reserved, until a subsequent understanding should be reached, Articles XXI, XXII, XXIII, and XLII to LXI. The representatives acknowledged to the Minister of France the deposit of the ratifications of the President of the French Republic, as well as of the exception bearing upon Articles XXI, XXII, XXIII, and XLII to LXI. It is understood that the powers which have ratified the General Act in its entirety, acknowledge that they are reciprocally bound as regards all its clauses. It is likewise understood that these powers shall not be bound toward those which shall have ratified it partially, save within the limits of the engagements assumed by the latter powers. Finally, it is understood that, as regards the powers that have partially ratified, the matters forming the subject of Articles XLII to LXI, shall continue, until a subsequent agreement is adopted, to be governed by the stipulations and arrangements now in force. In testimony whereof SENATE RESOLUTION OF RATIFICATION. IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, January 11, 1892. Resolved, (two thirds of the Senators present concurring therein,) That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the General Act signed at Brussels, July 2, 1890, by the plenipotentiaries of the United States and other powers, for the suppression of the African Slave-trade, and for other purposes. Resolved further, That the Senate advise and consent to the acceptance of the partial ratification of the said General Act on the part of the French Republic, and to the stipulations relative thereto, as set forth in the protocol signed at Brussels, January 2, 1892. Resolved further, as a part of this act of ratification, That the United States of America, having neither possessions nor protectorates in Africa, hereby disclaims any intention, in ratifying this treaty, to indicate any interest whatsoever in the possessions or protectorates established or claimed on that Continent by the other powers, or any approval of the wisdom, expediency or lawfulness thereof, and does not join in any expressions in the said General Act which might be construed as such a declaration or acknowledgment; and, for this reason, that it is desirable that a copy of this resolution be inserted in the protocol to be drawn up at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty on the part of the Unied States. Attest: Secretary. ANSON G MCCOOK DEPOSIT OF THE RATIFICATION BY THE UNITED STATES. PROTOCOL TRANSLATION. February 2nd, 1892, conformably to article XCIX of the General Act of July 2nd, 1890, and to the unanimous decision of the signatory Powers which prorogued to February 2nd, 1892, for the United States the term provided for in the same article XCIX, the undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America has deposited in the hands of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium the ratifications of the President of the United States of the said General Act. At the request of His Excellency, the following resolution by which the Senate of the United States consented to the ratification of the President has been inserted in the present protocol: Resolved, (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein,) That the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of the General Act signed at Brussells July 2nd, 1890, by the plenipotentiaries of the United States and other Powers, for the suppression of the African Slave Trade, and for other purposes. Resolved further, That the Senate advise and consent to the acceptance of the partial ratification of the said General Act on the part of the French Republic and to the stipulations relative thereto, as set forth in the protocol signed at Brussels January 2nd, 1892. Resolved further, as a part of this act of ratification, That the United States of America, having neither possessions nor protectorates in Africa, hereby disclaims any intention, in ratifying this treaty, to indicate any interest whatsoever in the possessions or protectorates established or claimed on that continent by the other Powers, or any approval of the wisdom, expediency or lawfulness thereof, and does not join in any expressions in the said General Act which might be construed as such a declaration or acknowledgment; and, for this reason, that it is desirable that a copy of this resolution be inserted in the protocol to be drawn up at the time of the exchange of the Ratifications of this treaty. on the part of the United States. This resolution of the Senate of the United States having been preparatively and textually conveyed by the Government of His Majesty the King of the Belgians to the knowledge of all the signatory Powers of the General Act, the latter have given their assent to its insertion in the present Protocol which will remain annexed to the Protocol of January 2nd, 1892. Acknowledgment of this is given to the Minister of the United States. The ratification of the President of the United States having been found in good and due form, acknowledgment of their deposit is equally given to His Excellency Mr. Edwin H. Terrell; they will be preserved in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium. At the moment of proceeding to the signature of the present Protocol, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of His Majesty the King of the Belgians made it known that the Representative of Russia, in the note expressing the assent of his Government, expressed the opinion that it would have been desirable that a translation into the French language accompany in the Protocol the English text of the resolutions of the Senate of the United States of America and that at all events the absence of this translation is not to form a precedent. A certified copy of the present Protocol will be addressed by the Belgian Government to the Signatory Powers of the General Act. Done at Brussels, February 2nd., 1892. The Minister of Foreign Affairs The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America Copy certified conformable to the original [SEAL] The Minister of Foreign Affairs The PRINCE DE CHIMAY 1899. ADHESION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CONVENTION SIGNED AT BRUSSELS, JUNE 8, 1899, BY THE PLENIPOTENTIARIES OF CERTAIN POWERS FOR THE REGULATION OF THE IMPORTATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS INTO CERTAIN REGIONS OF AFRICA. Concluded June 8, 1899; adhesion advised by Senate December 14, 1900; declaration of adhesion by President February 1, 1901; proclaimed February 6, 1901. I. Import duty. II. Excise duty. III. Adhesion of powers. ARTICLES. IV. Ratification. [Translation.] His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Spain, and in his name Her Majesty the QueenRegent of the Kingdom; His Majesty the King-Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo; the President of the French Republic; Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India; His Majesty the King of Italy; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; His Majesty the King of Portugal and of the Algarves, &c.; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias; his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, &c.; and His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans; Wishing to provide for the execution of Article XCII of the General Act of Brussels, which prescribes the revision of the Regulations on the importation of spirituous liquors into certain regions of Africa; Have resolved to assemble a Conference for the purpose at Brussels, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire, M. Frederic-Jean, Count of Alvensleben, his Chamberlain and Privy Councillor, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; and M. Guillaume Göhring, his Councillor of Legation; His Majesty the King of the Belgians, M. Auguste, Baron Lambermont, his Minister of State, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary; and M. Auguste van Maldeghem, Councillor of the Court of Cassation of Belgium; His Majesty the King of Spain, and in his name Her Majesty the Queen-Regent of the Kingdom, M. W. Ramirez de Villa-Urrutia, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King-Sovereign of the Independent State of the Congo, M. Paul de Smet de Naeyer, his Minister of State, Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium; and M. Hubert Droogmans, Secretary-General of the Finance Department of the Independent State of the Congo; • See Convention of 1906, page 2205. Adhered to by Denmark July 22, 1899; Persia, August 27, 1899; Austria, January 29, 1900; Liberia, April 17, 1900. The President of the French Republic, M. A. Gérard, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to His Majesty the King of the Belgians. Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, Sir Francis Plunkett, her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; and Mr. H. Farnall, of the Foreign Office; His Majesty the King of Italy, M. R. Cantagalli, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, Jonkheer Rudulphe de Pestel, her Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves, M. AntoineMarie, Count of Tovar, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, M. N. de Giers, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, M. Auguste-L.-Fersen, Count Gyldenstolpe, his Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans, Etienne Carathéodory Effendi, High Dignitary of his Empire, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of the Belgians; Who, furnished with powers in good and due form, have adopted the following provisions: ARTICLE I. From the coming into force of the present Convention, the import duty on spirituous liquors, as that duty is regulated by the General Act of Brussels, shall be raised throughout the zone where there does not exist the system of total prohibition provided by Article XCI of the said General Act, to the rate of 70 fr. the hectolitre at 50 degrees centigrade for a period of six years. It may, exceptionally, be at the rate of 60 fr. only the hectolitre at 50 degrees centigrade in the Colony of Togo and in that of Dahomey. The import duty shall be augmented proportionally for each degree above 50 degrees centigrade; it may be diminished proportionally for each degree below 50 degrees centigrade. At the end of the above-mentioned period of six years, the import duty shall be submitted to revision, taking as a basis the results produced by the preceding rate. The Powers retain the right of maintaining and increasing the duty beyond the minimum fixed by the present Article in the regions where they now possess that right. ARTICLE II. In accordance with Article XCIII of the General Act of Brussels, distilled drinks made in the regions mentioned in Article XCII of the said General Act, and intended for consumption, shall pay an excise This excise duty, the collection of which the Powers undertake to insure as far as possible, shall not be lower than the minimum import duty fixed by Article I of the present Convention. ARTICLE III. It is understood that the powers who signed the General Act of Brussels, or who have adhered to it, and who are not represented at the present Conference, preserve the right of adhering to the present Convention. ARTICLE IV. The present Convention shall be ratified within the shortest possible period, and such period shall not in any case exceed one year. Each Power shall address its ratification to the Government of His Majesty the King of the Belgians, which shall give notice thereof to all the other powers signatory of the present Convention. The ratifications of all the Powers shall be deposited in the archives of the Kingdom of Belgium. As soon as all the ratifications have been produced, or at latest one. year after the signature of the present Convention, their deposit shall be recorded in a Protocol which shall be signed by the Representatives of all the Powers who shall have ratified. A certified copy of this Protocol shall be addressed to all the Powers interested. ARTICLE V. The present Convention shall come into force in all the possessions of the Contracting Powers situated in the zone defined by Article XC of the General Act of Brussels on the thirtieth day after the date of the preparation of the Protocol of Deposit mentioned in the preceding Article. In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention, and have affixed their seals thereto. Done at Brussels, the eighth day of the month of June, eighteen hundred and ninety-nine. (Signed) ALVENSLEBEN. Baron LAMBERMONT. A. VAN MALDEGHEM. H. DROOGMANS. A. GÉRARD. F. R. PLUNKETT. H. FARNALL. R. CANTAGALLI. R. DE PESTEL. Comte DE TOVAR. N. DE GIERS. AUG. F. GYLDENSTOLPE. ÉT. CARATHÉODORY. |