598 rustic rnnarins. The Paraguayan Government shall be at liberty to address to the Government of the United States of America, or to its representative in the Republic of Paraguay, the odicial declaration agreed upon in this article. Anrionn XVI. ‘Rat.m¤ati»n¤. The present treaty shall be ratified by His Excellency the President of the United States of America within the term of lifteen months, or earlier if possible, and by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Paraguay within twelve days from this date, and the ratitications shall be exchanged in Washington. sigimtmes. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed it, and ahixed thereto their seals. Dato_ Done at Assumption this fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nftymine. JAMES B. BOWLIN. [L. s.] NICOLAS VASQUEZ. [1.. s. j
