Wherefore:

We command all the Tribunals, Justices, Chiefs, Governors, and other authorities, civil as well as military and ecclesiastical, of whatever class and dignity, to observe the present Law, and to cause it to be observed, fulfilled, and executed in all its parts.

Given at the Palace the 13th February, 1880.

I, THE KING.

José ELDUAYEN, Colonial Minister.

TREATY between the United States and China, for the regulation of Chinese Immigration into the United States.Signed at Peking, November 17, 1880.

[Ratifications exchanged at Peking, July 19, 1881.]

WHEREAS, in the eighth year of Hsien Feng, A.D. 1858, a Treaty of Peace and Friendship was concluded between the United States of America and China, and to which were added, in the seventh year of Tung Chih, A.D. 1868,† certain supplementary Articles to the advantage of both parties, which supplementary Articles were to be perpetually observed and obeyed: and

Whereas the Government of the United States, because of the constantly increasing immigration of Chinese labourers to the territory of the United States, and the embarrassments consequent upon such immigration, now desires to negotiate a modification of the existing Treaties which shall not be in direct contravention of their spirit:

Now, therefore, the President of the United States of America has appointed James B. Angell, of Michigan, John F. Swift, of California, and William Henry Trescot, of South Carolina, as his Commissioners Plenipotentiary; and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China has appointed Pao Chüu, a member of His Imperial Majesty's Privy Council, and Superintendent of the Board of Civil Office; and Li Hungtsao, a member of His Imperial Majesty's Privy Council, as his Commissioners Plenipotentiary; and the said Commissioners Plenipotentiary, having conjointly examined their full powers, and having discussed the points of possible modification in existing Treaties, have agreed upon the following Articles in modification:

* Vol. XLVIII. Page 606,

Vol. LXI. Page 141.

ART. I. Whenever, in the opinion of the Government of the United States, the corning of Chinese labourers to the United States, or their residence therein, affects or threatens to affect the interests of that country, or to endanger the good order of the said country or of any locality within the territory thereof, the Government of China agrees that the Government of the United States may regulate, limit, or suspend such coming or residence, but may not absolutely prohibit it. The limitation or suspension shall be, reasonable and shall apply only to Chinese who may go to the United States as labourers, other classes not being included in the limitations. Legislation taken in regard to Chinese labourers will be of such a character only as is necessary to enforce the regulation, limitation, or suspension of immigration, and immigrants shall not be subject to personal maltreatment or abuse.

II. Chinese subjects, whether proceeding to the United States as teachers, students, merchants, or from curiosity, together with their body and household servants, and Chinese labourers who are now in the United States, shall be allowed to go and come of their own free will and accord, and shall be accorded all the rights, privileges, immunities, and exemptions which are accorded to the citizens and subjects of the most favoured nation.

III. If Chinese labourers, or Chinese of any other class, now either permanently or temporarily residing in the territory of the United States, meet with ill-treatment at the hands of any other persons, the Government of the United States will exert all its power to devise measures for their protection, and to secure to them the same rights, privileges, immunities, and exemptions as may be enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of the most favoured nation, and to which they are entitled by Treaty.

IV. The High Contracting Powers having agreed upon the foregoing Articles, whenever the Government of the United States shall adopt legislative measures in accordance therewith, such measures will be communicated to the Government of China. If the measures as enacted are found to work hardship upon the subjects of Chiua, the Chinese Minister at Washington may bring the matter to the notice of the Secretary of State of the United States, who will consider the subject with him; and the Chinese Foreign Office may also bring the matter to the notice of the United States' Minister at Peking, and consider the subject with him, to the end that mutual and unqualified benefit may result.

In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed the foregoing at Peking, in English and Chinese, being three originals of each text of even tenour and date, the ratifications of which shall be exchanged at Peking within one year from date of its execution.

Done at Peking, this 17th day of November, in the year of Our Lord 1880 (Kuanghsü, 6th year, 10th moon, 15th day).

(L.S.) JAMES B. ANGELL.

(L.S.) JOHN F. SWIFT.

(L.S.) WM. HENRY TRESCOT. (L.S.) PAO CHUN.

(L.S.) LI HUNGTSAO.

CONVENTION between the United States and France, for the Settlement of certain Claims of the Citizens of either Country against the other.-Signed at Washington, January 15, 1880,*

[Ratifications exchanged at Washington, June 23, 1880.]

THE United States of America and the French Republic, animated by the desire to settle and adjust amicably the claims made by the citizens of either country against the Government of the other, growing out of acts committed by the civil or military authorities of either country as hereinafter defined, during a state of war or insurrection, under the circumstances hereinafter specified, have agreed to make arrangements for that purpose, by means of a Convention, and have named as their Plenipotentiaries to confer and agree thereupon, as follows:

The President of the United States, William Maxwell Evarts, Secretary of State of the United States; and the President of the French Republic, Georges Maxime Outrey, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of France at Washington, Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, &c.;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:

ART. I. All claims on the part of Corporations, Companies, or private individuals, citizens of the United States, upon the Government of France, arising out of acts committed against the persons or property of citizens of the United States not in the service of the enemies of France, or voluntarily giving aid and comfort to the same, by the French civil or military authorities, upon the high seas or within the territory of France, its Colonies and dependencies, during the late war between France and Mexico, or during the war of 1870-71 between France and Germany and the subsequent civil disturbances known as the "Insurrection of the

Signed also in the French language,

Commune;" and, on the other hand, all claims on the part of Corporations, Companies, or private individuals, citizens of France, upon the Government of the United States, arising out of acts committed against the persons or property of citizens of France not in the service of the enemics of the United States, or voluntarily giving aid and comfort to the same, by the civil or military authorities of the Government of the United States, upon the high seas or within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, during the period comprised between the 13th day of April, 1861, and the 20th day of August, 1866, shall be referred to three Commissioners, one of whom shall be named by the President of the United States, and one by the French Government, and the third by His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil.

II. The said Commission, thus constituted, shall be competent. and obliged to examine and decide upon all claims of the aforesaid character, presented to them by the citizens of either country, except such as have been already diplomatically, judicially, or otherwise, by competent authorities, heretofore disposed of by either Government; but no claim or item of damage or injury based upon the emancipation or loss of slaves shall be entertained by the said Commission.

III. In case of the death, prolonged absence, or incapacity to serve of one of the said Commissioners, or in the event of one Commissioner omitting, or declining, or ceasing to act as such, then the President of the United States, or the Government of France, or His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, as the case may be, shall forthwith proceed to fill the vacancy so occasioned by naming another Commissioner within three months from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy.

IV. The Commissioners named as hereinbefore provided shall meet in the city of Washington at the earliest convenient time within six months after the exchange of the ratifications of this Convention, and shall, as their first act in so meeting, make and subscribe a solemn declaration that they will impartially and carefully examine and decide, to the best of their judgment and according to public law, justice, and equity, without fear, favour, or affection, all claims within the description and true meaning of Articles I and II, which shall be laid before them on the part of the Governments of the United States and of France respectively; and such declaration shall be entered on the record of their proceedings: Provided, however, that the concurring judgment of any two Commissioners shall be adequate for every intermediate decision arising in the execution of their duty and for every final award.

V. The Commissioners shall, without delay, after the organiza tion of the Commission, proceed to examine and determine the

claims specified in the preceding Articles, and notice shall be given to the respective Governments of the day of their organization and readiness to proceed to the transaction of the business of the Commission. They shall investigate and decide said claims in such order and in such manner as they may think proper, but upon such evidence or information only as shall be furnished by or on behalf of the respective Governments. They shall be bound to receive and consider all written documents or statements which may be presented to them by or on behalf of the respective Governments in support of, or in answer to, any claim, and to hear, if required, one person on each side whom it shall be competent for each Government to name as its Counsel or Agent to present and support claims on its behalf, on each and every separate claim. Each Government shall furnish, at the request of the Commissioners, or of any two of them, the papers in its possession, which may be important to the just determination of any of the claims laid before the Commission.

VI. The concurring decisions of the Commissioners, or of any two of them, shall be conclusive and final. Said decisions shall in every case be given upon each individual claim in writing, stating, in the event of a pecuniary award being made, the amount or equivalent value of the same in gold coin of the United States or of France, as the case may be; and in the event of interest being allowed on such award, the rate thereof and the period for which it is to be computed shall be fixed, which period shall not extend beyond the close of the Commission; and said decision shall be signed by the Commissioners concurring therein.

VII. The High Contracting Parties hereby engage to consider the decision of the Commissioners, or of any two of them, as absolutely final and conclusive upon each claim decided upon by them, and to give full effect to such decisions without any objections, evasions, or delay whatever.

VIII. Every claim shall be presented to the Commissioners within a period of six months, reckoned from the day of their first meeting for business, after notice to the respective Governments, as prescribed in Article V of this Convention. Nevertheless, in any case where reasons for delay shall be established to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, or of any two of them, the period for presenting the claim may be extended by them to any time not exceeding three months longer.

The Commissioners shall be bound to examine and decide upon every claim within two years from the day of their first meeting for business as aforesaid; which period shall not be extended, except only in case the proceedings of the Commission shall be interrupted by the death, incapacity, retirement, or cessation of the functions of