Le nombre des jours et des heures de travail
3. Les gages et les rations, ainsi que les salaires pour tout travail extraordinaire, et tous les avantages promis à l'émigrant;
4. L'assistance médicale gratuite pour l'émigrant, excepté pour le cas où, dans l'opinion de l'Agent de l'Administration, sa maladie serait le résultat de son inconduite.
Tout contrat d'engagement portera copie textuelle des Articles IX, X, XX, et XXI, de la présente Convention.
Art. 9. 1. La durée de l'engagement d'un immigrant ne pourra être de plus de cinq années. Toutefois, en cas d'interruption volontaire du travail, régulièrement constatée, l'immigrant devra un nombre de jours égal à celui de la durée de l'interruption.
2. A l'expiration de ce terme, tout Indien qui aura atteint l'âge de dix ans au moment de son départ de rinde, aura droit à son rapatriement aux frais de l'Administration Française.
3. S'il justifie d'une conduite régulière et de moyens d'existence, il pourra être admis à résider dans la Co-
254 France et Grande-Bretagne,
lonie sans engagement ; mais il perdra, dès ce moment tout droit au rapatriement gratuit.
4. S'il consent à contracter un nouvel engagement, il aura droit à une prime, et conservera le droit au rapatriement à l'expiration de ce second engagement.
Le droit de l'immigrant au rapatriement s'étend à sa femme, et à ses enfants ayant quitté l'Inde âgés de moins de dix ans, et à ceux qui sont nés dans les Colonies.
Art. 10. L'immigrant ne pourra être tenu de travailler plus de six jours sur sept, ni plus de neuf heures et demie par jour.
Les conditions du travail à la tâche, et tout autre mode de règlement de travail, devront être librement débattus avec l'engage. N'est pas considérée comme travail l'obligation de pourvoir les jours fériés aux soins que nécessitent les animaux, et aux besoins de la vie habituelle.
Art. Il, Dans les ports Britanniques les dispositions qui précèdent le départ des émigrants seront conformes à celles prescrites par les règlements pour les Colonies Britanniques.
Dans les ports Français l'Agent d'Emigration ou ses délégués remettront aux Agents Consulaires Britanniques, au départ de tout navire d'émigrants, la liste nominative des émigrants sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique^ avec les indications signalétiques, et leur communiqueront les contrats dont ils pourront demander copie. Dans ce cas, il ne leur sera donné qu'une seule copie pour tous les contrats identiques.
Art. 12. Dans les ports d'embarquement les émigrants sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique seront libres de sortir, en se conformant aux règlements de police relatifs à ces établissements, des dépôts ou de tout endroit où ils seraient logés, pour communiquer avec les Agents Britanniques, lesquels pourront, de leur côté, visiter à toute heure convenable, les lieux où se trouveraient réunis ou logés les émigrants sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique.
Art. 13, Le départ des émigrants de l'Inde pour les Colonies à l'est du Cap de Bonne Espérance pourra avoir lieu à toutes les époques de l'année.
Pour les autres Colonies les départs ne pourront s'effectuer que du 1er Août au 15 Mars. Cette dispo-
Emigration de travailleurs Indiens. 255
sition n'est applicable qu'aux bâtiments à voiles; les départs pourront avoir lieu toute l'année par des bâtiments munis d'un moteur à vapeur.
Tout émigrant partant de l'Inde pour les Antilles entre le 1er Mars et le 15 Septembre recevra au moins une couverture de laine double (en sus des vêtements qui lui sont ordinairement attribués), et pourra s'en servir aussi longtemps que le navire sera en dehors des tropiques.
Art. 14. Tout navire transportant des émigrants devra avoir à son bord un chirurgien Européen et un interprète.
Les capitaines des navires portant des émigrants seront tenus de se charger de toute dépêche qui leur serait remise par l'Agent Britannique au port d'embarquement pour l'Agent Consulaire Britannique au port de débarquement, et la remettront immédiatement après leur arrivée à l'Administration Coloniale.
Art. 15. Dans tout navire affecté au transport des émigrants sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique, les émigrants occuperont soit dans les entreponts, soit dans des cabines construites sur le pont supérieur solidenient établies et parfaitement couvertes, un espace qui sera attribué à leur usage exclusif. Ces cabines et entreponts devront avoir partout une hauteur qui ne sera pas moindre, en mesures Françaises, de un mètre soixantecinq centimètres (1.65 m.), en mesures Anglaises de cinq pieds et demi (5V2 p.)
Chacun des logements ne pourra recevoir plus d'un émigrant adulte par espace cubique de deux mètres (2 m.), soit en mesures Anglaises soixante-douze pieds (72 p.), dans la Présidence du Bengale et à Chandernagor; et de un mètre sept cent décimètres (soit en mesures Anglaises soixante pieds), dans les autres ports Français, et dans les Présidences de Bombay et de Madras.
Un émigrant âgé de plus de dix ans comptera pour un émigrant adulte, et deux enfants âgés de un à dix ans compteront pour un émigrant adulte.
Un local devant servir d'hôpital sera installé sur tout navire destiné à transporter des émigrants.
Les femmes et les enfants devront occuper des postes distincts et séparés de ceux des hommes.
Art. 16. Chaque contingent devra comprendre un
256 France, et Grande-Bretagne.
nombre de femmes égal au moins au quart de celui des hommes. A l'expiration de trois ans la proportion numérique des femmes sera portée à un tiers; deux ans plus tard à la moitié, et deux ans après, la proportion sera fixée telle qu'elle existera pour les Colonies Britanniques.
Art. 17. Les Agents Britanniques à l'embarquement auront, à tout moment convenable, le droit d'accès dans toutes les parties des navires attribuées aux émigrants.
Art. 18. Les Gouverneurs des Etablissements Français dans l'Inde rendront les règlements d'administration nécessaires pour assurer l'entière exécution des clauses ci-dessus stipulées.
Art. 19. A l'arrivée dans une Colonie Française d'un navire d'émigrants, l'Administration fera remettre à l'Agent Consulaire Britannique, avec les dépêches qu'elle aurait reçues pour lui —
L Un état nominatif des travailleurs débarqués, sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique;
2. Un état des décès ou des naissances qui auraient eu lieu pendant le voyage.
L'Administration Coloniale prendra les mesures nécessaires pour que l'Agent Consulaire Britannique puisse communiquer avec les émigrants avant leur distribution dans la Colonie.
Une copie de l'état de distribution sera remise à l'Agent Consulaire.
Il lui sera donné avis des décès et naissances qui pourraient survenir durant l'engagement, ainsi que des changements de maîtres, et des rapatriements.
Tout réengagement ou acte de renonciation au droit de rapatriement gratuit sera communiqué à l'Agent Consulaire.
Art. 20. Les immigrants sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique jouiront dans les Colonies Françaises de la faculté d'invoquer l'assistance des Agents Consulaires Britanniques au même titre que tous les autres sujéts relevant de la Couronne Britannique, et conformément aux régies ordinaires du droit international; et il ne sera apporté aucun obstacle à ce que l'engagé puisse se rendre chez l'Agent Consulaire et entrer en rapport avec lui; le tout sans préjudice, bien entendu, des obligations résultant de l'engagement.
Art. 21. Dans la répartition des travailleurs aucun
Émigration de tramilleurs Indiens. 257
mari ne sera séparé de sa femme, aucun père ni aucune mère de ses enfants âgés de moins de quinze ans. Aucun travailleur, sans son consentement, ne sera tenu de changer de maître, à moins d'être remis à l'Administration, ou à l'acquéreur de l'établissement dans lequel il est occupé.
Les immigrants qui deviendraient d'une manière permanente incapables de travail, soit par mahidie, soit par d'autres causes involontaires^ seront rapatriés aux frais du Gouvernement Français, quel que soit le temps de service qu'ils devraient encore pour avoir droit au rapatriement gratuit.
Art. 22. Les opérations d'immigration pourront être effectuées dans les Colonies Françaises par des navires Français ou Britanniques indistinctement.
Les navires Britanniques qui se livreront à ces opérations devront se conformer à toutes les mesures de police, d'hygiène, et d'installation qui seraient imposées aux bâtiments Français.
Art. 23. Le règlement de travail de la Martinique servira de base k tous les règlements des Colonies Françaises dans lesquelles les émigrants Indiens, sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique, pourront être introduits.
Le Gouvernement Français s'engage à n'apporter à ce règlement aucune modification qui aurait pour conséquence ou de placer les dits sujets Indiens dans une position exceptionnelle, ou de leur imposer des conditions de travail plus dures que celles stipulées par le dit règlement.
Art. 24. La présente Convention s'applique à l'émi-* gration aux Colonies de la Réunion, de la Martinique, de la Guadeloupe et dépendances, et de la Guyane.
Elle pourra ultérieurement être appliquée à l'émigration pour d'autres Colonies dans lesquelles des Agents Consulaires Britanniques seraient institués.
Art. 25. Les dispositions de la présente Convention relatives aux Indiens sujets de Sa Majesté Britannique sont applicables aux natifs de tout Etat Indien placé sous la protection ou le contrôle politique de Sa-dite Majesté, ou dont le Gouvernement aura reconnu la suprématie de la Couronne Britannique.
Art. 26. La présente Convention commencera à courir à partir du 1er Juillet, 1862; sa durée est fixée Nouv. Recueil gén. Tome XVII. Fart II. R
258 France et Grande-Bretagne.
à trois ans et demi. Elle restera de plein droit en vigueur si elle n'est pas dénoncée dans le courant du mois de Juillet de la troisième année, et ne pourra plus être dénoncée que dans le courant du mois de Juillet de chacune des années suivantes.
Dans le cas de dénonciation, elle cessera dix-huit mois après.
Néanmoins, le Gouverneur-Général de l'Inde Britannique en son Conseil aura, conformément à l'Acte du 19 Septembre, 1856, relatif à l'immigration aux Colonies Britanniques, la faculté de suspendre, en tout temps, l'émigration pour une ou plusieurs des Colonies Françaises, dans le cas où il aurait lieu de croire que dans cette ou ces Colonies les mesures convenables n'ont pas été prises, soit pour la protection des émigrants immédiatement à leur arrivée ou pendant le temps qu'ils y ont passé, soit pour leur retour en sûreté dans l'Inde, soit pour les pourvoir du passage de retour à l'époque à laquelle ils y ont droit.
Dans le cas, cependant, où il serait fait usage, à quelque moment que ce soit, de la faculté ainsi réservée au Gouverneur-Général de l'Inde Britannique, le Gouvernement Français aura le droit de mettre fin immédiatement à la Convention toute entière, s'il juge convenable d'agir ainsi.
Mais en cas de cessation de la présente Convention par quelque cause que ce soit, les stipulations qui sont relatives aux sujets Indiens de Sa Majesté Britannique introduits dans les Colonies Françaises resteront en vigueur pour les dits sujets Indiens jusqu'à ce qu'ils aient renoncé à leur droit à un passage de retour dans l'Inde.
Art. 27. La présente Convention sera ratifiée, et les ratifications en seront échangées à Paris dans le délai de quatre semaines, ou plus tôt si faire se peut.
En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires respectifs l'ont signée, et y ont apposé le cachet de leurs armes,
Fait à Paris, le premier Juillet, de l'an de grâce mil huit cent soixante-un.
(L. S.) Cowley.
(L. S.) Thoucenel.
Article additionnel.
Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français ayant fait con-
Emigration de travailleurs Indiens. 259
naître que par suite de l'ordre qu'il a donné depuis longtennps de ne plus introduire d'émigrants Africains ^ dans rUe de la Réunion, cette Colonie a dû, dès l'année dernière, chercher des travailleurs dans les Indes et en Chine ; et Sa Majesté Britannique, par une Convention signée le 25 Juillet, 1860, entre Sa Majesté et Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français, ayant autorisé la Colonie de la Réunion à recruter six mille travailleurs dans ses possessions Indiennes, il est convenu que la Convention de ce jour sera applicable immédiatement à la dite Colonie de la Réunion.
Le présent Article xA.dditionnel aura la même force et valeur que s'il était inséré, mot pour mot, dans la Convention signée aujourd'hui. Il sera ratifié, et les ratifications seront échangées en même temps que celles de la Convention.
En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires respectifs l'ont signé, et y ont apposé le cachet de leurs armes.
Fait à Paris, le 1er Juillet, 1861.
(L. S.) Coioley.
(L. S.) Thouvenel.
Traité entre la Grande-Bretagne et les Etats-Unis d'Amérique pour la répression du commerce d'esclaves, signé à Washington, le 7 avril i862*)
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United States of America, being desirous to render more effectuai the means hitherto adopted for the suppression of the Slave Trade canied on upon the coast ofiVfrica, have deemed it expédient to conclude a Treaty lor that purpose, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say :
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Honourable Richard Bickerton Pemell Lord Lyons, a Peer of Her United Kingdom, a Knight Grand Cross of Her Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and Her Envoy Extraordinary
*) Les ratifications ont été échangées à Londres, le 20 Mai
260 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis.
and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States of America;
And the Président of the United States of America, WiUiam H. Seward, Secretary of State ;
Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full-powers, found in good and due form, haveagreed upon and concluded the following Articles: —
Art. 1. The two High Contracting Parties mutually consent that those ships of their respective navies which shall be provided spécial Instructions for that pur-
pose, as hereinafter mentioned, may visit such merchantvessels of the two nations as may, upon reasonable grounds, be suspected of being engagea in the African Slave Trade, or of having been fitted out for that purpose, or of having, during the voyage on which they are met by the said cruizers, been engaged in the African Slave Trade, contrary to the provisions of this Treaty, and that such cruizers may detain, and send or carry away, such vessels, in order that they may be brought to trial in the manner hereinafter agreed upon.
In order to fix the reciprocal right of search in such a manner as shall be adapted to the attainment of the object of this Treaty, and at the same time avoid doubts, disputes, and complaints, the said right of search shall be understood in the manner and according to the rules following: —
First. It shall never be exercised except by vessels of war, authorized expressly for that object, according to the stipulations of this Treaty.
Secondly. The right of search shall in no case be exercised with respect to a vessel of the navy of either of the two Powers, but shall be exercised only as regards merchant- vessels; and it shall not be exercised by a vessel of war of either Contracting Party within the limits of a settlement or port, nor within the territorial waters, of the other Party.
Thirdly. Whenever a merchant- vessel is searched by a ship of war, the Commander of the said ship shall, in the act of so doing, exhibit to the Commander of the merchant-vessel the spécial Instructions by which he is duly authorized to search ; and shall deliver to such Commander a certificate. signed by himself, stating his rank in the naval service of his country, and the name of the vessel he commands, and also declaring
Commerce d'esclaves.
that the only object of the search is to ascertain whether the vessel is employed in the African Slave Trade, or is fitted iip for the said Trade. When the search is made by an officer of the cruizer who is not the Commander, such officer shall exhibit to the Captain of the merchant- vessel a copy of the before - mentioned spécial Instructions, signed by the Commander of the cruizer; and he shall in like manner deliver a certificate signed by himself, stating his rank in the Navy, the name of the Commander by whose orders he proceeds to make the search, that of the cruizer in which he sails, and the object of the search, as above described. If il appears from the search that the papers of the vessel are in regular order, and that it is employed on lawful objects, the officer shall enter in the log-book of the vessel that the search has been made in pursuance of the aforesaid spécial Instructions; and the vessel shall be left at liberty to pursue its voyage. The rank of the officer who makes the search must not be less than that of Lieutenant in the navy, unless the command, either by reason of death or other cause, is at the time heid by an officer of inferior rank.
Fourthly. The reciprocal right of search and détention shall be exercised only within the distance of two hundred miles from the Coast of Africa, and to the southward of the thirty-second parallel of north latitude ; and within thirty leagues from the Coast of the Island of Cuba.
Art 2. In order to regulate the mode of carrying the provisions of the preceding Article into exécution, it is agreed: —
First. That ail the ships of the navies of the two nations, which shall be hereafter employed to prevent the African Slave Trade shall be furnished by their respective Governments with a copy of the présent Treaty, of the Instructions for cruizers annexed tnereto, marked A, and of the régulations for the Mixed Courts of Justice annexed thereto, marked B, which Annexes respectively shall be considered as intégral parts of the présent Treaty.
Secondly. That each of the High Contracting Parties shall, from time to time, communicate to the other the names of the several ships furnished with such Instructions, the force of each, and the names of their
262 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis.
several Commanders. The said Commanders shall hold the rank of Captain in the navy, or at least that of Lieutenant, it being nevertheless understood that the instructions originally issued to an officer holding the rank of Lieutenant of the navy, or other superior rank, shall, in case of his death or temporary absence, be sufficient to authorize the officer on whom the command of the vessel has devolved to make the search, although such officer may not hold the aforesaid rank in the service.
Thirdly. That if at any time the Commander of a cruizer of either of the two nations shall suspect that any merchant-vessel under the escort or convoy of any ship or ships of war of the other nation carries negroes on board, or has been engaged in the African Slave Trade, or is fitted out for the purpose thereof, the Commander of the cruizer shall communicate his suspicions to the Commander of the convoy, who, accompanied by the Commander of the cruizer, shall proceed to the search of the suspected vessel; and in case the suspicions appear well-founded, according to the tenour of this Treaty, then the said vessel shall be conducted or sent to one of the places where the Mixed Courts of Justice are stationed, in order that it may there be adjudicated upon.
Fourthly. It is further mutually agreed, that the Commanders of the ships of the two navies, respectively, who shall be employed on this service, shall adhère strictly to the exact tenour of the aforesaid Instructions.
Art. 3. As the two preceding Articles are entirely reciprocal, the two High Contracting Parties engage mutually to make good any losses which their respective subjects or citizens may incur by an arbitrary and illégal détention of their vessels; it being understood that this indemnity shall be borne by the Government whose cruizer shall have been guilty of such arbitrary and illégal détention ; and that the search and détention of vessels specified in the First Article of this Treaty shall be effected only by ships which may form part of the two navies respectively, and by such of those ships only as are provided with the spécial Instructions annexed to the présent Treaty, in pursuance of the provisions thereof. The indemnification for the damages of which this Article treats shall be paid within the
Commerce d'esclates.
term of one year, reckoning from the day in which the Mixed Court of Justice pronounces its sentence.
Art. 4. In order to bring to adjudication, with as little delay and inconveniance as possible, the vessels which may be detained according to the tenour of the First Article of this Treaty, there shall be estabUshed, as soon as may be practicable, three Mixed Courts of Justice, formed of an equal number of individuals of the two nations, named for this purpose by their respective Governments. Thèse Courts shall réside, one at Sierra Leone ; one at the cape of Good Hope , and one at New York.
But each of the two High Contracting Parties reserves to itself the right of changing, at its pleasure, the place of résidence of the Court or Courts held within its own territories.
Thèse Courts shall judge the causes submitted to them according to the provisions of the présent Treaty, and according tq the Régulations and Instructions which are annexed to the présent Treaty, and which are considered an intégral part thereof; and there shall be no appeal from their décision.
Art. 5. In case the commanding officer of any of the ships of the navies of either country, duly commissioned according to the provisions of the First Article of this Treaty, shall deviate in any respect from the stipulations of the said Treaty, or from the Instructions annexed to it, the Government which shall conceive itself to be wronged thereby shall be entitled to demand réparation ; and in such case the Government to which such commanding officer may belong, binds itself to cause inquiry to be made into the subject of the complaint, and to inflict upon the said officer a punishment proportioned to any wilful transgression which he may be proved to have committed.
Art. 6. It is hereby further mutually agreed, that every British or American merchant-vessel which shall be searched by virtue of the présent Treaty, may lawfully be detained, and sent or brought before the Mixed Courts of Justice established in pursuance of the provisions thereof, if in her equipment there shall be found any of the things hereinafter mentioned, namely: —
Ist. Hatches with open gratings, instead of the close hatches which are usual in merchant-vessels.
264 Grande-Bretagne et États Unis.
2nd. Divisions or bulk-heads in the hold or on deck, in greater number than are necessary for vessels engaged in lawful trade.
3rd. Spare plank, fitted for laying down as a second or slave deck.
4lh. Shackles, bolts, or handcuffs.
5th. A larger quantily of water in casks or in tanks than is requisite for the consumption of the crew of the vessel as a merchant-vessel.
6th. An extraordinary number of water-casks, or of other vessels for holding liquid; unless the master shall produce a certificate from the Custom-house at the place from which he cleared outwards, stating that a sufficient security had been given by the owners of such vessel that such extra quantity of casks, or of other vessels, should be used only to hold palm oil, or for other purposes of lawful commerce.
7th. A greater number of mess-tubs or kids than requisite for the use of the crew of the vessel as a merchant-vessel.
8th, A boiler, or other cooking apparatus, of an unusual size, and larger, or capable of being made larger, than requisite for the use of the crew of the vessel as a merchant-vessel ; or more than one boiler, or other cooking apparatus, of the ordinary size.
9th. An extraordinary quantity of rice, of the flour of Brazil, of manioc or cassada, commonly called farinha, of maize, or of Indian corn, or of any other article of food whatever, beyond the probable wants of the crew; unless such rice, flour, farinha, maize, Indian corn, or other article of food, be entered on the manifest as part of the cargo for trade.
lOth. A quantity of mats or matting greater than is necessary for the use of the crew of the vessel as a merchant-vessel ; unless such mats or matting be entered on the manifest as part of the cargo for trade.
If it be proved that any one or more of the articles above specified is or are on board, or have been on board during the voyage in which the vessel was captured, that fact shall be considered as prima facie évidence that the vessel was employed in the African Slave Trade, and she shall in conséquence be condemned and declared lawful prize; unless the master or owners shall furnish clear and incontrovertible évidence,
Commerce d'esclaves.
proving to the satisfaction of the Mixed Court of Justice, that at the time of her détention or capture the vessel was employed in a lawful undertaking, and that such of the différent articles above specified as were found on board at the time of détention, or as may have been embarked during the voyage on which she was engaged when captured, were indispensable for the lawful object of her voyage.
Art. 7. If any one of the articles specified in the preceding Article as grounds for condemnation should be found on board a merchant-vessel, or should be proved to have been on board of her during the voyage on which she was captured, no compensation for losses, damages, or expenses conséquent upon the détention of such vessel shall in any case be granted either to the master, the owner, or any other person interested in the equipment or in the lading, even though she should not be condemned by the Mixed Court of Justice.
Art. 8. It is agreed between the two High Contracting Parties, that in ail cases in which a vessel shall be detained under this Treaty, by their respective cruizers, as having been engaged in the African Slave Trade, or as having been fitted out for the purposes thereof, and shall consequently be adjudged and condemned by one of the Mixed Courts of Justice to be established as aforesaid, the said vessel shall, immediately after its condemnation, be broken up entirely, and shall be sold in separate parts, after having been so broken up-, unless either of the two Governments should wish to purchase her for the use of its navy at a price to be fixed by a compétent person chosen for that purpose by the Mixed Court of Justice; in which case the Government whose cruizer shall have detained the condemned vessel shall have the first option of purchase.
Art. 9. The captain, master, pilot, and crew of any vessel condemned by the Mixed Courts of Justice shall be punished according to the laws of the country to which such vessel belongs, as shall also the owner or owners, and the persons interested in her equipment or cargo, unless they prove that they had no participation in the enterprize.
For this purpose, the two High Contracting Parties agrée that, in so far as it may not be attended with grievous expense and inconvenience, the master and
266 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis
crew of any vessel which may be condemned by a sentence of one of the Mixed Courts of Justice, as well as any other persons found on board the vessel, shall be sent and delivered up to the jurisdiction of the nation under whose flag the condemned vessel was sailing at the time of capture; and that the witnesses and proofs necessary to establish the guilt of such master, crew, or other persons, shall also be sent with them.
The same course shall be pursued with regard to subjects or citizens of either Contracting Party who may be found by a cruizer of the other on board a vessel of any third Power, or on board a vessel sailing without flag or papers, which may be condemned by any compétent Court for having engaged in the African Slave Trade.
Art. 10. The negroes who are found on board of a vessel condemned by the Mixed Courts of Justice, in conformity with the stipulations of this Treaty, shall be placed at the disposai of the Government whose cruizer has made the capture; they shall be immediately set at liberty and shall remain free, the Government to whom they have heen delivered guaranteeing their liberty.
Art. 11. The Acts or Instruments annexed to this Treaty, and which it is mutually agreed shall form an intégral part thereof, are as follows:
(A.) Instructions for the ships of the navies of both nations destined to prevent the African Slave Trade.
(B.) Régulations for the Mixed Courts of Justice.
Art. 12. The présent Treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at London in six months from this date, or sooner if possible. It shall continue and remain in full force for the term of ten years from the day of exchange of the ratifications, and further, until the end of one year after either of the Contracting Parties shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the same; each of the Contracting Parties reserving to itself the right of giving such noticet to the other at the end of said term of ten years. And it is hereby agreed between them, that on the expiration of one year after such notice shall have been received by either from the other party, this Treaty shall altogether cease and détermine.
In wittness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries
Commerce d'esclaves. 267
have signed the présent Treaty, and have thereunto affixed the seal of their arms.
Done at Washington, the seventh day of Aprii, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
(L. S.) Lyons.
(L. S.) William H. Seward.
Annex iA) to the Treaty hetween Great Britain and the United States of America^ for the Suppression of the African Slave Trade, signed at Washington on the 7th. day of April, 1862.
Instructions for the Ships of the British and United States^ Navies employed to prenent the African Slave Trade.
Art. L The Commander of any ship belonging to the British or United States' navy. which shall be furnished with thèse Instructions, shall have a right to search and detain any British or United States' merchant-vessel which shall be actually engaged, or suspected to be engaged, in the African Slave Trade, or to be fitted out for the purposes thereof, or to have been engaged in such Trade during the voyage in which she may be met with by such ship of the British or United States' navy; and such Commander shall thereupon bring or send such merchant-vessel (save in the case provided for in Article V of thèse Instructions), as soon as possible, for judgment, before one of the three Mixed Courts of Justice established in virtue of the IVth Article of the said Treaty, that is to say: —
If the vessel shall be detained on the Coast of Africa, she shall be brought before that one of the two Mixed Courts of Justice to be established at the Cape of Good Hope and at Sierra Leone which may be nearest to the place of détention, or which the captor, on bis own responsibihty, may think can be soonest reached from such place.
If the vessel shall be detained on the coast of the Island of Cuba, she shall be brought before the Mixed Court of Justice at New York.
Art. 2. Whenever a ship of either of the two navies, duly authorized as aforesaid, shall meet a merchant-
268 Grande-Bretagne et États-Unis.
vessel liable to be searched under the provisions of the said Treaty, the search shall be conducted with the courtesy and considération which ought to be observed between alHed and friendiy nations; and the search shall, in ail cases, be made by an officer holding a rank not lower than that of Lieutenant in the navy; or by the officer, who at the time shall be second in command of the ship by which such search is made.
Art 3. The Commander of any ship of the two navies, duly authorized as aforesaid, who may detain any merchant-vessel in pursuance of the tenour of the présent Instructions, shall leave on board the vessel so detained, the master, the mate or boatswain, and two or three, at least, of the crew; the whole of the negroes, if any , and ail the cargo. The captor shall, at the time of détention, draw up, in writing, a déclaration, which shall exhibit the state in which he found the detained vessel ; such déclaration shall be signed by himself, and shall be given in or sent, together with the captured vessel, to the Mixed Court of Justice before which such vessel shall be carried or sent for adjudication. He shall deliver to the master of the detained vessel a signed and certified list of the papers found on board the same, as well as a certificate of the number of negroes found on board at the moment of détention.
In the déclaration which the captor is hereby required to make, as well as in the certified list of the papers seized, and in the certificate of the number of negroes found on board the detained vessel, he shall insert his own name and surname, the name of the capturing ship, and the latitude and longitude of the place where the détention shall have been made.
The officer in charge of the detained vessel shall, at the time of bringing the vessel's papers into the Mixed Court of Justice, deliver into the Court a certificate signed by himself, and verified on oath, stating any changes which may have taken place in respect to the vessel, her crew, the negroes, if any, and her cargo, between the period of her détention and the time of dehvering in such paper.
Art. 4. If urgent reasons, arising from the length of the voyage, the state of health of the negroes, or any other cause, should require that either the whole
Commerce d'esclaves.
or a portion of such negroes should be disembarked before the vessel can arrive at the place at which one of the Mixed Courts of Justice is established, the Commander of the capturing ship may take upon himself the responsibihty of so disembarking the negroes, provided the necessity of the disembarkation, and the causes thereof, be stated in a certificate in proper form. Such certificate shall be drawn up and entered at the time on the log-book of the detained vessel.
Art. 5. In case any merchant-vessel detained in pursuance of the présent Instructions should prove to be unseaworthy, or in such a condition as not to be taken to one of the three ports where the Mixed Courts of Justice are to be established in pursuance of the Treaty of this date, the Commander of the detaining cruizer may take upon himself the responsibihty of abandoning or destroying her, provided the exact causes which made such a step imperatively necessary be stated in a certificate verified on oath. Such certificate shall be drawn up and formally executed in duplicate at the time.
In case of the abandonment or destruction of a detained vessel, the master and crew, together with the negroes and papers found on board, and one copy of the sworn certificate mentioned in the preceding paragraph of this Article, shall be sent and delivered to the proper Mixed Court of Justice at the earliest possible moment.
The undersigned Plenipotentiaries have agreed, in conformily with the Xllh Article of the Treaty signed by them on this day, that the présent Instructions shall be annexed to the said Treaty, and be considered an intégral part thereof.
Donc at Washington, the seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
(L. S.) Lyons.
(L. S.) William H. Seward.
270 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis.
Annex (B) io the Treaty between Great Briiain and the United States of America, for the Abolition of the African Slave Trade, signed ai Washington, on the 7th day of April, i862.
Régulations for the Mixed Courts of Justice.
Art. 1. The Mixed Courts of Justice to be established under the provisions of the Treaty, of which thèse Régulations are declared to be an intégral part, shall be composed in the following manner: —
The two High Contracting Parties shall each name a Judge and an Arbitrator, who shall be authorized to hear and to décide, without appeal, ail cases of capture or détention of vessels which, in pursuance of the stipulations of the aforesaid Treaty, shall be brought before them.
The Judges and the Arbitrators shall, before they enter upon the duties of their office, respectively make oath before the principal Magistrale oi the place in which such Courts shall respectively réside, that they will judge fairly and faithfully; that they will have no préférence either for claimant or for captor; and that they will act in ail their décisions in pursuance of the stipulations of the aforesaid Treaty.
There shall be attached to each of such Courts a Secretary or Registrar, who shall be appointed by the Party in whose territories such Court shall réside.
Such Secretary or Registrar shall register ail the acts of the Court to which he is appointed; and shall, before he enters upon his office, nnake oath before the Court, that he will conduct himself with due respect for its authority, and will act with fidelity and impartiality in al! matters relating to his office.
The salaries of the Judges and Arbitrators shall be paid by the Governments by whom they are appointed.
The salary of the Secrétaires or Registrars of the two Courts to be established in the territories of Great Britain shall be paid by Her Britannic Majesty ; and that of the Secretary or Registrar of the Court to be established in the territories of the United States shall be paid by the United States' Government.
Each of the two Governments shall defray half of the aggregate amount ofthe other expenses of such Courts.
Art. 2. The expenses incurred by the officer charged with the réception, maintenance, and care of the de-
Commerce d! esclaves. 271
tained vessel, negroes, and cargo, and with the execu- • lion of the sentence, and ail disbursements occasioned by bringing a vessel to adjudication, shall, in case of condemnation, be defrayed from the funds arising out of the sale of the materials of the vessel, after the vessel shall have been broken up, of the ship's stores, and of such parts of the cargo as shall consist of merchandize. And in case the proceeds arising out of this sale should not prove sufficient to defray such expenses, the deficiency shall be made good by the Government of the country within whose territories the adjudication shall have taken place.
If the detained vessel shall be released, the expenses occasioned by bringing her to adjudication shall be defrayed by the captor, except in the cases specified and otherwise provided for under Article VU of the Treaty to which thèse Régulations form an Annex, and under Article VII of thèse Régulations.
Art. 3. The Mixed Courts of Justice are to décide upon the legality of the détention of such vessels as the cruizers of either nation shall detain, in pursuance of the said Treaty.
The said Courts shall adjudge definitively and without appeal, ail questions which shall arise out of the capture and détention of such vessels.
The proceedings of the Courts shall take place as summarily as possible; and for this purpose the Courts are required to décide each case, as far as may be practicable, within the space of twenty days, to be dated iVom the day on which the detained vessel shall have been brought into the port where the deciding Court shall réside.
The final sentence shall not, in any case, be delayed beyond the period of two months, either on account of the absence of witnesses, or for any other cause, except upon the application of any of the parties interested; but in that case, upon such party or parties giving satisfactory security that they will take upon themselves the expense and risks of the delay, the Courts may, at their discrétion, grant an additional delay, not exceeding four months.
Either party shall be allowed to employ suchCounsel as he may think fit, to assist him in the conduct of his cause.
AU the acts and essential parts of the proceedings of the said Courts shall be committed to writing and be placed upon record.
Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis,
Art. 4. The form of the process, or mode of proceeding to judgment, shall be as follows : —
The Judges appointed by the two Governments, respectively, shall in the first place proceed to examine the papers of the detained vessel, and shall take the dépositions of the master or commander, and of two or three, at least, of the principal individuals on board of such vessel ; and shall also take the déclaration on oath of the captor, if it should appear to them necessary to do so, in order to judge and to pronounce whether the said vessel has been justly detained or not, according to the stipulations of the aforesaid Treaty, and in order that, according to such judgment, the vessel may be condemned or released. In the event of the two Judges not agreeing as to the sentence which they ought to pronounce in any case brought before them, whether with respect to the legality of the détention, or the liability of the vessel to condemnation, or as to the indemnification to be allowed, or as to any other question which may arise out of the said capture; or in case any différence of opinion should arise be- Iween them as to the mode of proceeding in the said Court, they shall draw by lot the name of one of the two Arbitrators so appointed as aforesaid, which Arbitrator, after having considered the proceedings which have taken place, shall consult with the two Judges on the case; and the final sentence or décision shall be pronounced conformably to the opinion of the majority of the three.
Art. 5. It the detained vessel shall be restored by the sentence of the Court, the vessel and the cargo, in the state in which they shall then be found (with the exception of the negroes found on board, if such negroes shall have been previously disembarked under the provisions of Articles IV and V of the Instructions annexed to the Treaty of this date), shall forthwith be given up to the master, or to the person who represents him ; and such master or other person may, before the same Court, daim a valuation of the damages which he may have a right to demand. The captor himself, and in his default his Government, shall remain responsible for the damages to which the master of such vessel, or the owners either of the vessel or of her cargo, may be pronounced to be entitled.
Commerce d'esclaces.
The two High Contracting Parties bind tbemselves to pay, within the term of a year from the date of the sentence, the costs and dannages which nnay be awarded by the Court; it being mutually agreed, that such costs and damages shall be paid by the Government of the country of which the captor shall be a subject.
Art. 6. If the detained vessel shall be condemned, she shall be declared lawful prize, together with her cargo, of whatever description it may be, with the exception of the negroes who shall have been brought on board for the purpose of trade; and the said vessel, subject to the stipulations in the VlIIth Article of the Treaty of this date, shall, as well as her cargo, be sold by public sale for the profil of the two Governments, subject to the payment of the expenses hereinafter mentioned.
The negroes who may not previously have been disembarked, shall receive from the Court a certificate of émancipation, and shall be delivered over to the Government to whom the cruizer which made the capture belongs. in order to be forthwith set at liberty.
Art. 7. The Mixed Courts of Justice shall also take cognizance of, and shall décide definitively and without appeal, ail claims for compensation on account of losses occasioned to vessels and cargoes which shall have been detained under the provisions of this Treaty, but which shall not have been condemned as légal prize by the said Courts; and in ail cases wherein restitution of such vessels and cargoes shall be decreed , save as mentioned in the Vlith Article of the Treaty to which thèse Régulations form an Annex, and in a subséquent part of thèse Régulations, the Court shall award to the claimant or claimants, or to his or their lawful attorney or attorneys, for his or their use, a just and complète indemnification for ail costs of suit, and for ail losses and damages which the owner or owners may have actually sustained by such capture and détention : and it is agreed that the indemnification shall be as follows: —
First. In case of total loss, the claimant or claimants shall be indemnified, —
(A.) For the ship, her tackle, equipment, and stores.
(B.) For ail freights due and payable.
(C.) For the value of the cargo of merchandize, if any, deducting ail charges and expenses which would Nouv. Recueil gén. Tome XVII. Fart. II, S
274 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis,
have been payable upon the sale of such cargo, including commission of sale.
(D.) For ail other regular charges in such case of total loss.
Secondly. In ail other cases (save as hereinafter mentioned) not of total loss, the claimant or claimants shall be indemnified, —
(A.) For ail spécial damages and expenses occasioned to the ship by the détention, and for loss of freight, when due or payable.
(B.) For demurrage when due , according to the Schedule annexed to the présent Article.
(C.) For any détérioration of the cargo.
(D.) For ail premium ofinsurance on additional risks.
The claimant or claimants shall be entitled to interest at the rate of 5 (five) per cent, per annum on the sum awarded, until such sum is paid by the Government to which the capturing ship belongs. The whole amount of such indemnifications shall be calculated in the money of the country to which the detained vessel belongs, and shall be liquidated at the exchange current at the time of the award.
The two High Contracting Parties, however, have agreed, that if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Judges of the two nations, and without having recourse to the décision of an Arbitrator, that the captor has been led into error by the fault of the master or commander of the detained vessel, the detained vessel, in that case, shall not have the right of receiving, for the time of her détention, the demurrage stipulated by the présent Article, nor any other compensation for losses, damages, or expenses conséquent upon such détention.
Schedule of demurrage, or daily allowance
for a
•cessel
of
tons
to 120 inclusive.
per diem
and so on
in proportion.
Commerce d'esclaves.
Art. 8. Neither the Judges nor the Arbilrators, nor ihe Secretaries or Regislrars of the Mixed Courts of Justice, shall demand or receive from any of the parties concerned in the cases which shall be brought before such Courts, any émolument or gift, under any pretext whatsoever, for the performance of the duties which such Judges, Arbitrators, and Secretaries or Registrars, have to perform.
Art. 9. The two High Contracting Parties have agreed that, in the event of the death, sickness, absence on leave, or any other légal impediment, of one or more of the Judges or Arbitrators composing the abovementioned Courts respectively, the post of such Judge or Arbitrator shall be supplied, ad intérim^ in the following manner: —
First. On the part of Her Britannic Majesty, and in those Courts which shall sit within the possessions of Her said Majesty : — if the vacancy be that of the British Judge, his place shall be filled by the British Arbitrator; and either in that case, or in case the vacancy be originally that of the British Arbitrator, the place of such Arbitrator shall be filled by the Governor 0|* Lieutenant -Governor résident in such possession; in bis unavoidable absence, by the principal Magistrate of the same; or in the unavoidable absence of the principal Magistrate, by the Sécréta ry of the Government; and the said Court, so constituted as above, shall sit, and in ail cases brought before it for adjudication shall proceed to adjudge the same, and to pass sentence accordingly.
Secondlj. On the part of Great Britain, and in that Court which shall sit within the territories of the United States of America: — if the vacancy be that of the British Judge, his place shall be filled by the British Arbitrator; and eilher in that case, or in case the vacancy be originally that of the British Arbitrator, his place shall be filled by the British Consul, or in the unavoidable absence of the Consul, by the British Vice- Consul ; and in case the vacancy be both of the British Judge and of the British Arbitrator, then the vacancy of the British Judge shall be filled by the British Consul and that of the British Arbitrator by the British Vice- Consul. But if there be no British Consul or Vice- Consul to fill the place of British Arbitrator, then the United States' Arbitrator shall be called in, in those
276 Grande-Bretagne et Etats-Unis.
cases in which the British Arbitrator would be called in; and in case the vacancy be bolh of the British Judgeand of the British Arbitrator, and there be neilher British Consul nor Vice-Consul to fill, ad inferim, ihe vacancies, then the United States' Judge and Arbitrator shall sit, and in ail cases brought before them for adjudication shall proceed toadjudge thesame, and pass sentence accordingly.
Thirdiy. On the part of the United States, and in that Court which shall sit within their territories: — if the vacancy be that of the United States' Judge, his place shall be filled by the United States' Arbitrator: and either in that case, or in case the vacancy be originally that of the United States' Arbitrator, the place of such Arbitrator shall be filled by the Judge of the United States for the Southern District of New York ; and the said Court, so oonstituted as above, shall sit, and in ail cases brought before them for adjudication shall proceed to adjudge the same, and pass sentence accordingly.
Fourthly. On the part of the United States of America, and in those Courts which shall sit within the possessions of Her Britannic Majesty: — if the vacancy be that of the United States' Judge, his place shall be filled by the United States' Arbitrator; and either in that case, or in case the vacancy be originally that of the United States' Arbitrator, his place shall be filled by the United States' Consul, or in the unavoidable absence of the Consul, by the United States' Vice- Consul. In case the vacancy be both of the United States' Judge and of the United States' Arbitrator, then the vacancy of the Judge shall be filled by the United States' Consul, and that of the United States' Arbitrator by the United States' Vice -Consul. But if there be no United States' Consul or Vice-Consul to fill the place of the United States' Arbitrator, then the British Arbitrator shall be called in, in those cases in which the United States' Arbitrator would be called in; and in case the vacancy be both of the United States' Judge and of the United States' Arbitrator, and there be neither United States' Consul nor Vice -Consul to fill, ad intérim, the vacancies, then the British Judge and the British Arbitrator shall sit, and, in ail cases brought before them for adjudication shall proceed to adjudge the same, and pass sentence accordingly.
Commerce d'esclaves. 277
The chief authority of the place in the territories of either High Contracting Party where the Mixed Courts of Justice shall sit, shall, in the event of a vacancy arising, either of the Judge or the Arbitrator of the olher High Contracting Party, fortwith give notice of the same by the nnost expéditions method in his power to the Governntient of that other High Contracting Party, in order that such vacancy may be supplied at the earliest possible period. And each of the High Contracting Parties agrées to supply definitively, as soon as possible, the vacancies which may arise in the abovementioned Courts from death, or from any other cause whatever.
The undersigned Plenipotentiaries have agreed, in conformity with the XIth Article of the Treaty signed by them on this day, that the preceding Régulations shall be annexed to the said Treaty, and considered an intégral part thereof.
Done at Washington, the seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
(L. S.) Lyons.
(L. S.) William H. Seward.
