He shall be the custodian of the papers, documents, and books of the Commission, under its direction, and shall keep the same safe and in methodical order. Upon each paper received by the Commission he shall indorse the date of receipt and enter a minute thereof in the docket in the proper case, and he shall make brief memoranda in such docket under the proper case of all orders of the Commission, with appropriate dates respecting such case. While affording every reasonable opportunity and facility to parties and their counsel to inspect and make extracts from papers and records, he shall permit none to be withdrawn. from the files of the Commission or taken from its office, except by its direction duly entered of record. XIX. The docket, minutes of proceedings, and record of awards or decisions shall be kept in duplicate, both in English and Spanish, one of which shall be delivered to each government at the close of the Commission. CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA FOR THE UNITED A REOPENING OF THE CLAIMS OF CITIZENS OF STATES AGAINST VENEZUELA UNDER THE TREATY OF APRIL 25, 1866.* Concluded at Washington, December 5, 1885. Ratification, with amendments, advised by the Senate, Ratified by the President of the United States of America, Ratified by the President of the United States of Vene- Ratifications exchanged at Washington, June 3, 1889. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, a Convention between the United States of America and the United States of Venezuela for a reopening of the claims of citizens of the United States of America against the Government of Venezuela under the treaty of April 25, 1866, was concluded and signed by the respective Plenipotentiaries of the aforesaid High Contracting Parties at the City of Washington, on the fifth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, the original of which Convention, as amended by the Senate of the United See Appendix. For the Convention of April 25, 1866. States of America, and being in the English and Spanish languages, is word for word, as follows: CONVENTION FOR A REOPENING OF THE CLAIMS OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST VENEZUELA UNDER THE TREATY OF APRIL 25, 1866. The President of the United States of America, having on the 3d day of March, 1883, approved the following Joint Resolution of Congress: (Public Resolution No. 26.) "Joint Resolution providing for a new Mixed Commission in accordance with the treaty of April twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, with the United States of Venezuela. "Whereas, since the dissolution of the Mixed Commission appointed under the treaty of April twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, with the United States of Venezuela, serious charges, impeaching the validity and integrity of its proceedings, have been made by the Government of the United States of Venezuela, and also charges of a like character by divers citizens of the United States of America, who presented claims for adjudication before that tribunal; and "Whereas, the evidence to be found in the record of the proceedings of said Commission, and in the testimony taken before Committees of the House of Representatives in the matter, tends to show that such charges are not without foundation; and 66 Whereas, it is desirable that the matter be finally disposed of in a manner that shall satisfy any just complaints against the validity and integrity of the first Commission, and provide a tribunal under said treaty constructed and conducted so as not to give cause for just suspicion; and "Whereas, all evidence before said late Commission was presented in writing and is now in the archives of the State Department; and Whereas, the President of the United States has, in a recent communication to Congress, solicited its advisory action in this matter: "Therefore "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he hereby is, requested to open diplomatic correspondence with the Government of the United States of Venezuela, with a view to the revival of the general stipulations of the treaty of April 25, 1866, with said government, and the appcintment thereunder of a new Commission, to sit in the city of Washington, which Commission shall be authorized to consider all the evidence presented before the former Commission in respect to claims brought before it, together with such other and further evidence as the claimants may offer; and from the awards that may be made to claimants, any moneys heretofore paid by the Department of State, upon certificates issued to them, respectively, upon awards made by the former Commission, shall be deducted, and such certificates deemed cancelled; and the moneys now in the Department of State received from the Government of Venezuela on account of said awards, and all moneys that may hereafter be paid under said treaty, shall be distributed pro rata in payment of such awards as may be made by the Commission to be appointed in accordance with this resolution." And the proposal contemplated and authorized by the foregoing joint resolution of Congress having been made by the Government of the United States of America to the Government of the United States of Venezuela, and accepted by the latter through its diplomatic representative in Washington; the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United States of Venezuela, to the end of effecting by means of a convention arrangements for the execution of the record thus reached between the two Goveruments, have named their Plenipotentiaries to confer and agree thereupon, as follows: The President of the United States of America, Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and The President of the United States of Venezuela, Antonio M. Soteldo, Chargé d'Affaires of Venezuela at Washington; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles : ARTICLE I. The general stipulations of the Convention of April 25, 1866, between the contracting parties are hereby revived with such alterations as are required in conformity with the aforesaid joint resolution of the Congress of the United States, and with such further modifications as are deemed necessary for the certain and speedy accomplishment of the ends in view, and for the reciprocal protection of the interests of the high contracting parties as hereinafter provided. |