Researching treaties to which the United States may not be a party can be a challenge.
Multilateral treaties are usually the easiest, as they are published in sets like the
United Nations Treaty Series (UNTS), and on various web sites. Of course, only those
treaties deposited with the UN Secretary General will become part of the UNTS. Although
most multilateral (and many bilateral) treaties are deposited with the UN, states are
under no obligation. For more information on the role of the UN as a treaty depository,
see http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/Summary.asp,
or Treaty Handbook (2nd Floor, JX 1976 A49 V T712 2001). Both
were written by the Treaty Section of the U.N. Office of Legal Affairs.
Bilateral, obscure, or historic instruments are frequently more difficult. These
agreements are often published only in the treaty series' or gazettes of the parties, or
in commercially-produced, topical compilations. Before beginning to search, gather your
information. What parties were definitely involved? When was the treaty signed? What was
the subject matter? Is it in force? Whether you're seeking multilateral or bilateral
treaties, the answers to these questions can streamline the process significantly.
1. Databases – Multilateral
Treaties
United Nations Treaty Collection (available from electronic resources page, or http://untreaty.un.org/English/access.asp):
This resource is useful both for finding citations, and for retrieving treaty text when
you already have one. Including over 40,000 bilateral and multilateral treaties, the UN
Treaty Series online is a vast and powerful tool. It allows searching by party, date,
subject, popular name, type of agreement, and full text. The texts are provided as scanned
images, rather than html, meaning that they are as "official" as the UNTS print
series.
Fletcher Multilaterals Project, Tufts University, http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multilaterals.html:
Includes well over 200 multilateral treaties and related instruments. Documents are
divided into subject categories, such as human rights, trade and commercial relations,
marine and coastal, and diplomatic relations. This site also allows full-text searching of
all available treaties.
2. Treaty Indexes – Multilateral
Treaties
Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General, Reference Drawer, JX
1976 .A49 V M911: Designed to give the status of multilateral treaties deposited with the
United Nations (or League of Nations). For every treaty, there is a procedural history,
cite to the UNTS or other sets, list of participants, dates of signature and ratification,
and full text of each country's declarations and reservations. Also available (and
frequently updated) online at http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/bible.asp
Multilateral Treaty Calendar, Reference Drawer, JX 171 .W64: This large volume
lists basic information about multilateral treaties that were signed between 1648 and
1995. It is arranged in chronological order, making it a fantastic resource if you happen
to know when the treaty was signed. It provides citations to many of the sets we own at
the Diamond Law Library
Multilateral Treaties Index and Current Status (Bowman & Harris), Reference
Drawer, JX 161 .B68 (1984 & 1994 Supp.): Like the Multilateral Treaty Calendar, Bowman
& Harris is arranged chronologically. It provides basic information on multilateral
treaties, beginning in 1856. It includes citations to many different sources, and brief
subject and keyword indexes. Bowman & Harris is no longer supplemented.
3. Treaty Indexes – Bilateral
/ Multilateral Treaties
World Treaty Index, 2nd Floor finding aids, JX 171 .R631 1983: This
five volume set attempts to index all treaties signed worldwide from 1900-1980. The
treaties are summarized in chronological order. Each summary contains good, basic
information, including parties, dates of signing / ratification, and citations to UNTS or
LTS if therein. Volumes 4 and 5 index treaties by party and keyword, respectively.
Unfortunately, the World Treaty Index has not been supplemented since the 2nd
edition was published in 1980.
4. Treaty Collections
United Nations Treaty Series (UNTS) 2nd Floor, JX 1976 .A21 T71: Over
2,000 volumes covering roughly 35,000 treaties registered, or filed and recorded with the
UN. Contains treaty texts in the original languages, as well as English translations. A
series of indexes is located at the end of the set. Each index volume covers a range of
the UNTS, and allows searching by date, subject, and country. Also available through our
electronic resources page, or at: http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/series/simpleunts.asp
League of Nations Treaty Series (LTS), 2nd Floor, JX 1975 .A1 Of21:
This set published bilateral and multilateral treaties deposited with the League of
Nations. Most appear in English and French. The series is composed of 205 volumes, plus a
nine volume general index.
Consolidated Treaty Series (CTS), 2nd Floor, JX 120 .P35: CTS spans
231 volumes, and reprints all available treaties signed between 1648 and 1919 (when the
League of Nations Treaty Series began). All texts are in their original languages, with
English and French translations whenever possible. Parallel citations are included, as are
annotations to show later treaty modifications or terminations. The set is indexed by date
and party, but not by subject.
International Legal Materials (ILM), 2nd Floor, JX 60 .In8: Published
since 1962, ILM is dedicated to disseminating current international documentation.
Treaties are published frequently, often as exact reproductions of the original documents.
Some of the reprinted treaties are drafts, or signed but not yet ratified versions.
Cumulative index volumes can be found at the end of the series, but are out of date. ILM
is available on both Lexis (INTLAW;ILM) and Westlaw (ILM).
Organization of American States Treaty Series (OEA), 2nd Floor, JX
1980 .A6 T71: A collection of roughly 70 treaties approved within the framework of the
Organization of American States. Also online at http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties.html.
The web version allows searching by subject and within the text of agreements.
European Treaty Series (ETS), 2nd Floor, JX 1980 .Eu1 C8407: Treaties
concluded within the Council of Europe are published in this set, formally known as
European Conventions and Agreements. (We also bind advance sheets – these are located
at JX 1980 .Eu1 T71). Documents are not in force until ratified by individual nations. The
Council's web site, http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/EN/cadreprincipal.htm,
has advanced searching, updated information on ratification and reservations, and the text
of most treaties in the series.
International Legislation, 2nd Floor, JX 60 .H864: A collection of
multilateral treaties concluded from 1919 to 1945. There is some overlap with League of
Nations Treaty Series and British and Foreign State Papers, but this set also includes
treaties that never entered into force.
