be submitted to ers. de la república Mexicana, proce- Claims upon All claims on the part of cor- Todas las reclamaciones hechas both countries to porations, companies, or private por corporaciones, compañias ó inthe commission- individuals, citizens of the Tnited dividuos particulares, ciudadanos States, upon the government of the Mexican republic arising from injuries to their persons or property by authorities of the Mexican republic, and all claims on the part of corporations, companies, or private individuals, citizens of the Mexican republic, upon the government of the United States, arising from injuries to their persons or property by authorities of the United States, which may have been presented to either government for its interposition with the other since the signature of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States and the Vol. ix. p. 922. Mexican republic of the 2d of February, 1848, and which yet remain unsettled, as well as any other such claims which may be presented within the time hereinafter specified, shall be referred to two commissioners, one to be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and one by the President of the Mexican republic. In case of the death, absence, or incapacity of either commissioner, or in the event of either commissioner omitting or ceasing to act as such, the President of the United States or the President of the Mexican republic, respectively, shall forth with name another person to act as commissioner in the place or stead of the commissioner originally named. The commissioners so named shall meet at Washington within six months after the exchange of the ratifications of this convention, and shall, before proceeding to business, to subscribe a make and subscribe a solemn decsolemn declaration which shall laration that they will impartially and carefully examine and decide, to the best of their judgment, and according to public law, justice, and equity, without fear, favor, or affection to their own country, upon all such claims above specified as shall be laid before them on the part of the governments of the United States and of the Mexican republic, respectively; and such declaration Provision for the death, absence, &c. of either commis sioner. Commissioners to meet in Washington, within six months; be entered of record. Los comisionados nombrados de esta manera, se reuniran en Washington dentro de seis meses, despues de cangeadas las ratificaciones de esta convencion, y antes de desempeñar sus funciones, haran y suscribiran una declaracion SOlemne de que examinaran y decidiran imparcial y cuidadosamente, segun su mejor saber, y conforme con el derecho público, la justicia y equidad, y sin temor ó afeccion á shall be entered on the record of su respectivo pais, sobre todas las pire. agree upon an shall be decided the two shall act The commissioners shall then que se les sometan por los gobiernos Commissioners name some third person to act as de la república Mexicana y de to name an uman umpire in any case or cases on los Estados Unidos respectivawhich they may themselves differ in mente, y dicha declaracion se asenopinion. If they should not be able tará en la acta de sus procedito agree upon the name of such third mientos. person, they shall each name a per- Los comisionados procederan en- If they cannot son, and in each and every case in tonces á nombrar una tercera per- umpire, each which the commissioners may differ sona que hará de árbitro en el caso shall name a in opinion as to the decision which ó casos en que difieran de opinion. person, and it they ought to give, it shall be de- Si no pudieren convenir en el by lot in any termined by lot which of the two nombre de esta tercera persona, case which of persons so named shall be umpire cada uno de ellos nombrará una as umpire in that in that particular case. The person persona, y en todos y cada uno de case. or persons so to be chosen to be los casos en que los comisionados umpire shall, before proceeding to difieran de opinion respecto de la act as such in any case, make and decision que deban dar, se detersubscribe a solemn declaration in a minará por suerte quien de las dos form similar to that which shall personas asi nombradas hará de already have been made and sub- árbitro en ese caso particular. scribed by the commissioners, which La persona ó personas que se elishall be entered on the record of gieren de esa manera, para ser ártheir proceedings. In the event of bitros, haran y suscribarán, ántes the death, absence, or incapacity of de obrar como tales, en cualquier such person or persons, or of his or caso, una declaracion solemne en their omitting, or declining, or ceas- una forma, semejante á la que deIf umpire declines to act, &c. ing to act as such umpire, another berá haber sido ya hecha y suscrita another may be and different person shall be named, por los comisionados, lo cual se named. as aforesaid, to act as such umpire, asentará tambien en la acta de los in the place of the person so origi- procedimientos. En caso de muernally named, as aforesaid, and shall te, ausencia ó incapacidad de la make and subscribe such declarapersona ό personas nombrados ártion, as aforesaid. bitros, ó en caso de que suspendan el ejercicio de sus funciones, se rehusen á desempeñarlas ó cesen en ellas, otra persona será nombrado árbitro de la manera, que queda dicha, en lugar de la persona originalmente nombrada, y hará y suscribirá la declaracion áutes men. cionada. ARTICLE II. The commissioners shall then conjointly proceed to the investigation and decision of the claims which shall be presented to their notice, in such order and in such manner as they may conjointly think proper, but upon such evidence or information only as shall be furnished by or on behalf of their respective governments. They shall be bound to receive and peruse all written documents or statements which may be presented to them by or on behalf ARTICULO II. The umpire to subscribe a sol emn declaration, Decisions to be given in writing. of their respective governments in respectivos, ó en su nombre, en support of or in answer to any claim, apoyo ó respuesta á cualquiera and to hear, if required, one person reclamacion, y de oir, si se les pion each side on behalf of each gov- diere, á una persona por cada lado, ernment on each and every separate en nombre de cada gobierno, en Umpire to be claim. Should they fail to agree in todas y cada una de las reclamacalled in, if, &c. opinion upon any individual claim, ciones separadamente. Se dejaren they shall call to their assistance de convenir sobre alguna reclamathe umpire whom they may have cion particular, llamaran en su auagreed to name, or who may be de- silio al árbitro que hayan nombrado termined by lot, as the case may de comun acuerdo, ó á quien la be; and such umpire, after having suerte haya designado segun fuere examined the evidence adduced for el caso, y el arbitro, despues de and against the claim, and after haber examinado las pruebas prohaving heard, if required, one per- ducidas en favor y en contra de la son on each side as aforesaid, and reclamacion, y despues de haber consulted with the commissioners, oido, si se le pidiere, á una persona shall decide thereupon finally and por cada lado, como queda dicho, y without appeal. The decision of consultado con los comisionados, the commissioners and of the umpire decidirá sobre ella finalmente y sin shall be given upon each claim in apelacion. La decision de los comiwriting, shall designate whether any sionados y del árbitro se dará en sum which may be allowed shall be cada.reclamacion por escrito, espepayable in gold or in the currency cificará si la suma que se conceof the United States, and shall be diere se pagará en oro ó en moneda signed by them respectively. It corriente de los Estados Unidos, y shall be competent for each govern- será firmada por ellos respectivament to name one person to attend mente. Cada gobierno podrá nomthe commissioners as agent on its brar una persona que concurra á la behalf, to present and support claims comision en nombre del gobierno on its behalf, and to answer claims respectivo, como agente; que premade upon it, and to represent it sente ó defienda las reclamaciones generally in all matters connected en nombre del mismo gobierno, y with the investigation and decision que responda á las reclamaciones thereof. hechas contra el, y que le represente en general en todos los negocios que tengan relacion con la investigacion y decision de reclamaciones. Each govern ment may name one agent to attend the com mission on its behalf. Decisions to be absolutely final and conclusive, and full thereto. The President of the United States of America and the President of the Mexican republic hereby solemnly effect to be given and sincerely engage to consider the decision of the commissioners conjointly or of the umpire, as the case may be, as absolutely final and conclusive upon each claim decided upon by them or him respectively, and to give full effect to such decisions without any objection, evasion, or delay whatsoever. No claim to It is agreed that no claim arising be considered out of a transaction of a date prior arising from any transaction prior to the 2d of February, 1848, shall be to Feb. 2, 1848. admissible under this convention. El Presidente de la república Mexicana y el Presidente de los Estados Unidos de América se comprometen solemne y sinceramente en esta convencion, á considerar la decision de los comisionados de acuerdo, ó del árbitro, segun fuere el caso, como absolutamente final y definitiva, respecto de cada una de las reclamaciones falladas por los comisionados ó el árbitro respectivamente, y á dar entero cumplimiento á tales decisiones sin objecion, evasion ni dilacion ninguno. Se conviene que ninguna reclamacion que emane de acontecimientos de fecha anterior al 2 de Febrero de 1848, se admeterá con arreglo á esta convencion. Todas las reclamaciones se pre Claims to be eight months of unless, &c. Every claim shall be presented to the commissioners within eight sentaran á los comisionados dentro presented within months from the day of their first de ocho meses contados desde el the day of their meeting, unless in any case where dia de su primera reunion, á no ser first meeting, reasons for delay shall be estab- en las casos en que se manifieste lished to the satisfaction of the com- que haya habido razones para dimissioners, or of the umpire in the latarlas, siendo estas satisfactorias event of the commissioners differing para los comisionados para el in opinion thereupon, and then and árbitro, si los comisionados no se in any such case the period for pre- convinieren, y en ese y otros casos Time not to be senting the claim may be extended semejantes el periodo para la pre- over three to any time not exceeding three sentacion de las reclamaciones po- months longer. months longer. drá estenderse por un plazo que no exceda de tres meses. The commissioners shall be bound to examine and decide upon every claim within two years and six months from the day of their first meeting. It shall be competent for the commissioners conjointly, or for the umpire if they differ, to decide in each case whether any claim has or has not been duly made, preferred and laid before them, either wholly or to any and what extent, according to the true intent and meaning of this convention. ARTICLE IV. When decisions shall have been made by the commissioners and the arbiter in every case which shall have been laid before them, the total amount awarded in all the cases decided in favor of the citizens of the one party shall be deducted from the total amount awarded to the citizens of the other party, and the balance, to the amount of three hundred thousand dollars, shall be paid at the city of Mexico or at the city of Washington, in gold or its equivalent, within twelve months from the close of the commission, to the government in favor of whose citizens the greater amount may have been awarded, without interest or any other deduction than that specified in Article VI. of this convention. The residue of the said balance shall be paid in annual instalments to an amount not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars, in gold or its equivalent, in any one year until the whole shall have been extended for Los comisionados tendran la ob- Commissioners to decide upon ligacion de examinar y decidir todas every claim, las reclamaciones dentro de dos within what años y seis meses, contados desde time. el dia de su primera reunion. Los comisionados de comun acuerdo ó el árbitro, si ellos difirieren podran decidir en cada caso, si una reclamacion ha sido ó no debidamente hecha, comunicada y sometida á la comision, ya sea en su totalidad ó en parte y cual sea esta, con arreglo al verdadero espiritu y á la letra de esta convencion. ARTICULO IV. The awards in zens of one those in favor of Cuando los comisionados y el árbitro hayan decidido todos los favor of the citicasos que les hayan sido debida- country to be mente sometidos, la suma total fal- deducted from lada en todos los casos decididos the citizens of en favor de los ciudadanos de una the other counparte, se deducirá de la suma total try, and the balance, to the fallada en favor de los ciudadanos amount of de la otra parte, y la diferencia $300,000, to be hasta la cantidad de trescientos mil paid in twelve months, &c. pesos en oro, ó su equivalente, se pagará en la ciudad de Mexico ó en la ciudad de Washington, al gobierno en favor de cuyos ciudadanos se haya fallado la mayor cantidad, sin interes, ni otra deduccion que la especificada en el Articulo VI. de esta convencion. El resto de dicha diferencia se pagará en abonos anuales que no excedan de trescientos mil pesos en oro ó su equivalente, hasta que se when and how haya pagado el total de la diferencia. to be paid. The residue of the balance, This commission to make a full and final claims prior to the exchange of the ratifications hereof. Las altas partes contratantes The high contracting parties agree to consider the result of the convienen en considerar el resulsettlement of all proceedings of this commission as tado de los procedimientos de esta a full, perfect, and final settlement comision, como arreglo completo, of claim upon either govern- perfecto y final, de toda reclamaevery ment arising out of any transaction cion contra cualquiera gobierno, of a date prior to the exchange of que proceda de acontecimientos de the ratifications of the present con- fecha anterior al canje de las rativention; and further engage that ficaciones de la presente convencion; every such claim, whether or not y se comprometen ademas á que the same may have been presented toda reclamacion, ya sea que se to the notice of, made, preferred, or haya presentado ó no á la referida laid before the said commission, comision, sera considerada y trashall, from and after the conclusion tada, concluidos los procedimientos of the proceedings of the said com- de dicha comision, como finalmente mission, be considered and treated arreglada, desechada y para siemas finally settled, barred, and thence- pre inadmisible. forth inadmissible. Accurate records to be kept of the proceedings of the commissions. Secretaries. Pay of commissioners; of umpire; Los comisionados Ꭹ el árbitro lleveran una relacion fiel y actas esactas de sus procedimientos con especificacion de las fechas; con este objeto nombrarán dos secretarios versados en las lenguas de ambos paises, para que les ayuden en el arreglo de los asuntos de la comision. Cada gobierno pagará a su comisionado un sueldo que no exceda de cuatro mil quinientos pesos al año, en moneda corriente de los Estados Unidos, cuya cantidad será la misma para ambos gobiernos. La compensacion que haya de pagarse al árbitro se determinará por consentimiento mútuo, al terminarse la comision; pero podran hacerse por cada gobierno adelantos necesarios y razonables en virtud de la recomendacion de los dos comisionados. The commissioners and the umpire shall keep an accurate record and correct minutes of their proceedings, with the dates. For that purpose they shall appoint two secretaries versed in the language of both countries to assist them in the transaction of the business of the commission. Each government shall pay to its commissioner an amount of salary not exceeding forty-five hundred dollars a year in the currency of the United States, which amount shall be the same for both governments. The amount of compensation to be paid to the umpire shall be determined by mutual consent at the close of the commission, but necessary and reasonable advances may be made by each government upon the joint recommendation of the commission. The of the secre- salary of the secretaries shall not El sueldo de los secretarios no exceed the sum of twenty-five hun- excederá de la suma de dos mil dred dollars a year in the currency quinientos pesos al año, en moneda of the United States. The whole corriente de los Estados Unidos. of the commission, includ- Los gastos todos de la comision, expenses ing contingent expenses, shall be incluyendo los contingentes, se padefrayed by a ratable deduction on garán con una reduccion proporthe amount of the sums awarded by cional de la cantidad total fallada the commission, provided always, por los comisionados, siempre que that such deduction shall not exceed tal deduccion no exceda del cinco five per cent. on the sums so award- por ciento de las cantidades falladas. ed. The deficiency, if any, shall be defrayed in moieties by the two governments. taries. Whole expenses to be deducted from sums awarded, but not to exceed five per cent. thereof. Si hubiere algun deficiente, lo cubrirán ambos gobiernos por mitad. |