for receiving them. And if questions should arise among several claimants to which of them said goods belong, the same shall be decided finally by the laws and judges of the land wherein the said goods are. And where, on the death of any person holding real estate within the territories of the one party, such real estate would, by the laws of the land, descend on a citizen or subject of the other, were he not disqualified by alienage, such citizen or subject shall be allowed a reasonable time to sell the same, and to withdraw the proceeds without molestation and exempt from all duties of detraction, on the part of the Government of the respective States. But this article shall not derogate in any manner from the force of the laws already published, or hereafter to be published by His Majesty the King of Prussia, to prevent the emigration of his subjects." ARTICLE XV.-(Duration of treaty.)-"The present treaty shall continue in force for twelve years, counting from the day of the exchange of the ratifications; and if, twelve months before the expiration of that period, neither of the high contracting parties shall have announced, by an official notification to the other, its intention to arrest the operation of said treaty, it shall remain binding for one year beyond that time, and so on until the expiration of the twelve months, which will follow a similar notification, whatever the time at which it may take place." ARTICLE XVI.-(Ratifications.)-"This treaty shall be approved and ratified by the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by IIis Majesty the King of Prussia, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in the city of Washington, within nine months from the date of the signature hereof, or sooner if possible. "In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the above articles, both in the French and English languages, and they have thereto affixed their seals; declaring nevertheless, that the signing in both languages shall not be brought into precedent, nor in any way operate to the prejudice of either party. "Done in triplicate at the city of Washington on the first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun dred and twenty-eight, and the fifty-second of the Independence of the United States of America.1 "H. CLAY. "LUDWIG NIEDERSTETTER." DENMARK, 1857. CONVENTION EXCEPTING AMERICAN VESSELS FROM THE SOUND AND BELTS-dues. Concluded April 11, 1857. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, "The United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark, being desirous to terminate amicably the differences which have arisen between them in regard to the tolls levied by Denmark on American vessels and their cargoes passing through the Sound and Belts, and commonly called the Sound-dues, have resolved to conclude a convention for that purpose, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: "The President of the United States, Lewis Cass, Secretary of State of the United States, and His Majesty the King of Denmark, Torben Bille, Esquire, Knight of the Dannebrog, and decorated with the cross of honor of the same order, his said Majesty's Charge d'Affaires near the Government of the United States: “Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers, in due form, have agreed to and signed the following articles: ARTICLE I.-(Navigation of the Sound and Belts to be free to vessels of the United States.)-" His Majesty the King of Denmark declares entire freedom of the navigation of the Sound and the Belts in favor of American vessels and their cargoes, from and forever after the day when this convention shall go into effect as hereinafter provided. And it is hereby 1 An extradition treaty was concluded with Prussia and other States of the Germanic Confederation, in 1852. See Extradition Treaties. agreed that American vessels and their cargoes, after that day, shall not be subject to any charges whatever in passing the Sound or the Belts, or to any detention in the said waters, and both Governments will concur, if occasion should require it, in taking measures to prevent abuse of the free flag of the United States by the shipping of other nations which shall not have secured the same freedom and exemption from charges enjoyed by that of the United States." ARTICLE II. (Lights and buoys-Employment of Danish pilots.)" His Danish Majesty further engages that the passages of the Sound and Belts shall continue to be lighted and buoyed as heretofore without any charge upon American vessels or their cargoes on passing the Sound and the Belts, and that the present establishments of Danish pilots on those waters shall continue to be maintained by Denmark. His Danish Majesty agrees to make such additions and improvements in regard to the lights, buoys and pilot establishments in these waters as circumstances and the increasing trade of the Baltic may require. He further engages that no charge shall be made, in consequence of such additions and improvements, on American ships and their cargoes passing through the Sound and the Belts. "It is understood, however, to be optional for the masters of American vessels either to employ, in the said waters, Danish pilots, at reasonable rates fixed by the Danish Government, or to navigate their vessels without such assistance." ARTICLE III.-(Toll dues to be paid by the United States.)"In consideration of the foregoing agreements and stipulations on the part of Denmark, whereby the free and unincumbered navigation of American vessels through the Sound and the Belts is forever secured, the United States agree to pay to the Government of Denmark, once for all, the sum of seven hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine rix dollars, or its equivalent, three hundred and ninety-three thousand and eleven dollars in United States currency, at London, on the day when the said convention shall go into full effect, as hereinafterwards provided." ARTICLE IV. (Most favored nation.)" It is further agreed that any other or further privileges, rights, or advantages which may have been, or may be, granted by Denmark to the com merce and navigation of any other nation at the Sound and Belts, or on her coasts and in her harbors, with reference to the transit by land through Danish territory of merchandise belonging to the citizens or subjects of such nation, shall also be fully extended to, and enjoyed by, the citizens of the United States, and by their vessels and property in that quarter.” ARTICLE V. (Convention of April 26, 1826, except 5th article, revived.)"The general convention of friendship, commerce and navigation, concluded between the United States and His Majesty the King of Denmark, on the 26th of April, 1826, and which was abrogated on the 15th of April, 1856, and the provisions contained in each and all of its articles, the 5th article alone excepted, shall, after the ratification of this present convention, again become binding upon the United States and Denmark; it being, however, understood, that a year's notice shall suffice for the abrogation of the stipulations of the said convention hereby renewed." ARTICLE VI.-(Time when this convention shall be operative.) "The present convention shall take effect as soon as the laws to carry it into operation shall be passed by the Government of the contracting parties, and the sum stipulated to be paid by the United States shall be received by or tendered to Denmark; and for the fulfilment of these purposes, a period not exceeding twelve months from the signing of this convention shall be allowed. "But if, in the interval, an earlier day shall be fixed upon and carried into effect for a free navigation through the Sound and Belts in favor of any other power or powers, the same shall simultaneously be extended to the vessels of the United States and their cargoes, in anticipation of the payment of the sum stipulated in Article III.; it being understood, however, that in that event the Government of the United States shall also pay to that of Denmark four per cent. interest on the said sum, from the day the said indemnity shall have gone into operation until the principal shall have been paid as aforesaid." ARTICLE VII.-(Ratifications.)-" The present convention shall be duly ratified, and the exchange of ratifications shall take place in Washington within ten months from the date hereof, or sooner if practicable. "In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, in duplicate, and have thereunto affixed their seals. "Done at Washington this eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-first.1 "LEWIS CASS. ITALY, 1871. TREATY OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. Concluded February 26, 1871. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, November 18, 1871. Proclaimed November 23, 1871. ARTICLE I. (Freedom of Commerce and navigation; and privileges of citizens of one nation in the territory of the other.) "There shall be between the territories of the high contracting parties a reciprocal liberty of commerce and navigation. "Italian citizens in the United States, and citizens of the United States in Italy, shall mutually have liberty to enter with their ships and cargoes all the ports of the United States and of Italy, respectively, which may be open to foreign commerce. They shall also have liberty to sojourn and reside in all parts whatever of said territories. They shall enjoy, respectively, within the States and possessions of each party, the same rights, privileges, favors, immunities, and exemptions for their commerce and navigation as the natives of the country wherein they reside, without paying other or higher duties or charges than are paid by the natives, on condition of their submitting to the laws and ordinances there prevailing. "War vessels of the two Powers shall receive in their respective ports the treatment of those of the most favored nation. 1 The United States and Denmark concluded a treaty of friendship commerce and navigation, April 26, 1826, which is similar to that with Prussia, of 1828, in the principles applied to commerce and navigation. Other treaties with Denmark are a claims convention in 1830, an additional article to the treaty of 1826, in 1861, and a convention relative to naturalization in 1872, (see Treaties of Naturalization). |