property. The local authorities shall not otherwise interfere than for the maintenance of order, the protection of the interests of the salvors, if these do not belong to the crews that have been wrecked, and to carry into effect the arrangements made for the entry and exportation of the merchandise saved. It is understood that such merchandise is not to be subjected to any custom-house charges, unless it be intended for consumption in the country where the wreck may have taken place.

The intervention of the local authorities in these different cases shall occasion no expense of any kind, except such as may be caused by the operations of salvage and the preservation of the goods saved, together with such as would be incurred under similar circumstances by vessels of the nation.

ARTICLE XIV.

In case of the death of any citizen of Sweden in the United States or of any citizen of the United States in the Kingdom of Sweden without having in the country of his decease any known heirs or testamentary executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall at once inform the nearest consular officer of the nation to which the deceased belongs of the circumstances, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to parties interested.

In the event of any citizens of either of the two contracting parties dying without will or testament, in the territory of the other contracting party, the consul-general, consul, vice-consul-general, or vice-consul of the nation to which the deceased may belong, or, in his absence, the representative of such consul-general, consul, vice-consul-general, or vice-consul, shall, so far as the laws of each country will permit and pending the appointment of an administrator and until letters of administration have been granted, take charge of the property left by the deceased for the benefit of his lawful heirs and creditors, and, moreover, have the right to be appointed as administrator of such estate.

It is understood that when, under the provisions of this article, any consul-general, consul, vice-consul-general, or vice-consul, or the representative of each or either, is acting as executor or administrator of the estate of one of his deceased nationals, said officer or his representative shall, in all matters connected with, relating to, or growing out of the settlement of such estates, be in such capacities as fully subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country wherein the estate is situated as if said officer or representative were a citizen of that country and possessed of no representative capacity whatsoever.

The citizens of each of the contracting parties shall have power to dispose of their personal goods within the jurisdiction of the other, by sale, donation, testament, or otherwise, and their representatives, being citizens of the other party, shall succeed to their personal goods, whether by testament or ab intestato, and they may in accordance with and acting under the provisions of the laws of the jurisdiction in which the property is found take possession thereof, either by themselves or others. acting for them, and dispose of the same at their will, paying such dues only as the inhabitants of the country wherein such goods are shall be subject to pay in like cases.

As for the case of real estate, the citizens and subjects of the two contracting parties shall be treated on the footing of the most-favored nation.

ARTICLE XV.

The present convention shall remain in force for the space of ten years, counting from the day of the exchange of the ratifications, which shall be made in conformity with the respective constitutions of the two countries, and exchanged at Washington as soon as possible within the period of one year. In case neither party gives notice, twelve months before the expiration of the said period of ten years, of its intention not to renew this convention, it shall remain in force one year longer, and so on, from year to year, until the expiration of a year from the day on which one of the parties shall have given such notice.

In faith whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed this convention, and have hereunto affixed their seals.

Done in duplicate at the City of Washington this first day of June. one thousand nine hundred and ten.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

ARBITRATION CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND BRAZIL.1

Signed at Petropolis, June 18, 1909; ratifications exchanged at Rio de Janeiro, May 6, 1911.

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 United States of Brazil, in pursuance of the principles set forth in Articles 37 to 42 of the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes signed at The Hague the 18th October 1907, desiring to enter into negotiations for the conclusion of an arbitration convention, have named as their plenipotentiaries, to wit:

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, Milne Cheetham, Esquire, His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires ad interim; and

The President of the United States of Brazil, Senhor José Maria da Silva Paranhos do Rio-Branco, Minister of State for Foreign Relations; Who, duly authorized, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

Differences of whatever nature which may arise between the high contracting parties and which it may not have been possible to settle by diplomacy, shall be referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, to the chief of a friendly government or to such other arbitrator or tribunal as the parties jointly select, provided, nevertheless, that they do not affect the vital interests, the independence or the honour of the two contracting states and do not concern the interests of third parties.

ARTICLE II.

In each individual case, the high contracting parties, before appealing to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, to other arbitrators or to a single. arbitrator, shall conclude a special agreement defining clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the arbitrator or arbitrators, and

1 Great Britain, Treaty Series, 1911, No. 12.

the periods to be fixed for the formation of the arbitral tribunal or the selection of the arbitrator or arbitrators, and the several stages of the procedure.

It is understood that on the part of the United States of Brazil such special agreements will be made by the President of the Republic, with the approval of the two Houses of the National Congress thereof, His Majesty's Government reserving the right before concluding a special agreement in any matter affecting the interests of a self-governing dominion of the British Empire to obtain the concurrence therein of the government of that dominion.

Such agreements shall be binding only when confirmed by the two governments by an exchange of notes.

ARTICLE III.

The present convention shall be in force for a period of five years, dating from the day of the exchange of its ratifications. If not denounced six months before the conclusion of the said period, it shall be renewed for another period of five years, and so on successively.

ARTICLE IV.

The present convention shall be ratified by His Britannic Majesty; and by the President of the United States of Brazil after its approval by the National Congress thereof.

The ratifications shall be exchanged at the City of Rio de Janeiro as soon as possible.

Done in duplicate at Petropolis, in the English and Portuguese languages, this eighteenth day of June, in the year one thousand nine hundred and nine.

(L. S.) MILNE CHEETHAM. (L. S.) RIO-BRANCO.

ARBITRATION CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL.1 Signed at Washington, January 23, 1909; ratifications exchanged July 26, 1911.

The President of the United States of America and the President of the United States of Brazil, desiring to conclude an arbitration convention in pursuance of the principles set forth in Articles XV to XIX and

1 U. S. Treaty Series, No. 562.

in Article XXI of the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, signed at The Hague on July 29th, 1899, and in Articles XXXVII to XL and Article XLII of the convention signed at the same city of The Hague on October 18th, 1907, have named as their plenipotentiaries, to wit:

The President of the United States of America, Elihu Root, Secretary of State of the United States; and

The President of the United States of Brazil, His Excellency Senhor Joaquim Nabuco, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Government of the United States of America, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration of The Hague;

Who, after having communicated to one another their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

Differences which may arise of a legal nature or relating to the interpretation of treaties existing between the two high contracting parties, and which it may not have been possible to settle by diplomacy, shall be referred to the Permanent Court of Arbitration established at The Hague, provided, nevertheless, that they do not affect the vital interests, the independence, or the honor of the two high contracting parties, and do not concern the interests of third parties, and it being further understood that in case either of the two high contracting parties shall so elect any arbitration pursuant hereto shall be had before the chief of a friendly state or arbitrators selected without limitation to the lists of the aforesaid Hague Tribunal.

ARTICLE II.

In each individual case the two high contracting parties, before appealing to the Permanent Court of Arbitration of The Hague or to other arbitrators or arbitrator, shall conclude a special agreement defining clearly the matter in dispute, the scope of the powers of the arbitrator or arbitrators and the periods to be fixed for the formation of the court, or for the selection of the arbitrator or arbitrators, and for the several stages of the procedure. It is understood that on the part of the United States of America such special agreement will be made 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 the United States of Brazi! with the approval of the two Houses of the Federal Congress thereof.