Convention of conciliation between Finland and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsIn accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of the Pact of Non-Aggression and Pacific Settlement of Disputes concluded on January 21st, 1932, between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Finland, Article 1. The High Contracting Parties mutually undertake to submit to a Conciliation Commission for amicable settlement, in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention, all disputes of whatsoever nature which may arise between them on account of circumstances occurring after the signature of the Pact of Non-Aggression and Pacific Settlement of Disputes between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and. Finland and which cannot be settled within a reasonable time through the diplomatic channel. This undertaking also refers in particular to any possible differences regarding the interpretation and enforcement of conventions which have been or may hereafter be concluded between the High Contracting Parties. Article 2. The Conciliation Commission provided for in Article 1 shall consist of four members, of whom each of the High Contracting Parties shall appoint two from among its nationals for each session of the Commission. Either High Contracting Party shall be entitled to have recourse to experts appointed by itself, who may sit on the Commission in an advisory capacity. Either High Contracting Party may also, if both Parties on the Commission agree, arrange for persons, whose evidence it may consider useful, to be heard. Each session shall be presided over by one of the members of the Commission who is a national of the country in whose territory the Commission is sitting. Article 3. It shall be the duty of the Conciliation Commission to clear up the questions at issue which have been submitted to it, to collect all necessary information for that purpose and to make such proposals for the settlement of disputes as it may consider equitable, and it shall recommend the High Contracting Parties to accept such proposals through the diplomatic channel. Should the Conciliation Commission, during a session, fail to agree on a joint proposal concerning a question submitted to it, and should the High Contracting Parties subsequently fail to reach an agreement for the settlement of the dispute within a reasonable time, it is understood that the dispute may, on the request of either High Contracting Party, be again submitted to a procedure of conciliation. Article 4. The Conciliation Commission shall meet at the request of either High Contracting Party communicated to the other through the diplomatic channel, on a date to be fixed by mutual agreement between the High Contracting Parties. The Commission shall meet not later than one month after the receipt of the said application. As a general rule, the Commission shall not meet oftener than once a year, except in urgent cases. In such event, the Government which has proposed the holding of one urgent session shall inform the other Government of the circumstances giving rise to such application. The session shall not normally last longer than fifteen days, unless the High Contracting Parties jointly decide otherwise. The Commission shall sit alternately at Moscow and Helsinki. The first meeting shall be held at Moscow. Article 5. Not less than fifteen days before the meeting of the Conciliation Commission, each High Contracting Party shall communicate to the other, through the diplomatic channel, a list of the questions which it desires to have examined by the Commission at that session. Article 6. Unless the High Contracting Parties jointly decide otherwise, the Conciliation Commission shall itself determine its procedure. Article 7. The Commission of Conciliation shall be deemed to form a quorum only if all the members duly convened are present. Should any member be unable to attend the proceedings of the Commission, the High Contracting Party concerned shall appoint a substitute for him within not more than thirty days after his inability to attend has been ascertained. The decisions of the Commission shall be taken by the unanimous agreement of its members. Article 8. The High Contracting Parties undertake to assist the Conciliation Commission in carrying out its tasks, and more particularly to supply it, as far as is possible, with all necessary information and documents. Article 9. The Conciliation Commission shall draw up a report on the disputes which have been submitted to it. This report shall be supplied before the end of the session during which the questions at issue have been examined, unless the High Contracting Parties decide by mutual agreement to extend that time-limit. The report shall contain proposals for the settlement of every question at issue submitted to the Commission, if such proposals have been accepted by all the members of the Commission. Should the Commission fail to agree on joint proposals, the report shall contain the proposals of both parties on the Commission. Article 10. The Conciliation Commission's report shall be signed by all its members. It shall be communicated at once to each High Contracting Party. Article 11. Each High Contracting Party undertakes to inform the other, within a reasonable time-limit, which shall in no case exceed three months, whether it accepts the Commission's joint proposals contained in its report. Article 12. The Conciliation Commission's report may not be published, either in full or in part, without the consent of both High Contracting Parties. Article 13. The emoluments of members of the Conciliation Commission and of the experts or other persons employed by each High Contracting Party shall be paid by the Party concerned. All other expenses arising out of the working of the Commission shall be paid in equal shares by each Party. Article 14. While the conciliation procedure is in progress, the High Contracting Parties undertake to refrain from any steps in their power which might have a prejudicial effect on the Conciliation Commission's proposals regarding the questions submitted to it. Article 15. The present Convention shall constitute an integral part of the Pact of Non-Aggression and Pacific Settlement of Disputes concluded on January 21st, 1932, between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Finland and shall be regarded as ratified by the actual fact of the ratification of the aforesaid Pact. It shall come into force simultaneously with the said Pact of Non-Aggression and shall remain in force for the same period as that Pact. Article 16. The present Convention is drawn up in French, in duplicate, at Helsinki, the 22nd day of April, 1932. In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed this Convention and have thereto affixed their seals.
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