The American-Mexican Claims Commission, officially known as the General Claims Commission (Mexico and United States,) was a commission set up by treaty that adjudicated claims by citizens of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 for losses suffered due to the acts of one government against nationals of the other. The commission lasted from 1924 - 1937.

History

The Commission was constituted under the terms of the General Claims Convention, signed September 8, 1923, in Washington D.C. by the United States and the Mexico. The convention, which took effect on March 1, 1924, was intended to improve relations between the countries by forming a commission to settle claims arising after July 4, 1868, “against one government by nationals of the other for losses or damages suffered by such nationals or their properties” and “for losses or damages originating from acts of officials or others acting for either government and resulting in injustice.” Excluded from the jurisdiction of the General Claims Commission were cases stemming from events related to revolutions or disturbed conditions in Mexico. (The Special Claims Commission was formed to address claims arising from events which occurred between November 20, 1910, and May 31, 1920).

The Commission met from 1924 to 1931 in Washington, D.C. and Mexico City. Work resumed in 1934 under a new agreement and format; the work of the commissioners ended in 1937, although final settlement was not reached until 1941.

Membership

The Commission was composed of three members, one from the U.S., one from Mexico, and one from a neutral country. The commissioners were Cornelis van Vollenhoven

Cornelis van Vollenhoven

Cornelis van Vollenhoven was a Dutch law professor and legal scholar, best known for his work on the legal systems of the East Indies....

 (neutral), Genaro Fernández Mac Gregor (Mexican), Edwin B. Parker (United States), Fred Kenelm Nielsen (United States), and Edgar E. Witt

Edgar E. Witt

Edgar E. Witt was a Texas lawyer and politician, serving as Lieutenant Governor for one term in the 1930s. He also served twice as Chairman of the American-Mexican Claims Commission and Chief Commissioner of the Indian Claims Commission.-Early life:Witt was born on January 28, 1876, in Bell...

(United States).