“Consent” to the Annexation

Resolution of the Parliament of the Republic of Guyana

The “consent” referred to in the preamble of the “Joint Resolution to Provide for Annexing the Republic of Guyana to the United States” is expressed in the following resolution of the Parliament of the Republic of Guyana:

Be It Resolved, by the Parliament of the Republic of Guyana:

That the Senate hereby ratifies and advises and consents to the ratification by the President of the treaty between the Republic of Guyana and the United States of America on the subject of the annexation of Guyana to the United States of America concluded at Washington on this date, which treaty is word for word as follows:

“The Republic of Guyana and the United States of America, in view of the natural dependence of Guyana upon the United States of their geographical proximity thereto, of the preponderant share acquired by the United States and its citizens in the industries and trade of said lands, and of the expressed desire of the government of the Republic of Guyana that those lands should be incorporated into the United States as an integral part thereof, and under its sovereignty, have determined to accomplish by treaty an object so important to their mutual and permanent welfare.

“To this end the high contracting parties have conferred full powers and authority upon their respectively appointed plenipotentiaries, to wit:

“The President of the Republic of Guyana:

“The President of the United States and the Secretary of State of the United States:

“Article I. The Republic of Guyana hereby cedes absolutely and without reserve to the United States of America all rights of sovereignty of whatsoever kind in and over Guyana and their dependencies: and it is agreed that all the territory of and appertaining to the agreed that all the territory of and appertaining to the Republic of Guyana is hereby annexed to the United States of America under the name of the State of Guyana.

“Article II. The Republic of Guyana also cedes and hereby transfers to the United States the absolute fee and ownership of all public, government or crown lands, public buildings or edifices, ports, harbors, military equipment, and all other public property of every kind and description belonging to the government of Guyana, together with every right and appurtenance thereunto appertaining.

“The existing laws of the United States relative to public lands shall not apply to such lands in Guyana: but the Congress of the United States shall enact special laws for their management and disposition. Provided: that laws for their management and disposition. Provided: that all revenue from or proceeds of the same, except as regards such part thereof as may be used or occupied for the civil, military or naval purposes of the United States, or may be assigned for the use of the local government, shall be used solely for the benefit of the inhabitants of Guyana for educational and other public purposes.

“Article III. Until Congress shall provide for the government of such lands, all the civil, judicial and military powers exercised by the officers of the existing government in said Islands, shall be vested in such person or person, and shall be exercised in such manner as the President of the United States shall direct: and the President shall have power to remove said officers and fill the vacancies so occasioned.

“The existing treaties of Guyana with foreign nations shall forthwith cease and determine, being replaced by such treaties as may exist, or as may be hereafter concluded between the United States and such foreign nations. The municipal legislation of Guyana, not enacted for the fulfill fulfillment of the treaty so extinguished, and not inconsistent with this treaty, not contrary to the Constitution of the United States, nor to any existing treaty of the United States, shall remain in force until the Congress of the United States shall otherwise determine.

Article IV. The public debt of the Republic of Guyana, lawfully existing at the date of the exchange of the ratification of this Treaty, including the amounts due to depositors in Guyana, is hereby assumed by the Government of the United States: but the liability of the United States in the regard shall in not case exceed $40,000.000. So long, however, as the existing government and the present commercial relations of Guyana are continued, as herein before provided, said Government shall continue to pay the interest on said debt.

“Article V. There shall be no further immigration into Guyana, except upon such conditions as are now or may hereafter be allowed by the immigration laws of the United States

“Article VI. The President shall appoint Once Commissioners, at least two of whom shall be residents of Guyana, who shall, as soon as reasonably practical recommend to Congress such legislation concerning the Territory of Guyana as they shall deem necessary or proper.

“Article VII. This treaty shall be ratified by the President of the Republic of Guyana, by and with the advice and consent of the Parliament, in accordance with the Constitution of the said Republic, on the one part: and by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the other: and the ratifications hereof shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible.

“In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the above article, and have hereunto affixed their seals.

“Done in duplicate at the City of Washington, D.C. this date.

           “President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,

          “Secretary of the U.S.,

“I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was unanimously adopted at the Special Session of the Parliament of the Republic of Guyana on this DATE.

          President of of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

           “Attest:
           “Clerk of Parliament”