LEW CHEW.

1854.

COMPACT OF FRIENDSHIP AND COMMERCE.

Concluded July 11, 1854; ratification advised by the Senate March 3, 1855; ratified by the President March 9, 1855; proclaimed March 9, 1855. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 629.)

Hereafter, whenever citizens of the United States come to Lew Chew, they shall be treated with great courtesy and friendship. Whatever articles these people ask for, whether from the officers or people, which the Country can furnish, shall be sold to them; nor shall the authorities interpose any prohibitory regulations to the people selling, and whatever either party may wish to buy shall be exchanged at reasonable prices.

Whenever Ships of the United States shall come into any harbor in Lew Chew, they shall be supplied with Wood and Water, at reasonable prices, but if they wish to get other articles, they shall be purchaseable only at Napa.

If Ships of the United States are wrecked on Great Lew Chew or on Islands under the jurisdiction of the Royal Government of Lew Chew, the local authorities shall dispatch persons to assist in saving life and property, and preserve what can be brought ashore till the Ships of that Nation shall come to take away all that may have been saved; and the expenses incurred in rescuing these unfortunate persons shall be refunded by the Nation they belong to.

Whenever persons from Ships of the United States come ashore in Lew Chew, they shall be at liberty, to ramble where they please without hindrance or having officials sent to follow them, or to spy what they do; but if they violently go into houses, or trifle with women, or force people to sell them things, or do other such like illegal acts, they shall be arrested by the local officers, but not maltreated, and shall be reported to the Captain of the Ship to which they belong for punishment by him.

At Tumai is a burial ground for the Citizens of the United States, where their graves and tombs shall not be molested.

The Government of Lew Chew shall appoint skillful pilots, who shall be on the lookout for Ships appearing off the Island, and if one is seen coming towards Napa, they shall go out in good boats beyond the reefs to conduct her in to a secure anchorage, for which service the Captain shall pay the pilot Five Dollars, and the same for going out of the harbor beyond the reefs.

Whenever Ships anchor at Napa, the officers shall furnish them with Wood at the rate of Three Thousand Six hundred Copper Cash per thousand catties; and with Water at the rate of 600 Copper Cash (43 cents) for one thousand catties, or Six barrels full, each containing 30 American Gallons.

Signed in the English and Chinese languages by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, Commander in Chief of the United States Naval Forces in the East India, China and Japan Seas, and Special Envoy to Japan, for the United States; and by Sho Fu fing, Superintendent of Affairs (Tsu li-kwan) in Lew Chew, and Ba Rio-si, Treasurer of Lew Chew, at Shni, for the Government of Lew-Chew, and copies exchanged, this 11th day of July, 1854, or the reign Hien fung, 4th year, 6th moon, 7th day, at the Town Hall of Napa.

M, C, PERRY
SHO FU FING.
BA RIO-SI.

S. Doc. 318, 58-2-32

LIBERIA.

1862.

TREATY OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION.

Concluded October 21, 1862; ratification advised by the Senate January 9, 1863; ratified by the President January 12, 1863; ratifications exchanged February 17, 1863; proclaimed March 18, 1863. (Treaties and Conventions, 1889, p. 631.)

I. Amity.

II. Freedom of commerce.

III. No discrimination in vessels.
IV. Imports and exports.

V. Shipwrecks and salvage.

ARTICLES.

VI. Most favored nation privileges.
VII. Consuls.

VIII. Noninterference in Liberia.
IX. Ratification.

The United States of America and the Republic of Liberia, desiring to fix, in a permanent and equitable manner, the rules to be observed in the intercourse and commerce they desire to establish between their respective countries have agreed for this purpose to conclude a treaty of commerce and navigation, and have judged that the said end cannot be better obtained than by taking the most perfect equality and reciprocity for the basis of their agreement: and to effect this they have named as their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say: The President of the United States of America, Charles Francis Adams, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of St. James: and The Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Stephen Allen Benson, President thereof, who after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:

ARTICLE I.

There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Republic of Liberia, and also between the citizens of both countries.

ARTICLE II.

There shall be reciprocal freedom of commerce between the United States of America and the Republic of Liberia. The citizens of the United States of America may reside in, and trade to, any part of the territories of the Republic of Liberia to which any other foreigners are or shall be admitted. They shall enjoy full protection for their persons and properties, they shall be allowed to buy from and to sell to whom they like without being restrained or prejudiced by any monopoly, contract, or exclusive privilege of sale or purchase whatever; and they shall, moreover enjoy all other rights and privileges which are

or may be granted to any other foreigners, subjects or citizens of the most favored nation. The citizens of the Republic of Liberia shall, in return, enjoy similar protection and privileges in the United States of America and in their territories.

ARTICLE III.

No tonnage, import, or other duties or charges shall be levied in the Republic of Liberia on United States vessels, or on goods imported or exported in United States vessels, beyond what are or may be levied on national vessels, or on the like goods imported or exported in national vessels; and in like manner, no tonnage, import, or other duties or charges shall be levied in the United States of America and their Territories on the vessels of the Republic of Liberia, or on goods imported or exported in those vessels, beyond what are or may be levied on national vessels, or on the like goods imported or exported in national vessels.

ARTICLE IV.

Merchandise or goods coming from the United States of America in any vessels, or imported in United States vessels from any country, shall not be prohibited by the Republic of Liberia, nor be subject to higher duties than are levied on the same kinds of merchandise or goods coming from any other foreign country or imported in any other foreign vessels.

All articles the produce of the Republic of Liberia may be exported therefrom by citizens of the United States and United States vessels, on as favorable terms as by the citizens and vessels of any other foreign country.

In like manner all merchandise or goods coming from the Republic of Liberia in any vessels, or imported in Liberian vessels from any country, shall not be prohibited by the United States of America, nor be subject to higher duties than are levied on the same kinds of merchandise or goods coming from any other foreign country or imported in any other foreign vessels. All articles the produce of the United States, or of their territories, may be imported therefrom by Liberian citizens and Liberian vessels on as favorable terms as by the citizens and vessels of any other foreign country.

ARTICLE V.

When any vessel of either of the contracting parties shall be wrecked, foundered, or otherwise damaged, on the coasts or within the territories of the other, the respective citizens shall receive the greatest possible aid as well for themselves as for their vessels and effects. All possible aid shall be given to protect their property from being plundered and their persons from ill treatment. Should a dispute arise as to the salvage, it shall be settled by arbitration, to be chosen by the parties respectively.

ARTICLE VI.

It being the intention of the two contracting parties to bind themselves by the present Treaty to treat each other on the footing of the most favored nation, it is hereby agreed between them, that any favor,

privilege or immunity whatever in matters of Commerce and Navigation, which either contracting party has actually granted, or may hereafter grant, to the subjects or citizens of any other State, shall be extended to the citizens of the other contracting party, gratuitously, if the concession in favor of that other State shall have been gratuitous, or in return for a compensation as nearly as possible of proportionate value and effect, to be adjusted by mutual agreement, if the concession shall have been conditional.

ARTICLE VII.

Each contracting party may appoint Consuls for the protection of Trade, to reside in the dominions of the other; but no such Consul shall enter upon the exercise of his functions until he shall have been approved and admitted, in the usual form, by the Government of the country to which he is sent.

ARTICLE VIII.

The United States Government engages never to interfere, unless solicited by the Government of Liberia, in the affairs between the aboriginal inhabitants and the Government of the Republic of Liberia, in the jurisdiction and territories of the Republic. Should any United States citizens suffer loss in person or property from violence by the aboriginal inhabitants, and the Government of the Republic of Liberia should not be able to bring the aggressor to justice the United States Government engages, a requisition having been first made therefor by the Liberian Government, to lend such aid as may be required. Citizens of the United States residing in the territories of the Republie of Liberia are desired to abstain from all such intercourse with the aboriginal inhabitants as will tend to the violation of law and a disturbance of the peace of the country.

ARTICLE IX.

The present Treaty shall be ratified and the Ratifications exchanged at London within the space of nine months from the date hereof.

In testimony whereof the Plenipotentiaries before mentioned, have hereto, subscribed their names and affixed their seals.

Done at London the Twenty first day of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty two.