Sentence 1: Brazil had signed a separate Loizaga -- Cotegipe Treaty with Paraguay now in 1872 and already did much to help Paraguay in its negotiations with Argentina .
Sentence 2: Brazil had signed a separate Loizaga - Cotegipe contract with Paraguay in 1872 and already did much to help Paraguay in its negotiations with Argentina .

Do these two sentences convey the same information?

OPTIONS: a. no. b. yes.
b.