111F 

Liberti • Egalite • Fraterniii 

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT Of-SlATE 

Declaration of Intention 

Between the State of Florida and the Republic of France 

On the shipwrecks of Jean Ribault's fleet 

CONSULAT GENERAL 

DE FRANCE 

A MIAMI 

Recalling that the French expeditions to Florida led by Jean Ribault, captain of the flagship Trinite, are among 

the first episodes of the European presence in North America, and that studying them has therefore a major 

historical relevance, 

Committed to the preservation and conservation of the vestiges of the Trinite discovered off the coast of 

Cape Canaveral, in order to transmit to future generations historical testimonies of this exploration of 

Florida by Jean Ribault, 

Considering that the history of that period is already presented to the public on various locations in northern 

Florida, 

Recalling the decision by the United States District Court, Orlando Division, on June 29, 2018, that became 

final on July 31, 2018, in which the Court determined that the vestiges of the Trinite, wreck from a State 

military fleet, is the sovereign and imprescriptible property of the Republic of France, and authorized the 

Republic of France and those acting on its behalf to begin recovery operations, 

Willing, to this end, to establish a cooperation concerning research on, and protection and presentation of 

the shipwreck of the Trinite, 

The signatories declare their intention to: 

1/ Pursue the following common objectives: 

a) Protect the archeological site off the coast of Cape Canaveral, State of Florida, where the shipwreck of 

the Trinite and of other vessels from its fleet are located, particularly in consideration of its historical 

relevance and to prevent any form of plundering of the cultural and historical heritage present on the site; 

b) Recover this historical and cultural heritage and present those discoveries to the general public in Florida, 

for example through temporary or permanent exhibitions or through publications; 

c) Promote the common history of the United States and France in Florida; 

2/ Cooperate through the following modalities: 

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a) Consulting throughout the process of study and preservation of the vestiges of the Trinite, which will 

include in particular the study and recovery of the shipwreck of the Trinite and of the other shipwrecks from 

its fleet and the related activities aiming to identify, preserve and commemorate this heritage. 

b) Establishing a steering committee associating the State of Florida and the Republic of France. 

France will be represented by: 

- its ambassador in Washington or his/her representative; 

the consul general of France in Miami; 

- and the representatives of other relevant national administrations as appropriate — in particular the 

Underwater Archeological Research Department (DRASSM) of the French ministry of Culture. 

The State of Florida will be represented by its Secretary of State or his/her representative. 

Representatives from the relevant American federal departments may also be associated as appropriate. 

c) Identifying, evaluating, mobilizing and overseeing public and/or private resources and organizations 

which will enable the fulfillment of the above-mentioned common objectives. 

Made in Tallahassee, on December 13, 2018, in two original copies, in English and French. 

For the State of Florida For the Republic of rance 

L

G------------

Kenneth W. Detzn r Clement Leclerc 

Secretary of State Consul general in Miami 

Case 4:20-cv-00181-AW-MJF Document 3-2 Filed 04/17/20 Page 2 of 4
Lib errs • Eguliie • Fraterniti 

REPUBLIQUE FRANcAISE 

CONSULATGENERAL 

DE PRANCE 

A MIAMI 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT Of STATE 

Declaration d'Intention 

entre la Republique francaise et l'Etat de Floride 

relative aux epaves de la flotte de Jean Ribault 

Rappelant que les expeditions francaises en Floride emmenees par Jean Ribault, Capitaine du navire 

amiral la Trinitth, constituent l'un des premiers episodes de la presence europeenne en Amerique du 

Nord, et qu'a ce titre leur etude revet un grand inter'et historique, 

Attaches a la preservation eta la conservation des vestiges de la Trinite decouverts au large de Cap 

Canaveral, afin de transmettre aux generations futures des temoignages historiques de cette 

exploration de la Floride par Jean Ribault, 

Considerant que l'histoire de cette periode est d'ores et déjà presentee au public sur plusieurs sites du 

nord de la Floride, 

Rappelant la decision rendue par la Cour d'Orlando (US district Court, Orlando Division) le 29 juin 2018, 

devenue definitive le 31 juillet 2018, reconnaissant que les vestiges de la Trinite, epave d'une flotte 

milita ire d'Etat, est la propriete souveraine et imprescriptible de la France, et donnant autorisation a la 

France et a ceux qui agiront pour son compte de commencer les operations de recuperation, 

Souhaitant, dans ce but, mener une cooperation en matiere de recherche, de protection et de mise en 

valeur de repave de la Trinite, 

Les signataires declarent leur intention de : 

1/ Poursuivre les objectify communs suivants: 

a) Proteger le site archeologique situe au large de Cap Canaveral, Etat de Floride, au sein duquel se 

trouvent les vestiges de la Trinite, et d'autres navires de sa flotte, notamment au regard de son inter& 

historique et aux fins d'empecher toute forme de pillage des ressources patrimoniales, culturelles et 

historiques presentes ; 

b) Valoriser ce patrimoine historique et culture! commun et presenter au grand public en Floride ces 

decouvertes, par exemple par ('organisation d'expositions temporaires ou permanentes ou de 

publications ; 

c) Mettre en valeur l'histoire commune de la France et des Etats-Unis en Floride ; 

2/ Cooperer selon les modalites suivantes : 

a) Se concerter tout au long du processus d'etude et de conservation des vestiges de la Trinite, 

comprenant notamment ('etude et la mise en valeur des vestiges de la Trinite et des autres epaves de 

sa flotte et les activites connexes visant a identifier, preserver et commemorer ce patrimoine. 

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b) Etablir un comite de pilotage associant la France et l'Etat de Floride. 

La France sera represent& par : 

- l'ambassadeur a Washington ou son representant ; 

- le consul general de France a Miami ; 

ainsi que les representants des autres administrations nationales concernees en tant que de 

besoin — en particulier le Departement des recherches archeologiques subaquatiques et sousmarines (DRASSM), service a competence nationale du ministere frangais de la Culture. 

L'Etat de Floride sera represents par le Secretaire d'Etat ou son representant. 

Des representants des administrations federales americaines concernees pourront egalement etre 

associes en tant que de besoin. 

c) Recenser, evaluer, mobiliser et superviser les ressources et les organismes publics et/ou prives qui 

permettront la realisation des objectifs communs decrits ci-dessus. 

Fait a Tallahassee, le 13 decembre 2018, en deux exemplaires originaux, en langue frangaise et anglaise. 

Pour la Republique fra aise : 

Clement Leclerc 

Consul general de France a Miami 

Pour l'Etat de Floride : 

A-ffYt-\-

Kenneth W. Detzner 

Secretaire d'Etat 

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