Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 2.djvu/623

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [54 STAT. (f) In respect of parcels regarding which the sender has not made inquiry within the period prescribed by Article XVII. (g) In respect of any parcels containing precious stones, jewelry, or any article of gold, silver, or platinum exceeding $500 or £100 in value not packed in a box of the size prescribed by Article 6, Sec- Poat, p. 1849. tion 3, of the Detailed Regulations. (h) For parcels which contain matter of no intrinsic value or perishable matter, or which do not conform to the stipulations of this Agreement, or which were not posted in the manner prescribed; but the country responsible for the loss, rifling, or damage may pay indemnity in respect of such parcels without recourse to the other Administration. ARTICLE XXII. Termination of re- sponsibility. Payment of com- pensation. Period for payment of compensation. Incidence of cost of compensation. Termination of respansibziity. The two Administrations shall cease to be responsible for parcels which have been delivered in accordance with their internal regula- tions and of which the owners or their agents have accepted deliv- ery without reservation. Responsibility is, however, maintained when the addressee or, in case of return, the sender makes reservations in taking delivery of a parcel the contents of which have been abstracted or damaged. ARTiCLE XXIII. Payment of compensation. The payment of compensation shall be undertaken by the Admin- istration of origin except in the cases indicated in Article XX, Section 1, where payment is made by the Administration of destina- tion. The Administration of origin may, however, after obtaining the senders consent, authorize the Administration of destination to settle with the addressee. The paying Administration retains the right to make a claim against the Administration responsible. ARTIcLn XXIV. Period for payment of compensation. 1. Compensation shall be paid as soon as possible and, at the latest, within one year from the day following the date of the inquiry. 2. The Administration responsible for making payment is author- ized to settle with the claimant on behalf of the other Administra- tion if the latter, after being duly informed of the application, has let nine months pass without giving a decision in the matter. 3. The Administration responsible for making payment may, ex- ceptionally, postpone it beyond the period of one year when a deci- sion has not yet been reached upon the question whether the loss, damage, or abstraction is due to a cause beyond control. ABTICLE XXV. Incidence of cost of compensation. 1. Until the contrary is proved responsibility shall rest with the Administration which, havig received the parcel from the other Administration without making any reservation and having been furnished with all the particulars for investigation prescribed by the regulations, cannot establish either proper delivery to the addressee or his agent, or other proper disposal of the parcel. 1844

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