Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 3.djvu/698

 3312 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAT. ARTICLE 11. Exceptional relations. Administrations which serve territories not included in the Union are bound to act as intermediaries for the other Administrations. The provisions of the Convention and its Regulations are applicable to such exceptional relations. ARTICLE 12. Arbitration. 1. In case of disagreement between two or more members of the Union as to the interpretation of the Convention and Agreements, as well as of their Regulations of Execution, or of the responsibility imposed upon an Administration by the application of those Acts, the question in dispute is settled by arbitration. To that end, each of the Administrations concerned chooses another member of the Union which is not directly interested in the matter. 2. If one of the Administrations involved in the dispute does not take any action on a proposal for arbitration within a period of six months, or nine months in the case of distant countries, the Inter- national Bureau, if asked to do so, calls upon the defaulting Adminis- tration to appoint an arbitrator, or appoints one itself without further formality. 3. The decision of the arbitrators is made on an absolute majority of votes. 4. In case of a tie vote, the arbitrators, for the purpose of settling the difference, choose another Administration which likewise has no interest in the dispute. In case of disagreement as to a choice, that Administration is designated by the International Bureau from among the members of the Union not proposed by the arbitrators. 5. If it is a question of a dispute concerning one of the Agreements, only such Administrations as execute that Agreement may be desig- nated as arbitrators. ARTICLE 13. Withdrawalfrom the Union. Termination of participationin the Agreements. Any contracting party has the option of withdrawing from the Union or of ceasing to participate in one or more of the Agreements by notice given one year in advance through diplomatic channels to the Government of the Swiss Confederation and by the latter to the Governments of the contracting countries. CHAPTER II. Congresses. Conferences. Committees. ARTICLE 14. Congresses. 1. Delegates from the countries of the Union meet in Congress not later than five years after the effective date of the Acts of the preceding Congress, with a view to revising or completing those Acts, if necessary.

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