The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-02-25
THE VENEZUELA COVENANT SIGNED |
GERMANY RETURNS BOATS.
Agreement VIII Be a criterion-The
Queen of Holland to Name
Proper Umpire.

The protocol providing for the adj
justment of the United States claims
against Venezuela was signed at
Washington. February II. Secretary
of State Hay acted for the United
States and Mr.. Bowen for Venezuela.
The protocol as a document Is expect
ed to serve as a model for similar
papers to be drawn up with the other
claimant Powers. The text of the pro-
tocol Is as follows: All claims owned
by citizens of the United States of
America against the Republic of Vene-
zue!a which have not been settled by
diplomatic agreement or arbitration
between 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 a
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 an umpire may be named by the
Queen of the Netherlands. II either
OF said commissioners or the umpire
should fail or cease to act his success
sor shall be appointed forthwith In the
same manner as his predecessor. Same
commissioners and umpire are to be
appointed before the first day of May.
1903. The commissioners and the UNI
pire shall meet In the city OF Caracas
on the first day of June. 1908. The
umpire shall preside over their delib.
erations and shall be competent to de-
eide any question on which the COM
missioners disagree. Before assuming
the functions of their offices the COM
missioners and the umpire shall take
solemn oath carefully to examine and
impartlally decide. according to justice
and the provisions of this convention.
all claims submitted to them, and
such oaths shall be entered on the
record of their proceedings. The COM
missioners. or in case of their disa-
greement, the umpire, shall decide all
claims upon a basis of absolute equity,
without regard to objections Of tech
nical nature or of the provisions OF
local legislation. 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 pay
able In United States gold or Its
equivalent In silver. The commission
ers or umpire. as the case may be,
shall investigate and decide said
claims upon such evidence or informa-
tion only as shall be furnished by or
on behalf Of the respective Govern
ments. They shall be bound to receive
and consider all written documents or
statements which may be presented
to them by or on behalf of the respec-
tive Governments in support OF or In
answer to any claim. and to hear oral
or written arguments made by the
agent Of each Government on every
claim. In case Of their failure to agree
in opinion upon any individual claim.
the umpire shall decide. In case of
the failure to carry out the above
agreement Belgian officials shall be
placed In charge of the customs of the
two ports. and shall administer them
until the liabilities of the Venezuelan
Government In respect OF the above
claims shall have been discharged. All
existing and unsatisfed awards In the
United States shall be promptly paid
according to the terms OF the respec.
tive awards.