Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-02-18
TO SERVE As I..JDEL-.
Protocols Signed Yesterday
Can Be Copied by Other
Claimants.
AGREEMENT WITH stnlA.4LA.
Al! Claims of Citizens to Be Examined
and Decides ~ conl.aia-ien N
caracas-Awards to Be Payable in
u. S. Gold or Its Equivalent.

Washington, Feb. 1S.-secretary
Hay, for the United States, and M.
Bowen, for Venezuela, yesterday
signed a protocol providing for the
adjustment of United States claims
against Venezuela by commission
to meet at Caracas. The protol is ex
peeted to serve as a model for similar
instruments to be arranged with the
other claimant powers. The text CT
the protocol, in part, is as follows:
Protocol of an agreement between
the Secretary of State of the United
States of America and the plenipo
Tertiary of the republic of Venezuela
for submission to arbitration of al
unsettled claims of citizens Of the
United States of America against the
republic of Venezuela.
The United States of America and
the republic of Venezuela, through
their representatives John Hay, sec.
rotary of state of the United States of
America, and Herbert B. Bowen, the
plenipotentiary of the republic OF
Venezuela, have agreed upon and
signed the following protocol:
The Protocol
Article |. All claims owned by cit
liens of the United States of America
against the republic of Venezuela
which have not been settled by diplo-
matte agreement or arbitration he
tween the two governments, and
which shall have been presented to
the commission hereinafter named by
the department of state of the United
States or its legation at Caracas, shall
be examined and decided by
mixed commission which shall
sit at Caracas and which shall consist
Of two members. one Of whom is to
be appointed by the president of the
United States and the other by the
president OF Venezuela 1t is agreed
that I'm umpire may be named by the
Queen OF Netherlands. The commits
sioners and the umpire shall meet in
the city Of Caracas on the first day of
June, 1903. The umpire shall preside
over their deliberations and shall be
competent to decide any question on
WHILE Gig OuAallsSlOuSIS ulSdSI 0C.
BEFORE assuming the functions of
CIR offices the commissioners and
the umpire shall take solemn oath
Carefully TO examine and impartially
decide, according to justice and the
provisions of this convention, all
claims submitted to them, and such
caths shall be entered on the record
Of their proceedings. The decisions
OF the commission, and in the event
Of their disagreement those of the
umpire shall be final and conclusive.
They shall be in writing. Awards
shall be made payable in United
States gold or it's equivalent in sill
yer
Article II. The commissioners
shall investigate and decide said
claims upon such evidence or infor-
nation only as shall be furnished by
or on behalf of the respective gov
ernments. In case of their failure to
agree in opinion upon any individual
claim, the umpire shall decide. Every
claim shall be formally presented to
the commissioners within 80 days
from the date of their first meeting
unless the commissioners or the UNI
pire in any case extend the period for
presenting the claim not exceeding
three months longer. The commits
sioners shall be bound to examine AMI
decide upon every claim within six
months from the day of its first for-
mai presentation, and in case of their
disagreement the umpire shall exam
Inc and decide within a corresponding
period from the date of such dis
agreement.
Article III. The commissioners and
the umpire shall keep an accurate rec
ord of their proceedings and for tina.
purpose each commissioner shall ap-
point secretary versed in the Ian
guage Of both countries. Except as
herein stipulated all questions of pro-
cedure shall be left to the determine
ton OF the commission, or in case OF
their disagreement to the umpire.
Article Nv. / Reasonable compensa-
ton to the commissioners and to the
umpire for their services and ex-
penses and the other expenses of said
arbitration are to be paid in equal
moieties by the contracting parties
Article V. In order to pay the to-
la amount of the claims to be adju-
aicahed and other claims of citizens
or subjects or other nations, the gov
srnm."nt Of Venezuela shall set apart
70. Dis purpose and ALLEVIATE to NO
rtbe, purpose, beginning with the
month Of March, 1903, 80 per cent in
MOSTLY payments of the customs
revenues of La Guaira and Puerto
Cabello. In case of the failure to
carr. out the above agreement Bel.
gian officials shall be placed in charge
Of she customs of the two ports AMI
shar administer them until the LA
bilstiss Of the Venezuelan government,
in respect of the above claims, shall
have been discharged
Article VI. All existing and unsat
isfied awards in the United States
shall be promptly paid according to
&axs <xf al -.