[2nd Peace of Paris. Private Claims on France.]

(Translation as laid before Parliament.*)

Convention between Great Britain, &c., and France concluded in conformity to Article IX of the Principal Treaty, relative to the Examination and Liquidation of the Claims upon the French Government.†

In order to remove the Difficulties which have arisen in the execution of divers Articles of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), and especially of those relating to the Claims of Subjects of the Allied Sovereign Powers, the High Contracting Parties, being desirous of enabling their respective subjects speedily to enjoy the rights which those Articles ensure to them, and at the same time prevent as much as possible all controversy which might arise on the interpretation of some of the dispositions of the said Treaty, have agreed upon the following Articles:

Confirmation of Articles XIX to XXVI and XXX and XXXI of Treaty of 30th May, 1814.

ART. I. The Treaty of Paris of the 30th May, 1814 (No. 1) being confirmed by Article XI of the Principal Treaty (No. 40), to which the present Convention is annexed, this confirmation extends principally to Articles XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXX, and XXXI of the said Treaty (No. 1) so far as the Stipulations contained in the said Articles have not been altered or modified by the present Act; and it is expressly agreed that the explanations and developments which the High Contracting Parties have thought advisable to give them by the following Articles, shall in no wise prejudice the Claims of any other nature, which may be authorised by the said Treaty, though not specially stipulated by the present Convention.

Liquidation by France of Claims of Subjects of Allied Powers. ART. II. In conformity to this resolution, His Most Christian

*For French version, see "State Papers," vol. iii, p. 315.

The Stipulations of the Conventions upon this subject, concluded at the same time, between Great Britain and Austria, Prussia, and Russia, were, verbatim, the same as this Convention, which was distinguished as Convention "No. 13" in the Papers laid before Parliament. See also Convention of 25th April, 1818, and Additional Arts. of 4th July, 1818.

Private Claims on France.]

[2nd Peace of Paris.

Majesty engages to cause to be liquidated, in the manner hereinafter specified, all Sums which France may be found to owe, in countries out of her territory, as fixed by the Treaty to which the present Convention is annexed, by virtue of Article XIX of the Treaty of Paris of 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), either to Individuals, or to "Communes," or to Private Establishments the revenues of which are not at the disposal of Government.

Particular Claims to which Liquidation extends.

This liquidation shall extend particularly to the following Claims:

Supplies and Deliveries.

To those arising from Supplies and Deliveries of all kind, furnished by "Communes," or Individuals, and in general by all others but the different branches of the Government, by virtue of Contracts or Arrangements made by the French Administrative Authorities, under promise of payment; whether the said supplies and deliveries may have been furnished, either to or for the use of military magazines in general, or for the provisioning of towns and fortresses in particular, or, in short, to the French Armies, to detachments of troops or of "Gendarmerie," to the French Administrations, or the Military Hospitals, or, in fine, for any public service whatsoever.

Production of Vouchers.

These deliveries and supplies are to be vouched by Receipts from the storekeepers, officers, civil or military, commissaries, agents or inspectors, the validity of which shall be acknowledged by the Commission of Liquidation described in Article V of the present Convention.

Regulation of Prices.

The Prices shall be regulated by the contracts or other engagements of the French authorities, or in failure thereof, by the market prices of the places, the nearest to that where the delivery shall have taken place.

Arrears of Pay and Allowances, &c.

2. To Arrears of Pay and Allowances, travelling expenses, gratuities, and other indemnifications, due to military or other persons

[2nd Peace of Paris. Private Claims on France.]

employed in the French Army, and become, by the Treaties of Paris of 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), and 20th November, 1815 (No. 40), subjects of another Sovereign Power, during the period when the individuals in question served in the French Armies, or were attached to establishments thereunto belonging, such as hospitals, dispensaries, magazines, &c.

Production of Vouchers.

These demands are to be supported by the production of the necessary Vouchers, as required by the existing military rules and regulations.

Vouchers for Claims of Civil Hospitals.

3. To the reimbursement of expenses for the maintenance of French troops in such Civil Hospitals as did not belong to the Government, inasmuch as the payment of that maintenance has been stipulated for by positive engagements. The quota of the said expenses is to be vouched by abstracts of accounts, certified by the Superintendents of those establishments.

Restitution of Funds by French Post Office.

4. To the Restitution of Funds entrusted to the French Post Offices, which have not reached their destination, the event of force being, however, excepted.

Exceptions.

5. To the discharge of "Mandats," "Bons," and orders for payment, given either on the Public Treasury of France, or on the "Caisse d'amortissement," or their "annexes," as well as of "Bons," given by this last-mentioned "Caisse ;" which "Mandats," "Bons," and orders have been subscribed to in favour of inhabitants, "Communes," or establishments situated in provinces which have ceased to form part of France, or which may be in the hands of the said inhabitants, "Communes," or establishments; it not being possible for France to refuse payment of the same, on the plea that the objects, by the sale of which the said "Bons," "Mandats," and orders were to be realised, have passed under foreign dominion.

Loans to French Authorities.

6. To Loans made to the French civil and military authorities, under promise of repayment.

[2nd Peace of Paris. Private Claims on France.]

National Domains Indemnities.

7. To Indemnities granted for non-enjoyment of national domains, let on lease; to all other indemnity and refunding for leases of national domains, and also for professional attendance, remuneration, and fees for appraising, inspecting, or reporting on the buildings, or other objects, done by order and on account of the French Government; inasmuch as the said Indemnities, refundings, professional attendance, remuneration, and fees, have been acknowledged to be at the expense of the Government, and legally ordered by the French authorities at the time existing.

Reimbursement of Advances.

8. To the reimbursement of Advances made from the funds of the "Communes," by order of the French authorities, and under promise of repayment.

Loss of Ground and Demolition and Destruction of Buildings.

9. To Indemnities due to individuals for Loss of Ground, the Demolition and Destruction of Buildings, in consequence of orders from the French military authorities, for the enlargement or security of fortresses and citadels; in such cases where indemnity is due, by virtue of the law of 10th July, 1791, and where there may have been an engagement to pay, either by report of arbitrators, regulating the amount of the indemnity, or by any other deed of the French authorities.

Hamburgh Bank Claims.*

ART. III. The Claims of the Senate of Hamburgh, on account of the Bank of that city, shall be the subject of a Special Convention between the Commissioners of His Most Christian Majesty and those of the City of Hamburgh.

Claims for Seizure of Colonial Goods in 1813.

ART. IV. Those Claims shall also be liquidated, preferred by several individuals against the execution of a decree, dated Nassen, the 8th May, 1813, by virtue of which Colonial Goods, part of which they had purchased of the French Government, were seized to their detriment, and by virtue of which they have been obliged to pay a second time on cottons, the single and double Custom-house dues, although they had paid, in due time, what they owed lawfully.

* See Convention between Franee and Hamburgh of 27th October, 1816.

[2nd Peace of Paris. Private Claims on France.]

Payment in Inscriptions on Great Book of the Public Debt.

These Claims shall be liquidated by the Commissioners appointed by the Convention of this day, and the amount thereof shall be paid, in Inscriptions on the Great Book of the Public Debt, at a rate not under 75, in the same manner as has been agreed upon with regard to the securities to be refunded.

Appointment of Commissioners of Liquidation and Arbitration.

ART. V. The High Contracting Parties, being animated by the desire of agreeing on a mode of liquidation, calculated at once to accelerate the same, and promote, in each particular case, a final decision, have resolved, while expounding the arrangements of Article XX of the Treaty of 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), to appoint Commissions of Liquidation, to be employed, in the first place, in the examination of the claims; and also Commissions of Arbitration, which are to decide on such cases on which the former Commission do not agree.

The mode to be acted upon, in this respect, is to be as follows:

Appointment of Commissioners.†

1. Immediately after the exchange of the Ratifications of the present Treaty, France, and the other High Contracting Parties, or those interested in this object, shall name Commissioners of Liquidation, and Commissioners of Arbitration, or Umpires, who are to reside at Paris, and shall be instructed to direct and carry into execution, the Arrangements contained in Articles XVIII and XIX of the Treaty of 30th May, 1814 (No. 1), and Articles II, IV, VI, VII, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XXII, XXIII, and XXIV of the present Convention.

Duties of Commissioners of Liquidation.

2. The Commissioners of Liquidation are to be named by all the parties interested, in such numbers as each of them may think proper to appoint. They will be instructed to receive and examine,

*See Convention of 27th October, 1816.

+ The Commissioners of Liquidation were:-Mr. Colin Alexander Mackenzie and Mr. George Lewis Newnham. The Commissioners of Arbitration were:-Mr. George Hammond and Mr. David Richard Morier. The Commissioners of Deposit were :-Mr. David Richard Morier and Mr. James Drummond. Their appointments were dated 27th December, 1815.