[2nd Peace of Paris. Claims of British Subjects.] A Procès-verbal shall be made of this operation, and shall be annexed to the one which shall be drawn up for the liquidation and determination of the particular Claim. Vacancies in either Commission to be filled up without delay. If a Vacancy shall take place, either in the Commission of Liquidation or in that of Arbitration, the Government, which ought to provide for the nomination of a new member, shall proceed to that nomination without delay, in order that the two Commissions may always remain as far as possible complete. Absent Commissioner of Liquidation to be replaced by one of the Arbitrators. If one of the Commissioners of Liquidation shall be absent, he shall be replaced, during his absence, by one of the Arbitrators of his Nation; and as in that case there will remain but one Arbitrator of that Nation, the two Arbitrators of the other Nation shall also be reduced to one by lot, Absent Commissioner of Arbitration to be replaced by a Commissioner of Liquidation. And if one of the Arbitrators should absent himself, the same operation shall take place, in order to reduce to one the two Arbitrators of the other Nation. It is generally understood, that in order to obviate all manner of delay in this business, the Liquidation and Adjudication shall not be suspended, provided there shall be present, and in activity, one Commissioner and one Arbitrator of each Nation, the principle of equality between the Commissioners and the Arbitrators of the two Nations being always preserved, and re-established, if necessary, by lot. Oath to be taken by New Commissioners. Whenever either of the Contracting Powers shall proceed to the nomination of new Commissioners of Liquidation, of Deposit, or of Arbitration, the said Commissioners shall be obliged, previously to their entering upon their functions, to make the Oath, and in the forms detailed in the following Article. Oath to be taken by Commissioners of Liquidation, Deposit, and Arbitration. ART. XV. The Commissioners of Liquidation, the Commis [2nd Peace of Paris. Claims of British Subjects.] sioners of Deposit, and the Arbitrators, shall together make an Oath, in presence of the Ambassador of His Britannic Majesty, and between the hands of the Keeper of the Seals of France, to proceed justly and faithfully, to have no preference either for the Creditor or for the Debtor, and to act in all their proceedings according to the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), and of the Treaties and Conventions with France, signed this day (Nos. 40, 41, 42, 45, 46), and more particularly according to those of the present Convention. Power to Commissioners to call Witnesses. The Commissioners of Liquidation and the Arbitrators shall be authorised to call Witnesses whenever they shall judge it necessary, and to examine them by Oath in the usual forms, upon all points relative to the different Claims which form the object of this Convention. Time of Restoration of French Colonies of Martinique and Guadaloupe. ART. XVI. When the 3,500,000 francs of Interest, mentioned in Article IX, shall have been inscribed in the name of the Commissioners, who are to hold that sum in Deposit, and on the first demand which shall be thereafter made by the French Government, His Britannic Majesty shall give the necessary orders to carry into execution the restoration of the French Colonies, as stipulated by the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), comprehending Martinique and Guadaloupe, which have been since occupied by the British Forces. The Inscription above-mentioned shall be made before the 1st January next, at the latest. Restoration of Prisoners of War. ART. XVII. The Prisoners of War, officers and soldiers, both naval and military or of any other description, taken during the hostilities which have lately ceased, shall on both sides be immediately restored to their respective Countries, under the same conditions which are specified in the Convention of the 23rd April, 1814, and in the Treaty of the 30th May of the same year (No. 1); and the British Government renounces all claim to any * * See Appendix, [2nd Peace of Paris. Bordeaux Claims.] sums or indemnities whatsoever, which might belong to it from the surplus arising from the maintenance of the said Prisoners of War; subject nevertheless, to the condition specified in Additional Article IV of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1). Done at Paris, the 20th day of November, 1815. (L.S.) RICHELIEU. (L.S.) CASTLEREAGH. (L.S.) WELLINGTON. ADDITIONAL ARTICLE. Paris, 20th November, 1815. The Claims of the Subjects of His Britannic Majesty, founded on a decision of His Most Christian Majesty, relative to the British Merchandise introduced into Bordeaux, in conformity to the Tariff of Customs published in the above-mentioned city, by His Royal Highness the Duke d'Angoulême, on the 24th March, 1814, shall be liquidated and paid, according to the principles and the object declared in the above-mentioned decision of His Most Christian Majesty. The Commission, instituted by Article XIII of the Convention of this day, is directed to proceed immediately to the liquidation of the said Claim, and to fix the dates of its payment to be made in money. The decision which shall be made by the Commissioners, shall be executed immediately, according to its form and tenor. The present Additional Article shall have the same force and effect as if it were inserted, word for word, in the Convention signed this day, relative to the examination and liquidation of the Claims of the Subjects of His Britannic Majesty against the Government of France. In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed it, and have thereto affixed the Seal of their Arms. Done at Paris, the 20th day of November, 1815. (L.S.) RICHELIEU. (L.S.) CASTLEREAGII. (L.S.) WELLINGTON. *See Separate Article, 25th April, 1818, and Additional Articles, 4th July, 1818. [Peace of Europe.] No. 47.-NOTE of the Allied Ministers to the Duke de Richelieu, relative to the Maintenance of the Peace of Europe. Paris, 20th Norember, 1815. (Translation.) THE Undersigned hope that the Duke de Richelieu will perceive in these Arrangements the same character and the same principles in which the measure of the Military Occupation of part of France has been conceived and adopted. They, moreover, carry with them, in quitting this country, the consolatory persuasion, that notwithstanding the elements of disorder which France may still contain in consequence of the Revolutionary Events, a wise and paternal Government, acting on principles adapted to compose and conciliate the minds of the people, and abstaining from all acts contrary to such system, will succeed not only in maintaining the Public Repose, but also in re-establishing universal Union and Confidence, while it will relieve the Allied Powers, as far as the measures of the Government will admit, from the painful necessity of recurring to the adoption of means, which, in the event of renewed disorder, would be imperiously prescribed to them by the duty of providing for the security of their own subjects and the general Tranquillity of Europe. The Undersigned, &c. CASTLEREAGH. HARDENBERG. METTERNICH. CAPO D'ISTRIA. [Fortifications: Netherlands, Germany, Savoy.] No. 48.-PROTOCOL of Conference between Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, respecting the Fortification of the Netherlands, Germany, and Savoy. Vienna, 21st November, 1815. [Referred to in Art. II of the Treaty between Prussia and Netherlands of 8th November 1816.] Disposal of Contributions payable by France. 1. Sums to be applied towards Fortifications in the Netherlands. 2. New Defensive Works for Germany. 3. Fortification of Savoy. (Translation.*) Disposal of Contributions payable by France. THE Ministers of the Four Courts have taken into consideration the rules to be laid down for the employment of that part of the Contributions payable by France, which, according to their general determinations contained in the Procès-verbal of the 6th of November, 1815, are to be wholly appropriated to the strengthening of the Defensive Line of the States bordering on France; their Excellencies have recognized, in the adoption of this essentially European system, that the general safety and interests of all, and not the private advantage of any one State, is the object in view, and consequently that all the Powers who have concurred therein, should have an equal right reciprocally to watch over its execution, and from time to time to take cognizance of the application of the funds destined for an object of such high importance. They have further resolved, that, in order to execute this measure in concert, and by regularly combined operations, it will be expedient to confide to such of the Great Powers as may be most conveniently situated for that purpose, the care of arranging with the Sovereigns directly interested in the several works, the plan to be pursued and the most convenient means of carrying it into effect. Sums to be applied towards Fortifications in the Netherlands. |