Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 115

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

ARTICLE VI.

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The contracting parties, other than China, agree fully to respect China's rights as a neutral in time of war to which China is not a party; and China declares that when she is a neutral she will observe the obligations of neutrality.

ARTICLE VII.

The contracting Powers agree that whenever a situation arises which, in the opinion of any one of them, involves the application of the stipulations of the present treaty, and renders desirable discussion of such application, there shall be full and frank communication between the contracting Powers concerned.

ARTICLE VIII.

Powers not signatory to the present Treaty which have governments recognised by the signatory Powers and which have treaty relations with China shall be invited to adhere to the present Treaty. To this end the Government of the United States will make the necessary communications to non-signatory Powers and will inform the contracting Powers of the replies received. Adherence by any Power shall become effective on receipt of notice thereof by the Government of the United States.

ARTICLE IX.

The present treaty shall be ratified by the contracting Powers in accordance with their respective constitutional methods, and shall take effect on the date of the deposit of all the ratifications, which shall take place at Washington as soon as possible. The Government of the United States will transmit to the other con- tracting Powers a certified copy of the proces verbal of the deposit of ratifications.

The present treaty, of which the English and French texts are both authentic, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States, and duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by that Government to the other contracting Powers.

In faith whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty.

Done at the City of Washington, the sixth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two.

THE BOARD OF REFERENCE

The following resolution was adopted as a supplement to the general Far Eastern Treaty:

The United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Portugal:

Desiring to provide a procedure for dealing with questions that may arise in connection with the execution of the provisions or Articles III. and V. of the Treaty to be signed at Washington on February 6th, 1922, with reference to their general policy, designed to stabilize conditions in the Far East, to safeguard the rights and interests of China, and to promote interest between China and the other Powers upon the basis of equality of opportunity;

Resolve, That there shall be established in China a Board of Reference to which any questions arising in connection with the execution of the aforesaid articles may be referred for investigation and report.

The special conference, provided in Article II. of the treaty to be signed at Washington on February 6th, 1922, with reference to the Chinese Customs Tariff shall formulate for the approval of the Powers concerned a detailed plan for the constitution of the Board.

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