instructions received by him, he makes the present Declaration in the name of his Government.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs states that the Declaration made by Count Antonelli is accepted in all its parts, and that the Argentine Government is disposed to effect without delay the exchange of the ratifications of the Convention referred to.

Count Antonelli declares that as soon as he shall receive from his Government the necessary documents for the exchange of the ratifications, he will communicate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Done in duplicate at Buenos Ayres, the 31st day of January, 1895.

Traité de Commerce et de Navigation; signé à Quito, le 12 août 1900.*)

Gazzetta Ufficiale del Regno d'Italia. No. 221 de 1906.

Sua Maestà il Re d'Italia e Sua Eccellenza il Presidente della Repubblica dell'Equatore, animati dal desiderio di conservare e rafforzare le amichevoli relazioni esistenti, e promuovere il traffico commerciale fra i due paesi, hanno risolto di concludere un trattato di amicizia, navigazione e commercio, ed hanno, a tal uopo, nominato loro Plenipotenziari:

Sua Maestà il Re d'Italia.

Il signor Giuseppe Pirrone, ufficiale degli ordini reali dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro e della Corona d'Italia, suo Inviato straordinare e Ministro plenipotenziario presso la Repubblica dell'Equatore, e

Sua Eccellenza il Presidente dell'Equatore.

Il signor dott. don Giuseppe Peralta, ministro delle relazioni estere della Repubblica;

I quali dopo di avere scambiati i loro rispettivi pieni poteri e trovatili in buona e debita forma, hanno pattuito gli articoli seguenti:

Art. 1.

Le due Alte Parti contraenti si garantiscono reciprocamente il trattamento della nazione la più favorita in tutto ciò che concerne lo stabili

*) Les ratifications ont été échangées, le 13 juin 1906.

Commerce et Navigation. Commerce.

409

mento dei nazionali, tanto in materia di commercio e navigazione, quanto, per l'importazione, l'esportazione ed il transito delle mercanzie, ed in tutto ciò che si riferisce ai diritti di dogana, alle operazioni commerciali, all'esercizio del commercio e delle industrie ed al pagamento delle tasse relative.

Art. 2.

Si eccettua nella stipulazione dell'art. 1 il cabotaggio, il cui regime rimane sottoposto alle leggi rispettive dei due paesi.

Art. 3.

La presente Convenzione sarà ratificata in Roma ed in Quito il più presto possibile, entrerà in vigore quindici giorni dopo lo scambio delle ratifiche e rimarrà vigente sino allo spirare di un anno, a contare dal giorno in cui l'una o l'altra delle Alte Parti contraenti ne faccia denunzia. In fele di che, i rispettivi Plenipotenziari hanno firmato il presente trattato e vi hanno apposto i loro sigilli.

Fatto, in due esemplari, in Quito, addì 12 del mese di agosto dell'anno mille novecento.

Traité de Commerce et de Navigation; signé à la Haye, le 8 septembre 1896.*)

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands and in her name Her Majesty the Queen-Regent of the Kingdom, being equally desirous of maitaining the relations of good understanding which happily exist beetween them, by extending and increasing the intercourse between their respective States, and being convinced that this object cannot better be accomplished than by revising the Treaties hitherto existing between the two countries, have resolved to complete such a revision, based upon principles of equity and mutual benefit, and for that purpose have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Akabane Shiro, Shogoi, fifth class of the Imperal Order of the Sacred Treasure, His Majesty's Minister Resident at the Court of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands and in her name Her Majesty

*) Les ratifications ont été échangées, le 20 août 1897.

the Queen-Regent of the Kingdom, Jonkheer J. Röel, Knight of the Royal Order of the Netherland Lion, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ph. W. van der Sleyden, Minister of Waterstaat, Commerce and Industry; J. P. Sprenger van Eyk, Knight of the Royal Order of the Netherland Lion, Minister of Finance; J. H. Bergsma, Commander of the Royal Order of the Netherland Lion, Minister for the Colonies; and W. van der Kaay, Knight of the Royal Order of the Netherland Lion, Minister of Justice;

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

Art. 1. The subjects of each of the two High Contracting Parties shall have full liberty to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other Contracting Party, and shall enjoy full and perfect protection for their persons and property.

They shall have free and easy acces to the Courts of Justice in pursuit and defence of their rights, and they shall be at liberty, equally with native subjects, to choose and employ lawyers, advocates, and representatives to pursue and defend their rights before such Courts.

In whatever relates to rights of residence and travel; to the possession of goods and effects of any kind; to the succession to personal estate by will or otherwise; and the disposal of property of any sort in any manner whatsoever, which they may lawfully acquire, the subjects of each Contracting Party shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other the same privileges, liberties, and rights, and shall be subject to no higher imposts or charges in these respects than native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured foreign nation.

The subjects of each of the Contracting Parties shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other entire liberty of conscience, and, subject to the laws, ordinances, and regulations, shall enjoy the right of private or public exercise of their worship, and also the right of burying their respective countrymen according to their religious, customs, in such suitable and convenient places as may be established and maintained for that purpose.

They shall not be compelled, under any pretext whatsoever, to pay any charges or taxes other or higher than those that are, or may be, paid by native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured foreign nation.

The subjects of either of the Contracting Parties residing in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be exempted from all compulsory military service whatsoever, whether in the army, navy, national guard, or militia; from all contributions imposed in lieu of personal service; and from all forced loans or military exactions or contributions.

II. There shall be reciprocal freedom of commerce and navigation between the dominions and possessions of the two High Contracting Parties.

The subjects of each of the High Contracting Parties may trade in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other by wholesale or retail in all kinds of produce, manufactures, and merchandize of lawful commerce, either in person or by agents, singly or in partnership with foreigners or native subjects; and they may there own or hire and occupy houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises which may be necessary for them, and lease land for residential and commercial purposes, conforming themselves to the laws, police and customs regulations of the country like native subjects.

They shall have liberty freely to come with their ships and cargoes to all places, ports, and rivers in the dominions and possessions of the other, which are, or may be, opened to foreign commerce, and shall enjoy, respectively, the same treatment in matters of commerce and navigation as native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured foreign nation, without having to pay taxes, imposts, or duties, of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name, or for the profit, of the Government, public corporation or functionaries, private individuals, corporations, or establishments of any kind, other or greater than those paid by native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured foreign nation.

It is, however, understood that the stipulations contained in this and the preceding Article do not in any way affect the special laws, ordinances, and regulations with regard to trade, police, and public security in force, or which may hereafter be enacted, in each of the two countries, aud applicable to all foreigners in general.

III. The dwellings, manufactories, warehouses, and shops of the subjects of each of the High Contracting Parties in the dominions and possessions of the other, and all premises appertaining thereto destined for purposes of residence or commerce, shall be respected.

It shall not be allowable to proceed to make a search of, or a domiciliary visit to, such dwellings and premises, or to examine or inspect books, papers, or accounts, except under the conditions and with the forms prescribed by the laws, ordinances, and regulations for subjects of the country.

IV. No other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, from whatever place arriving; and no other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, from whatever place arriving, than on the like article produced or manufactured in any other foreign country; nor shall any prohibition be maintained or imposed on the importation of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the High Contracting Parties into the dominions and possessions of the other, from whatever place arriving, which shall Nouv. Recueil Gén. 2o S. XXXIV.

BB

not equally extend to the importation of the like article being the produce or manufacture of any other foreign country.

This last provision is not applicable to the sanitary and other prohibitions occasioned by the necessity of protecting the safety of persons, or of cattle, or of plants useful to agriculture.

V. No other or higher duties or charges shall be imposed in the dominions and possessions of either of the High Contracting Parties on the exportation of any article to the dominions and possessions of the other than such as are, or may be, payable on the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the exportation of any article from the dominions and possessions of either of the two Contracting Parties to the dominions and possessions of the other, which shall not equally extend to the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country.

VI. The subjects of each of the High Contracting Parties shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other exemption from all transit duties, and a perfect equality of treatment with native subjects in all that relates to warehousing, bounties, facilities, and drawbacks.

VII. All articles which are, or may be, legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in Japanese vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in Netherland vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in Japanese vessels; and, reciprocally, all articles which are, or may be, legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands in Netherland vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in Japanese vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in Netherland vessels. Such reciprocal equality of treatment shall take effect without distinction, whether such articles come directly from the place of origin or from any other place.

In the same manner there shall be perfect equality of treatment in regard to exportation, so that the same export duties shall be paid and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed in the dominions and possessions of either of the High Contracting Parties on the exportation of any article which is, or may be, legally exported therefrom, whether such exportation shall take place in Japanese or in Netherland vessels, and whatever may be the place of destination, whether a port of either of the Contracting Parties or of any third Power.

VIII. No duties of tonnage, harbour, pilotage, lighthouse, quarantine, or other similar or corresponding duties of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name, or for the profit, of the Government, public corporations, functionaries, private individuals, corporations, or establishments of any kind, shall be imposed in the ports of the dominions and possessions of either country upon the vessels of the other country, which shall not equally and under the same conditions be imposed in the