56 STAT.] INTER-AMERICAN-EUROPEAN COLONIES-JULY 30, 1940 XIII The organization referred to in the preceding article shall be com- petent to take cognizance of the petitions submitted by inhabitants of the region through the medium of the administration, with reference to the exercise of the provisional administration. The administration shall transmit, with this petition, such observations as it may deem proper. XIV The first administration shall be granted for a period of three years; at the end of this period, if necessary, it shall be renewed for successive periods not longer than ten years. 1277 Petitions by inhabi- tants. Term of first admin- istration; renewals. XV The expenses incurred in the exercise of the administration shall be Expenses. defrayed with the revenues of the region under administration but in case they are insufficient the deficit shall be met by the State or States which act as administrators. XVI A commission to be known as the "Inter-American Commission for Territorial Administration" is hereby established, to be composed of a representative from each one of the States which ratifies this con- vention; it shall be the international organization to which this convention refers. Once. this convention has become effective, any country which ratifies it may convoke the first meeting proposing the city in which it is to be held. The Commission shall elect its chair- man, complete its organization and fix its definitive seat. Two-thirds of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum and two- thirds of the members present may adopt decisions. XVII The Commission is authorized to establish a provisional administra- tion in the regions to which the present convention refers; allow such administration to be exercised by the number of States which it may determine in each case, and supervise its exercise under the term of the preceding articles. XVIII None of the provisions contained in the present convention refers to territories or possessions which are the subject of dispute or claims between European powers and one or more of the Republics of the Americas. XIX The present convention is open for signature by the American Republics at the City of Habana and shall be ratified by the High Contracting Parties in conformity with their constitutional procedures. The Secretary of State of the Republic of Cuba shall transmit at the earliest possible date authentic certified copies to the governments for "Inter-American Commission for Terri- torial Administra- tion." Establishment of provisional adlminis- tratlon. Exclusion of certain disputed, etc., terri- tories. Ratification proce- dure.
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