handed to the Russian minister of foreign affairs in the following terms: "Under instructions from my Government and in pursuance of conversations held by the Secretary of State with the Russian ambassador at Washington, I have now the honor to give to the Imperial Russian Government, on behalf of the United States, the official notification contemplated by Article XII of the treaty of 1832, whereby the operation of the said treaty will terminate in accordance with its terms on January 1, 1913. "Your excellency will recall that pourparlers between the two Governments during the last three years have fully recognized the fact that this ancient treaty, as is quite natural, is no longer fully responsive in various respects to the needs of the political and material relations of the two countries, which grow constantly more important. The treaty has also given rise from time to time to certain controversies equally regretted by both Governments. "In conveying the present formal notification to your excellency I am instructed to express the desire of my Government, meanwhile, to renew the effort to negotiate a modern treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation upon bases more perfectly responsive to the interests of both Governments. I am directed by the President at the same time to emphasize the great value attached by the Government of the United States to the historic relations between the two countries, and the desire of my Government to spare no effort to make the outcome of the proposed negotiations contribute still further to the strength and cordiality of these relations. "I avail myself of this occasion to offer to your excellency the renewed assurance of my highest consideration." The note was presented to the Russian minister for foreign affairs on December 17, and on December 18 the American ambassador received the following note from the Russian official: "In note No. 72 of December 4, 1912, your excellency has transImitted to me official notification of the United States Government provided by Article XII of the treaty of 1832, in accordance with which said treaty will cease to be in force on December 19, 1912/January 1, 1913. "At the same time you stated that in the meanwhile your Government is desirous of entering into negotiations for the conclusion of a new treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation on a basis which would better answer the requirements of both countries. "Taking due notice of the aforesaid, I take advantage of this occasion, sir, to express my distinguished consideration. 1911., "SAZONOFF." CONVENTION FOR THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF FUR SEALS. Signed at Washington July 7, 1911. (This text is printed among the international treaties in its order, p. 2965.) 1914. TREATY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEACE. October 1, Signed at Washington ptember 18, 1914; ratification advised by the September Senate October 13, 1914; ratified by the President January 23, 1915; ratified by Russia December 23, 1914; ratifications exchanged at Washington March 22, 1915; proclaimed March 25, 1915. (Treaty Series, No. 616; 39 Statutes at Large, 1622.) ARTICLES. I. All disputes not settled by di- III. Reference to and aid of commisplomacy to be reported upon by commission before resort to any acts of force. II. Composition, expenses, tenure of commission. sion; time and effect of report. IV. Ratification; effect; duration. The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russians, desiring to strengthen the friendly relations which unite their countries and to serve the cause of general peace, have decided to conclude a Treaty for these purposes and have consequently appointed their Plenipotentiaries designated hereinafter, to wit: The President of the United States of America, the Honorable William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State of the United States; and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, His Excellency G. Bakhmeteff, Master of His Court and His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America; Who, after exhibiting to each other their Full Powers found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon the following articles: ARTICLE I. Any differences arising between the Government of the United States of America and the Imperial Government of Russia, of whatever nature they may be, shall, when diplomatic proceedings have failed, be submitted for examination and report to a Permanent International Commission constituted in the manner prescribed in the following article; likewise the High Contracting Parties agree not to resort, with respect to each other, to any acts of force during the examination to be made by the Commission and before its report is handed in. ARTICLE II. The International Commission shall be composed of five members appointed as follows: Each Government shall designate two members; the fifth member shall be designated by common consent and shall not belong to any of the nationalities already represented on the Commission; he shall perform the duties of President. The two Governments shall bear by halves the expenses of the Commission. The Commission shall be organized within six months from the exchange of ratifications of the present Convention. The members shall be appointed for one year and their appointment may be renewed. They shall remain in office until superseded or reappointed, or until the work on which they are engaged at the time their office expires is completed. Any vacancies which may arise shall be filled in the manner followed for the original appointment. ARTICLE III. In case a difference should arise between the High Contracting Parties which is not settled by diplomatic methods, each Party shall have a right to ask that the examination thereof be intrusted to the International Commission charged with making a report. Notice shall be given to the President of the International Commission, who shall at once communicate with his colleagues. As regards the procedure which it is to follow, the Commission shall as far as possible be guided by the provisions contained in articles 9 to 36 of Convention I of The Hague of 1907. The High Contracting Parties agree to afford the Commission, as fully as they may think possible, all means and all necessary facilities for its examination and its report. The work of the Commission shall be completed within one year from the date on which it has taken jurisdiction of the case, unless the High Contracting Parties should agree to set a different period. The conclusion of the Commission and the terms of its report shall be adopted by a majority. The report, signed only by the President acting by virtue of his office, shall be transmitted by him to each of the Contracting Parties. The High Contracting Parties reserve full liberty as to the action to be taken on the report of the Commission. ARTICLE IV. The present Treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, and by His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias. It shall go into force immediately after the exchange of ratifications and shall last five years. If it has not been denounced at least six months before the expiration of this period it shall be tacitly renewed for a period of twelve months after either party shall have notified the other of its intention to terminate it. In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and have affixed thereunto their seals. Done at Washington this 1 October, 18 September, [SEAL.] [SEAL.] 1914. WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN 1915. PROTOCOL OF AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE EXPORTATION OF EMBARGOED GOODS FROM RUSSIA TO THE UNITED STATES. Signed at Washington September 23, 1915. (Treaty Series, No. 618; 39 Statutes at Large, 1638.) In order to facilitate the commercial relations between the United States of America and Russia, in view of the embargo which has been placed by the Government of Russia upon the exportation of certain articles from Russia, the undersigned Robert Lansing, Secretary of State of the United States, and His Excellency George Bakhméteff, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to the United States, duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have agreed upon the following conditions under which American citizens or firms may secure release of shipments under special permission from the Imperial Russian Government, to-wit: 1. Whenever an American merchant or firm desires to make importations from Russia he or they shall first file an application for such importation with the Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce of the United States, which application shall set forth in detail information regarding the proposed importations, the commodities, the character of the goods, their quantities and values, the methods of payment, and the name of the Russian export firm, as well as any other details which may be required. 2. The American importer shall further state in the application his preparedness to file with the proper Russian official in the United States a bond to the Imperial Russian Government, to the amount of the value of the goods at the port of importation as of day prior to the date of the execution of the bond. This bond shall run for a period of at least three years or until the conclusion of the war; and the said bond shall guarantee that the commodities, raw materials, or products manufactured there from, which it is desired to import, shall not be exported from the United States to any country unless special permission therefor be granted by the Imperial Russian Government or its representative. 3. Upon the American importer complying with the requirements of conditions numbered one and two, the Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce of the United States shall then make inquiries as to the standing and responsibility of the American importer, and as to such other details with respect to him as may be deemed to be required; and should he find that such importer is satisfactory in all respects, he shall approve the application and forward it to the Imperial Russian Embassy at Washington or to its representative. 4. Upon the said application receiving the approval of the Imperial Russian Embassy or its representative, the Imperial Russian Embassy or its representative will at once seek by cable the permission of the Imperial Russian Minister of Finance for the exportation of the goods in question, it being understood that the American importer will deposit with the Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce a sum sufficient to cover all costs of cabling and incidental expenses. If permission for exportation be granted by the Imperial Russian Government, the American importer shall then submit his order to the Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce for approval and the order shall be made out in such a way that the goods to be imported shall be consigned to the order of the Secretary of Commerce of the United States. 5. When permission for the exportation of the goods shall have been procured from the Imperial Russian Minister of Finance, the American importer shall execute his bond and file it with the proper Russian official in the United States for approval. Upon the receipt of this approval by the Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce the consignment may be released to the American importer. 6. Should it be found that the terms of the bond have been violated and that the goods in question have been exported from the United States either in their original form or in manufactured form, except with the specific approval of the Imperial Russian Government or its representative, the bond shall be forfeited to the Imperial Russian Government.. 7. The Commercial Agent in charge of the New York office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce shall transmit to the Imperial Russian Commercial Attaché a statement setting forth the applications which have been made for importations of Russian goods into the United States and a statement of the actual arrivals of such goods, and these statements shall be made in triplicate on the first and fifteenth of each month. 8. It is understood that in case the Imperial Russian Government does not approve an application it is not bound in any way to give an explanation of the reasons of its refusal as these might be justified by considerations of State policy. 9. It is understood that this agreement shall go into operation on September 23rd, 1915, and shall remain in force during the continu |