Page images
PDF
EPUB

PERU-BOLIVIA.

PERU-BOLIVIA, 1836.

GENERAL CONVENTION OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, COMMERCE, AND NAVIGATION, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE PERUBOLIVIAN CONFEDERATION. CONCLUDED NOVEMBER 30, 1836; RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED MAY 28, 1838; PROCLAIMED OCTOBER 3, 1838.

The United States of America and the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, desiring to make firm and permanent the peace and friendship which happily subsist between them, have resolved to fix, in a clear, distinct, and positive manner, the rules which shall, in future, be religiously observed between the one and the other, by means of a treaty, or general convention of peace, friendship, commerce, and navigation.

Negotiators.

For this desirable purpose, the President of the United States of America has conferred full powers on Samuel Larned, Chargé d'Affaires of the said States near the Government of Peru; and the Supreme Protector of the North and South Peruvian States, President of the Republic of Bolivia, encharged with the direction of the foreign relations of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, has conferred like powers on John Garcia del Rio, Minister of State in the Department of Finance of the North Peruvian State;

Who, after having exhibited to each other their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, and exchanged certified copies thereof, have agreed to the following articles, to wit:

ARTICLE I.

Firm and inviolable

peace.

There shall be a perfect, firm, and inviolable peace and sincere friendship, between the United States of America and the PeruBolivian Confederation, in all the extent of their respective territories and possessions, and between their people and citizens, respectively, without distinction of persons or places.

ARTICLE II.

Favors granted to shall become common.

The United States of America and the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, desiring to live in peace and harmony, as well with each other as with all the nations of the earth, by means of a other nations policy frank, and equally friendly with all, engage, mutually, not to concede any particular favor to other nations, in respect of commerce and navigation, which shall not immediately become common to the other party to this treaty; who shall enjoy the same freely, if the concession was freely made, or on allowing the same compensation, if the concession was conditional.

ARTICLE III.

The two high contracting parties, being likewise desirous of placing

Citizens placed on

the footing of the

most favored nation.

the commerce and navigation of their respective countries On the liberal basis of perfect equality with the most favored nation, mutually agree that the citizens of each may frequent with their vessels all the coasts and countries of the other, and may reside and trade there in all kinds of produce, manufactures, and merchandize, not prohibited to all; and shall pay no other or higher duties, charges or fees, whatsoever, either on their vessels or cargoes, than the citizens or subjects of the most favored [nation] are, or shall be, obliged to pay on their vessels and cargoes; and they shall enjoy, respectively, all the rights, privileges, and exemptions, in navigation and commerce, which the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation do or shall enjoy; they submitting themselves to the laws, decrees, and usages there established, to which such citizens or subjects are of right subjected.

But it is understood that the stipulations contained in this article do not include the coasting trade of either of the two countries; the regulation of this trade being reserved by the parties, respectively, according to their own separate laws.

Coasting trade excepted.

Merchants.

ARTICLE IV.

It is likewise agreed that it shall be wholly free for all merchants commanders of ships, and other citizens of both countries, to manage themselves their own business in all the ports, and places subject to the jurisdiction of the other, as well with respect to the consignment and sale of their goods and merchandize, as to the purchase of their returns, unloading, loading, and sending off of their vessels. The citizens of neither of the contracting parties shall be liable to any embargo, nor to be detained with their vessels, cargoes, merchandize, or effects, for any military expedition, nor for any public or private purpose whatever, without being allowed therefor a sufficient indemnification. Neither shall they be called upon for any forced loan, or occasional contributions; nor be subject to military service on land

or sea.

Protection to citiseeking refuge in the

other.

ARTICLE V.

Whenever the citizens of either of the contracting parties shall be forced to seek refuge, shelter, or relief, in the rivers, bays, zens of either party ports, and dominions of the other, with their vessels, whether doraimons of the of war, (public or private,) of trade, or employed in the fisheries, through stress of weather, want of water or provisions, pursuit of pirates or enemies, they shall be received and treated with humanity; and all favor and protection shall be given to them, in the repairing of their vessels, procuring of supplies, and placing of themselves in a condition to pursue their voyage, without obstacle or hindrance.

Vessels, &c., cap

be restored.

ARTICLE VI.

All ships, merchandize, and effects belonging to citizens of one of the contracting parties, which may be captured by pirates, tured by pirates, to whether on the high seas, or within the limits of its jurisdiction, and may be carried or found in the rivers, roads, bays, ports, or dominions of the other, shall be delivered up to the owners, they proving, in due and proper form, their rights before the competent tribunals; it being understood that the claim should be made within the term of two years, by the parties themselves, their attornies, or the agents of their respective Governments.

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

Whenever any vessel belonging to the citizens of either of the contracting parties shall be wrecked, founder, or suffer damage, Assistance in case on the coast, or within the dominions of the other, all assist of wreck. ance and protection shall be given to the said vessel, her crew, and the merchandize on board, in the same manner as is usual and customary with vessels of the nation where the accident happens, in like cases; and it shall be permitted to her, if necessary, to unload the merchandize and effects on board, with the proper precautions to prevent their illicit introduction, without exacting, in this case, any duty, impost, or contribution whatever, provided the same be exported.

ARTICLE VIII.

The citizens of each of the contracting parties shall have power to dispose of their personal effects, within the jurisdiction of Power to dispose the other, by sale, donation, testament, or otherwise; and of personal effects. their representatives, being citizens of the other party, shall succeed to their said personal effects, whether by testament or ab intestato, and may take possession thereof, either themselves, or by others acting for them, and dispose of the same at their will, paying such dues only as the inhabitants of the country wherein said effects are shall be subject to pay in like cases. And if, in the case of real estate, the said heirs should be prevented from entering into possession of the inheritance on account of their character as aliens, there shall be granted to them the term of three years in which to dispose of the same; as they may think proper, and to withdraw the proceeds, which they may do without obstacle, and exempt from all charges, save those which are imposed by the laws of the country.

ARTICLE IX.

Real estate.

Both the contracting parties solemnly promise and engage to give their special protection to the persons and property of the Protection to per citizens of each other, of all classes and occupations, who sons and property. may be in the territories subject to the jurisdiction of the one or the other, transient or dwelling therein, leaving open and free to them the tribunals of justice, for their judicial recourse, on the same terms as are usual and customary with the natives or citizens of the country in which they may be; for which purpose they may employ, in defence of their rights, such advocates, solicitors, notaries, agents, and factors, as they may judge proper, in all their trials at law; and such citizens or agents shall have free opportunity to be present at the decisions and sentences of the tribunals, in all cases that may concern them, and likewise at the taking of all evidence and examinations that may be exhibited in the said trials.

No rights of citi zens to be withdrawn, until, &c.

And, to render more explicit, and make more effectual, the solemn promise and engagement hereinbefore mentioned, under circumstances to which one of the parties thereto has heretofore been exposed, it is hereby further stipulated and declared, that all the rights and privileges which are now enjoyed by, or may hereafter be conferred on, the citizens of one of the contracting parties, by or in virtue of the constitution and laws of the other, respectively, shall be deemed and held to belong to, and inhere in, them, until such rights and privileges shall have been abrogated or withdrawn by an authority constitutionally or lawfully competent thereto.

A
ARTICLE X.

Liberty of con

It is likewise agreed, that perfect and entire liberty of conscience shall be enjoyed, by the citizens of both the contracting parties, science secured. in the countries subject to the jurisdiction of the one and the other, without their being liable to be disturbed or molested on account of their religious belief, so long as they respect the laws and established usages of the country.

Moreover, the bodies of the citizens of one of the contracting parties, who may die in the territories of the other, shall be buried in the usual burying-grounds, or in other decent and suitable places, and shall be protected from violation or disturbance.

Rites of burial.

Citizens of both parties at liberty to trade with the ene

Free ships to make

ARTICLE XI.

It shall be lawful for the citizens of the United States of America and of the Peru Bolivian Confederation to sail with their ships with all manner of liberty and security; no distincmies of either, &c. tion being to be made who are the proprietors of the merchandise laden therein, from any port or place whatever, to the ports and places of those who are now, or hereafter shall be, at enmity with either of the contracting parties. It shall likewise be lawful for the citizens aforesaid to sail with the ships and merchandise before mentioned, and to trade, with the same liberty and security, from the places, ports, and havens of those who are enemies of both, or of either party, without any opposition or disturbance whatsoever; not only directly from the places of the enemy before mentioned to neutral places, but also from one place belonging to an enemy to another place belonging to an enemy, whether they be under the jurisdiction of one power or under that of several. And it is hereby stipulated, that free free goods, contra- ships shall give freedom to goods; and that every thing shall be deemed to be free and exempt, which shall be found on board of the ships belonging to the citizens of either of the contracting parties, although the whole lading, or any part thereof, should appertain to the enemies of either; goods contraband of war being always excepted. It is also agreed, in like manner, that the same liberty shall board a free ship to be extended to persons who are on board of a free ship, with be free, except, &c. this effect, that, although they be enemies to both or either of the parties, they shall not be taken out of that free ship, unless they are officers or soldiers, and in the actual service of the enemy: Provided, however, and it is hereby further agreed, that the stipulations in this article contained, declaring that the flag shall cover the property, shall be understood as applying to those Powers only who recognize this principle; but if either of the contracting parties shall be at war with a third, and the other be neutral, the flag of the neutral shall cover the property of those enemies whose Governments acknowledge this principle, and not that of others.

band of war excepted.

All persons on

Proviso.

Qualification of the tral property.

ARTICLE XII.

It is likewise agreed that, in cases where the neutral flag of one of the contracting parties shall protect the property of the principle as to neu- enemies of the other, in virtue of the above stipulation. it shall always be understood that the neutral property found on board of such enemy's vessel shall be held and considered as enemy's property, and as such shall be liable to detention and confiscation, ex

cept such property as was put on board of such vessels before the declaration of war, or even afterwards, if it were done without the knowledge of such declaration; but the contracting parties agree that, six months having elapsed after the declaration, their citizens shall not be allowed to plead ignorance thereof. On the contrary, if the flag of the neutral does not protect the enemy's property on board, in this case, the goods and merchandise of the neutral, embarked in such enemy's ship, shall be free.

ARTICLE XIII.

Liberty of com

merce and navigation except contraband.

to extend to all goods

Contraband speci

This liberty of navigation and commerce shall extend to all kinds of merchandise, excepting only those which are distinguished by the name of contraband or prohibited goods, under which name shall be comprehended: 1st, cannons, mortars, howitzers, swivels, blunderbusses, muskets, fuses, rifles, carbines, fied. pistols, pikes, swords, sabres, lancets, spears, halberds, grenades and bombs, powder, matches, balls, and all other things belonging to the use of these arms; 2ndly, bucklers, helmets, breastplates, coats of mail, infantry belts, and clothes made up in a military form and for a military use; 3rdly, cavalry belts, and horses with their furniture; 4thly, and generally, all kinds of arms and instruments of iron, steel, brass, and copper, or of any other materials manufactured, prepared, and formed expressly for the purposes of war, either by sea or land.

ARTICLE XIV.

All kinds of mer

traband, free.

All other merchandise and things not comprehended in the articles of contraband explicitly enumerated and classified, as above, shall be held and considered as free, and subjects of free chandise, except conand lawful commerce, so that they may be carried and transported in the freest manner by both the contracting parties, even to places belonging to an enemy, excepting only those places which are, at that time, besieged or blockaded; and, to avoid all doubt in this particular, it is declared that those places only are besieged or blockaded which are actually attacked by a force capable of preventing the entry

of the heutral.

ARTICLE XV.

Contraband goods

fiscation.

Vessels not to be

The articles of contraband, of those before enumerated and classified, which may be found in a vessel bound for an enemy's port, shall be subject to detention and confiscation; but the rest only, liable to conof the cargo and the ship shall be left free, that the owners may dispose of them as they see proper. No vessel of either of the contracting parties shall be detained on the high detained, unless, &c. seas, on account of having on board articles of contraband, whenever the master, captain, or supercargo of said vessel will deliver up the articles of contraband to the captor, unless, indeed, the quantity of such articles be so great, and of so large a bulk, that they cannot be received on board of the capturing vessel without great inconvenience; but, in this and all other cases of just detention, the vessel detained shall be sent to the nearest convenient and safe port for trial and judgment according to law.

ARTICLE XVI.

And whereas it frequently happens that vessels sail for a port or place

« PreviousContinue »