RATIFIED AND MADE PUBLIC 
 
 CONFIDENTIAL. 
 
 2d Session. ( 1 O. 
 
 63D CONGRESS, ) CONFIDENTIAL. EXECUTIVE 
 
 j 
 
 ADVANCEMENT OF THE CAUSE OF GENERAL PEACE 
 WITH NICARAGUA. 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 TRANSMITTING 
 
 A TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NICARAGUA LOOK- 
 ING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CAUSE OF GENERAL PEACE, 
 SIGNED AT WASHINGTON DECEMBER 17, 1913. 
 
 JULY 24, 1914. Message read; convention read the first time and referred to the 
 Committee on Foreign Relations, and, together with the message, ordered to be 
 printed in confidence for the use of the Senate. 
 
 To the Senate: 
 
 I transmit herewith, with a view to receiving the advice and consent 
 of the Senate to its ratification, a treaty between the United States 
 and Nicaragua loci: Ing to the advancement of the cause of general 
 peace, signed at Washington on December 17, 1913. 
 
 WOODROW WILSON. 
 THE WHITE HOUSE, 
 
 Washington, July 24, 1914- 
 
 The PRESIDENT: 
 
 The undersigned, the Secretary of State, has the honor to lay 
 before the President, to the end that, should his judgment approve 
 thereof, it be transmitted to the Senate with a view to receiving the 
 advice and consent of that body to its ratification, a treaty between 
 the United States and Nicaragua looking to the advancement of the 
 cause of general peace, signed at Washington on December 17, 1913. 
 
 Respectfully submitted. 
 
 W. J. BRYAN. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 
 
 Washington, July 23, 1914. 
 
The United States of America and the Republic of Nicaragua, 
 being desirous to strengthen the bonds of amity that bind them to- 
 gether and also to advance the cause of general peace, have resolved 
 to enter into a treaty for that purpose and to that end have appointed 
 as their plenipotentiaries: 
 
 The President of the United States, the Honorable William Jen- 
 nings Bryan, Secretary of State; and 
 
 The President of Nicaragua, Scfior General Don Emiliano Cha- 
 morro, Envoy .Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Nica- 
 ragua to the United States; 
 
 Who, after having communicated to each other their respective 
 full powers, found to be in proper form, have agreed upon the follow- 
 ing articles: 
 
 AKTICLE I. 
 
 The high contracting parties agree that all disputes between them, 
 of every nature whatsoever, which diplomacy shall fail to adjust, 
 shall be submitted for investigation and report to an International 
 Commission, to be constituted in the manner prescribed in the next 
 succeeding Article; and they a^ree not to declare war or begin 
 hostilities during such investigation and report. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 The International Commission shall be composed of five members, 
 to be appointed as follows: One member shall be chosen from each 
 country, by the Government thereof; one member shall be chosen 
 by each Government from some third country; the fifth member shall 
 be chosen by common agreement between the two Governments. 
 The expenses of the Commission shall be paid by the two Govern- 
 ments in equal proportion. 
 
 The International Commission shall be appointed within four 
 months after the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty; and 
 vacancies shall be filled according to the manner of the original 
 appointment. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 In case the high contracting parties shall have failed to adjust a 
 dispute by diplomatic methods, they shall at once refer it to the 
 International Commission for investigation and report. The Inter- 
 national Commission may, however, act upon its own initiative, 
 and in such case it shall notify both Governments and request their 
 cooperation in the investigation. 
 
 The report of the International Commission shall be completed 
 within one year after the date on which it shall declare its investiga- 
 tion to have begun, unless the high contracting parties shall extend 
 the time by mutual agreement. The report shall be prepared in 
 triplicate; one copy shall be presented to each Government, and the 
 third retained by the Commission for its files. 
 
 The high contracting parties reserve the right to act independently 
 on the subject-matter of the dispute after the report of the Commis- 
 sion shall have been submitted. 
 
ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Pending the investigation and report of the International Com- 
 mission, the high contracting parties agree not to increase their 
 military or naval programs, unless danger from a third power should 
 compel such increase, in which case the party feeling itself menaced 
 shall confidentially communicate the fact in writing to the other 
 contracting party, whereupon the latter shall also be released from 
 its obligation to maintain its military and naval status quo. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United 
 States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate 
 thereof; and by the Congress of the Republic of Nicaragua; and the 
 ratifications shall be exchanged as soon as possible. It shall take 
 effect immediately after the exchange of ratifications, and shall con- 
 tinue in force for a period of five years; and it shall thereafter remain 
 in force until twelve months after one of the high contracting parties 
 have given notice to the other of an intention to terminate it. 
 
 In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed 
 the present treaty and have affixed thereunto their seals. 
 
 Done in Washington on the 17th day of December, in the year of 
 our Lord nineteen hundred and thirteen. <_ 
 
 [SEAL.] WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN. 
 
 [SEAL.] EMILIANO CHAMORRO. 
 
 o 
 
PAT. JAN. 2 1.1 908