Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 17.pdf/255

 THE GREEN BAG eluded by protocol, Sept. 8, 1900. U. S. For. Rel. 1900, p. 883. Claims of the beneficiaries of the Pious Fund of the Californias against Mexico, concluded by protocol, May 22, 1902. U. S. For. Rel. 1902, Appen. II, p. 157. Claims of citizens of the United States against Venezuela, concluded by protocol, Feb, 17, 1903. U. S. For. Rel. 1903, p. 804. Adhesion by the United States to a protocol between Germany and Venezuela of May 7, 1903, respecting the reference of the preferential treat ment of claims to the Tribunal at the Hague, con cluded by protocol, May 27, 1903. U. S. For. Rel i903.P- 439To the foregoing list there may be added an agreement by protocol, January 31, 1903, with San Domingo, for settlement of claims of San Domingo Improvement Company and other American citizens. Associated Press Despatches of February 15, 1905.

Attention is called to the published letter of Professor John Bassett Moore (contained in Press Despatches of February 15, 1905), in which he comments at length on the practice of our gov ernment in entering into agreements other than treaties for the adjustment of international differ ences by arbitration. He says: "The action of the government in such cases rested upon an undoubted principle, which has been assumed and observed since the foundation of the government, that it is within the power of the President in the conduct of foreign inter course with this country, to settle a claim of an American citizen against another government, at any rate with the claimant's consent, without entering into a treaty. If, in such a case, it becomes necessary or expedient to call in arbi trators to adjust the terms of settlement, this has been conceived to be only a question, of procedure, a question of the method in which the admitted power was to be exercised."