101:301; id., 101:241. 22 BELGIUM-LUXEMBURG NETHERLANDS. Agreement signed at Brussels extending the telegraphic convention signed at The Hague, December 17, 1890, at Brussels, December 20, 1890, and at Luxemburg, December 19, 1890, until one of the contracting governments shall give one year's notice of its intention to terminate it. Staatsb., 1909, No. 73. Under article 17 of the international telegraphic convention signed at St. Petersburg, July 22, 1875. Monit., February 28. 26 PERSIA. Deposit at The Hague of ratification of international convention signed at The Hague December 21, 1904. Exemption of hospital ships in time of war from port dues. Monit., February 12. See February 1, 1909. March, 1909. 5 10 BRAZIL COLOMBIA. Ratification by Colombia of treaty signed at Rio de Janeiro, August 21, 1908. Fluvial commerce and navigation. B. del ministerio de relaciones exteriores, 2:504, 546. COLOMBIA-FRANCE. Ratification by Colombia of general arbitration treaty signed at Bogota, December 16, 1908. B. del ministerio de relaciones exteriores, 2:508, 552. April, 1909. 2 MEXICO NETHERLANDS. Ratifications exchanged at Mexico of extradition convention signed at Mexico, December 16, 1907. Staatsb., 1909, No. 118. 29 BELGIUM-FRANCE-GREECE-ITALY-SWITZERLAND. Ratifications deposited at Paris of the monetary convention signed at Paris, November 4, 1908. Belgian law approving, March 13. Monit., May 9. This convention is additional to the monetary convention signed November 6, 1885. See March 22, 1909. The ratifications were to have been deposited March 25, 1909, but the Italian government requested postponement and a declaration was accordingly signed at Paris, March 24, 1909, extending the time. French decree, May 1, taking effect May 15. J. O., May 2. 30 FRANCE. Decree promulgating convention respecting civil procedure signed at The Hague, July 17, 1905. J. O., May 2. May, 1909. 1 1 1 1 BRAZIL-PANAMA. General treaty of arbitration signed. SALVADOR-UNITED STATES. Ratification by Salvador of treaty of FRANCE GREAT BRITAIN-ITALY. French decree approving two arrangements signed at London, December 13, 1906, respecting (1) Abyssinia and (2) traffic in arms on the Somali coast. J. O.. May 2, 1909; N. R. G., 2:35:556; Treaty ser., 1907, Nos. 1 and 2; Q. dipl., 11:310; Arch. dipl., 101:47, 51; State papers, 76: 315. Under the first agreement, the three powers undertook to May, 1909. respect and endeavor to preserve the integrity of Abyssinia; to act so that industrial concessions granted in the interest of one of them may not injure the others; to abstain from intervention in Abyssinian affairs; to concert together for the safeguarding of their respective interests in territories bordering on Abyssinia; and they make agreements concerning railway construction in Abyssinia and equal treatment in trade and transit for their nationals. 1 GERMANY-GREAT BRITAIN. Postal service of boxes with declared values up to £400 came into force. A similar service already exists between the latter country and Belgium, France and Netherlands. L'union postale, June 1. 1 BELGIUM-SERVIA. International collection order service came into force. L'union postale, June 1. 1 FRANCE GERMANY. First meeting of court of arbitration at The Hague to which was submitted the Casablanca incident. M. Hammarskjöld, president, M. Renault, Herr Kriege, Sir Edward Fry and Signor Fusinato compose the court. See May 22, 1909. 2 FRANCE-NORWAY. French decree approving declaration signed at Paris, February 20, 1909. J. O., May 3, 4. Takes effect May 4, 1909, and of equal life with treaty of commerce signed December 30, 1881. 3 SECOND NATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE at Chicago. The first was held at New York in 1907. PERSIA. Proclamation issued according a constitution to the people. 9 INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF IMPROVEMENTS OF CITIES AND RESORTS Opend at St. Petersburg. To continue until September 14. 10 CHINA-RUSSIA. Preliminary agreement signed at Peking. Eighteen articles. The Kharbin municipality will hereafter be administered on the basis of an international settlement under regulations, the negotiations for which are to commence within one month. The agreement admits China's right to appoint a director of the Chinese Eastern Railway, as provided by the agreement of 1896, to reside in Peking, or Kharbin. Times, May 12; text, Times, June 1. PERSIA. Decree proclaiming general amnesty for political offences, with license for exiles to return. Times, June 30. May, 1909. 10 BELGIUM-LUXEMBURG. Act signed at Brussels additional to the postal convention signed March 6, 1879. Monit, May 15. To take effect July 1, 1909. 11 SOUTH AFRICA. Amended draft of the Constitution signed at the second session of the National South African Convention at Bloemfontein. Times, May 12; Cd., 4721. 12 FRANCE-VENEZUELA. The Venezuelan government and the French Cable Company signed a compromis with a contract annexed The company opens its regular service. Times, May 13. 13 BRAZIL ECUADOR. Treaty of arbitration signed at Washington. 13 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY-UNITED STATES. Ratifications exchanged at Washington of arbitration convention. Signed at Washington, January 15, 1909; ratification advised by the Senate, January 20, 1909; ratified by the President, March 1, 1909; ratified by AustriaHungary, April 17, 1909; proclaimed by the President May 18, 1909. U. S. Treaty ser., No. 524. 14 UNITED STATES URUGUAY. Ratifications exchanged at Montevideo of naturalization convention signed at Montevideo, August 10, 1908; ratification advised by the Senate, December 10, 1908; ratified by the President, December 26, 1908; ratified by Uruguay, May 14, 1909; proclaimed by the President, June 19, 1909. U. S. Treaty ser., No. 527. 15 FRANCE ITALY. Agreement signed at Rome. Customs at Lanslebourg. Mém. dipl., May 23. 15 DANISH WEST INDIES-NETHERLANDS. Direct exchange of money orders established. L'Union postale, 34:79. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY-GREAT BRITAIN. British order in council extending to Austria-Hungary application of the Patents and Designs Act, 1907. London Ga., May 21, 1909. 17 SIXTH INTERNATIONAL COTTON CONGRESS of delegated representatives of master cotton spinners and manufacturers' associations opened at Milan. Adjourned May 19. Times, May 18, 20. See June 1, 1908. 18 ABYSSINIA. Proclamation of Lidj Eyassu, son of Ras Mikhael and Waizaro Shoa Rögga, as successor to his grandfather Emperor Menelik and announcement of his betrothal to the Princess of the Tigré, granddaughter of the late Emperor John and niece of Empress Taitou. Times, May 26. |