new certificates of award for the sums so adjudged due, which shall be paid by Venezuela to the United States in the manner hereinbefore stipulated, the same as all other certificates issued by the present Commission. ARTICLE X. Upon the conclusion of the labors of the Commission organized in virtue of this present convention, the Department of State of the United States of America shall distribute pro rata among the holders of the certificates which may be issued under the present convention, the moneys in the Department of State actually received from the Government of Venezuela on account of the awards of the former Mixed Commission under the Convention of April 25, 1866; and all moneys that may hereafter be paid to the United States under this present convention shall be in like manner distributed pro rata in payment of such awards as may be made under this present convention. ARTICLE XI. The decisions of the Commission organized under this present convention shall be final and conclusive as to all claims presented or proper to be presented to the former Mixed Commission. ARTICLE XII. The Commission appointed under this present convention shall terminate its labors within twelve months from the date of its organization. A record of the proceedings of the Commission shall be kept, and the Commissioners may appoint a Secretary. ARTICLE XIII. Notwithstanding that the present Commission is organized in consequence of representations made by the Government of Venezuela and that it deals solely with the claims of citizens of the United States (for which reasons the United States might properly claim that all the expenses hereunder should be borne by Venezuela alone), it is agreed that, in continuation of the arrangement made in the former convention of 1866, the expenses shall be shared as follows: Each Government shall pay its own Commissioner and shall pay one-half of what may be due to the third Commissioner and the Secretary, and one-half of the incidental expenses of the Commission. ARTICLE XIV. Except so far as revived, continued, modified, and replaced by the terms and effects of this present convention, the effects of the former Convention of April 25, 1866, shall absolutely cease and determine from and after the date of the exchange of ratifications of this present convention, and the high contracting parties hereby agree that the responsibilities and obligations arising under said former convention shall be deemed wholly discharged and annulled by the substitution therefor of the responsibilities contracted and obligations created under this present convention, to which the high contracting parties mutually bind themselves to give full, perfect, and final effect, without any evasion, reservation, or delay whatever. ARTICLE XV. The present convention shall be ratified by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States of America; and by the President of the United States of Venezuela by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States of Venezuela, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington within twelve months from the date of this present convention, and the publications of the exchange of ratifications shall be notice to all persons interested. In testimony whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have hereunto affixed their signatures and seals. Done in duplicate, in the English and Spanish languages, at the City of Washington, this 5th day of December, 1885. T. F. BAYARD. [SEAL.] A. M. SOTELDO. [SEAL.] And whereas, the said Convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the respective ratifications of the same were exchanged at the City of Washington, on the third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine; Now, therefore, be it known that I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States of America, have caused the said convention to be made public, as amended, to the end that the same, and every article and clause thereof, may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States of America and the citizens thereof. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eightynine, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and thirteenth. [SEAL.] By the President: JAMES G. BLAINE, BENJAMIN HARRISON. Secretary of State. CONVENTION TO REMOVE DOUBTS AS TO THE MEAN ING OF ARTICLE IX OF THE PRECEDING CON- Concluded at Washingtom March 15, 1888. 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, to remove doubts as to the meaning of the Convention between the same high contracting parties, signed the fifth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, and to extend the time for the exchange of the ratifications thereof, was concluded and signed by their respective plenipotentiaries, at the city of Washington, on the fifteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, the original of which convention, being in the English and Spanish languages, is word for word, as follows: CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND VENEZUELA TO REMOVE DOUBTS AS TO THE MEANING OF THE CONVENTION SIGNED DECEMBER 5, 1885. Whereas, doubts have arisen in respect of the true inten and meaning of Article IX of the treaty between the United States of America and the United States of Venezuela signed at Washington on the fifth day of December, 1885, and, in consequence of such ambiguities, the exchange of ratifications of said treaty has not taken place within the period therein prescribed for such exchange; And, whereas, the high contracting parties are desirous of removing all doubts in respect of the meaning and intent of said Article, and of extending the time for the exchange of ratification of said treaty, to the end of reaching an amicable and honorable solution of the difficulties that now impair their good relations; The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United States of Venezuela, have named as their Plenipotentiaries to conclude a Convention for that purpose 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, José Antonio Olavarria, Chargé d'Affaires of Venezuela at Washington; who, after reciprocal communication of their full powers, found in due and good form, have agreed upon the following Articles: ARTICLE I. It is understood and agreed that in the event of any of the awards of the Mixed Commission under the Convention of April 25, 1866, being annulled in whole or in part by the Commission authorized and created by Article II of the treaty of December 5, 1885, no new award shall in any case be made by said Commission, to the holders of certificates |