International Joint Commission (Waterways).; Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, February 24, 1913, on H.R. 28

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1913 Excerpt: ... INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION (WATERWAYS). Committee On Foreign Affairs, House Of Representatives, February 24,1913. The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m., Hon. Henry D. Flood (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES A. TAWNEY, CHAIRMAN INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION. Mr. Tawney. Mr. Chairman, it may be profitable to all concerned, before discussing the character and the extent of the work of the International Joint Commission since its organization a year ago, to briefly state the general scope of the jurisdiction and purpose of this international tribunal and some of the provisions of the treaty under which it has been created. In some respects this treaty marks an advance with respect to the peaceable settlement of international controversies and the peaceable settlement of controversies between the inhabitants of two countries living under separate governmental jurisdictions far beyond anything thus far attained in the matter of creating and maintaining cordial relations between two independent Governments and their inhabitants. The treaty dates from the day of the exchange of ratifications, which was May 5, 1910. The purposes of the treaty, as expressed in its first paragraph, are: To prevent disputes regarding the use of boundary waters and to settle all questions which are now pending between the United States and the Dominion of Canada involving the rights, obligations, or interests of either in relation to the other or to the inhabitants of the other along their common frontier, and to make provision for the adjustment and settlement of all such questions aa may hereafter arise. Boundary waters are defined in the very beginning of the treaty as--The waters from main shore to main shore of the lakes and rivers and connecting waterways or th...