Whereas the undersigned, Tobias Lear, Consul General of the United States of America, for the Regency of Algiers, being duly appointed Commissioner, by letters patent under the signature of the President and seal of the United States of America, bearing date at the city of Washington, the 18th day of November, 1803, for negociating and concluding a treaty of peace between the United States of America, and the Bashaw, Bey, and subjects of the Regency of Tripoli in Barbary. Now know ye, that I, Tobias Lear, Commissioner as aforesaid, do conclude the foregoing treaty, and every article and clause therein contained, reserving the same, nevertheless, for the final ratification of the President of the United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the said United States. Done at Tripoli, in Barbary the fourth day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and five, corresponding with the sixth day of the first month of Rabbia, 1220. TOBIAS LEAR. Having appeared in our presence, Colonel Tobias Lear, ConsulGeneral of the United States of America, in the Regency of Algiers, and Commisisoner for negociating and concluding a treaty of peace and friendship between us and the United States of America, bringing with him the present treaty of peace, with the within articles, they were by us minutely examined, and we do hereby accept, confirm, and ratify them, ordering all our subjects to fulfill entirely their contents without any violation, and under no pretext. In witness whereof we, with the heads of our Regency, subscribe it. Given at Tripoli, in Barbary, the sixth day of the first month of Rabbia, 1220, corresponding with the fourth day of June, 1805. [SEAL.] SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. SEAL. JUSUF CARAMANLY, Bashaw. HAMET, Rais de Marine. MOHAMET, DGHIES, First Minister. SALAH, Aga of Divan. SELIM, Hasnadar. MOHAMET, Scheig al Belad. TUNIS. 1797. TREATY OF AMITY, COMMERCE, AND NAVIGATION. Concluded August 1797; ratification advised by the Senate, with amendments, March 6, 1798; alterations concluded March 26, 1799; ratification again advised by the Senate December 24, 1799. Under the auspices of the greatest, the most powerful of all the Princes of the Ottoman nation who reign upon the earth, our most glorious and most august Emperor, who commands the two lands and the two seas, Selim Kan, the victorious son of the Sultan Moustafa, whose realm may God prosper until the end of ages, the support of Kings, the Seal of Justice, the Emperor of Emperors. The Most Illustrious and Most Magnificent Prince, Hamouda Pacha, Bey, who commands the Odgiak of Tunis, the abode of happiness, and the Most Honored Ibrahim Dey, and Soliman, Aga of the Janissaries, the Chief of the Divan, and all the Elders of the Odgiak; and the Most Distinguished and Honored President of the Congress of the United States of America, the most distinguished among those who profess the religion of the Messiah, of whom may the end be happy. We have concluded between us the present treaty of peace and friendship, all the articles of which have been framed by the intervention of Joseph Stephen Famin, French merchant residing at Tunis, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America, which stipulations and conditions are comprised in twenty-three articles, written and expressed in such manner as to leave no doubt of their contents, and in such way as not to be contravened. Treaties with Tunis superseded by treaty between United States and France of May 9, 1904. ARTICLE I. There shall be a perpetual and constant peace between the United States of America and the Magnificent Pacha, Bey of Tunis; and also a permanent friendship, which shall more and more increase. ARTICLE II. If a vessel of war of the two nations shall make prize of an enemy's vessel, in which may be found effects, property, and subjects of the two contracting parties, the whole shall be restored: the Bey shall restore the property and subjects of the United States, and the latter shall make a reciprocal restoration, it being understood on both sides that the just right to what is claimed shall be proved. ARTICLE III. Merchandise belonging to any nation which may be at war with one of the contracting parties, and loaded on board of the vessels of the other, shall pass without molestation, and without any attempt being made to capture or detain it. ARTICLE IV. On both sides sufficient passports shall be given to vessels, that they may be known and treated as friendly; and, considering the distance between the two countries, a term of eighteen months is given, within which term respect shall be paid to the said passports, without requiring the congé or document, (which, at Tunis, is called testa,) but after the said term the congé shall be presented. ARTICLE V. If the corsairs of Tunis shall meet at sea with ships of war of the United States, having under their escort merchant-vessels of their nation, they shall not be searched or molested; and in such case the commanders shall be believed upon their word, to exempt their ships from being visited, and to avoid quarantine. The American ships of war shall act in like manner towards merchant-vessels escorted by the corsairs of Tunis. ARTICLE VI." If a Tunisian corsair shall meet with an American merchant-vessel, and shall visit it with her boat, she shall not exact anything, under pain of being severely punished. And in like manner if a vessel of war of the United States shall meet with a Tunisian merchant-vessel, she shall observe the same rule. In case a slave shall take refuge on board of an American vessel of war, the Consul shall be required to cause him to be restored; and if any of their prisoners shall escape on board the Tunisian vessels they shall be restored. But if any slave shall take refuge in any American merchant-vessel, and it shall be proved that the vessel has departed with the said slave, then he shall be returned, or his ransom shall be paid. • This article is amended by the Convention of February 24, 1824. ARTICLE VII. An American citizen having purchased a prize vessel from our Odgiak, may sail with our passport, which we will deliver for the term of one year, by force of which our corsairs which may meet with her shall respect her; the Consul, on his part, shall furnish, her with a bill of sale, and, considering the distance of the two countries, this term shall suffice to obtain a passport in form. But, after the expiration of this term, if our corsairs shall meet with her without the passport of the United States, she shall be stopped and declared good prize, as well the vessel as the cargo and crew. ARTICLE VIII. If a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be obliged to enter into a port of the other, and may have need of provisions and other articles, they shall be granted to her without any difficulty, at the price current at the place; and if such a vessel shall have suffered at sea, and shall have need of repairs, she shall be at liberty to unload and reload her cargo, without being obliged to pay any duty; and the captain shall only be obliged to pay the wages of those whom he shall have employed in loading and unloading the merchandise. ARTICLE IX. If, by accident and by the permission of God, a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be cast by tempest upon the coasts of the other, and shall be wrecked or otherwise damaged, the commandant of the place shall render all possible assistance for its preservation, without allowing any person to make any opposition; and the proprietor of the effects shall pay the costs of salvage to those who may have been employed. ARTICLE X. In case a vessel of one of the contracting parties shall be attacked by an enemy under the cannon of the forts of the other party, she shall be defended and protected as much as possible; and when she shall set sail, no enemy shall be permitted to pursue her from the same port, or any other neighboring port, for forty-eight hours after her departure. ARTICLE XI.o When a vessel of war of the United States of America shall enter the port of Tunis, and the Consul shall request that the castle may salute her, the number of guns shall be fired which he may request; and if the said Consul does not want a salute, there shall be no question about it. But in case he shall desire the salute, and the number of guns shall be fired which he may have requested, they shall be counted and returned by the vessel in as many barrels of cannon powder. The same shall be done with respect to the Tunisian corsairs when they shall enter any port of the United States. Articles XI and XII are amended by the Convention of February 24, 1824. ARTICLE XII.“ When citizens of the United States shall come within the dependencies of Tunis, to carry on commerce there, the same respect shall be paid to them which the merchants of other nations enjoy; and if they wish to establish themselves within our ports, no opposition shall be made thereto; and they shall be free to avail themselves of such interpreters as they may judge necessary, without any obstruction, in conformity with the usages of other nations; and if a Tunisian subject shall go to establish himself within the dependencies of the United States, he shall be treated in like manner. If any Tunisian subject shall freight an American vessel and load her with merchandise, and shall afterwards want to unlade or ship them on board of another vessel, we will not permit him, until the matter is determined by a reference of merchants, who shall decide upon the case; and after the decision the determination shall be conformed to. No captain shall be detained in port against his consent, except when our ports are shut for the vessels of all other nations, which may take place with respect to merchant-vessels, but not to those of war. The subjects of the two contracting powers shall be under the pro tection of the Prince, and under the jurisdiction of the Chief of the place where they may be, and no other person shall have authority over them. If the commandant of the place does not conduct himself agreeably to justice, a representation of it shall be made to us. In case the Government shall have need of an American merchantvessel, it shall cause it be freighted, and then a suitable freight shall be paid to the captain agreeably to the intention of the Government, and the captain shall not refuse it. ARTICLE XIII. If among the crews of merchant-vessels of the United States there shall be found subjects of our enemies, they shall not be made slaves, on condition that they do not exceed a third of the crew; and when they do exceed a third, they shall be made slaves: The present article only concerns the sailors, and not the passengers, who shall not be in any manner molested. ARTICLE XIV. A Tunisian merchant who may go to America with a vessel of any nation soever, loaded with merchandise which is the production of the Kingdom of Tunis, shall pay duty (small as it is) like the merchants of other nations; and the American merchants shall equally pay for the merchandise of their country, which they may bring to Tunis under their flag, the same duty as the Tunisians pay in America. But if an American merchant, or a merchant of any other nation, shall bring American merchandise under any other flag, he shall pay Articles XI and XII are amended by the Convention of February 24, 1824. This article is amended by the Convention of February 24, 1824. |