TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 03-331

________________________________________________________________________

MARITIME MATTERS

Agreement between the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and FRANCE

Agreement Signed at Washington March 31, 2003

 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
FRANCE

Maritime Matters

Agreement signed at Washington March 31, 2003;

Entered into force March 31, 2003. 

 
AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

REGARDING THE WRECK OF LA BELLE

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French

Republic (hereinafter, "the Parties"),

Considering that the vessel La Belle, which had been provided to Cavelier de La Salle, by

the King of France in 1684 to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River, sank in

1686 in what is now Matagorda Bay, in the State of Texas of the United States of America;

Recognizing that the Texas Historical Commission, an agency of the State of Texas

(hereinafter, "the Commission"), located the remains of La Belle in July 1995 and that the

State of Texas is currently in possession of the hull of La Belle and its associated artifacts

(herein, "the wreck of La Belle");

Recognizing also the historical and archaeological importance of the wreck of La Belle,

the site of the sinking, and the related documentation;

Desiring to preserve and conserve the remains of the wreck of La Belle, and excavation

records as well as the site of the sinking in order to transmit to future generations the

historical evidence of the exploratory mission of Cavelier de La Salle in what is now Texas;

Considering further that, to this end, cooperation in the field of research, preservation and

display of the wreck of La Belle, in particular through the organization of exhibitions

throughout the world, is necessary and that this can not be possible without a prior agreement

on ownership of the wreck of La Belle, its use and any other legal issues of this nature;

Have agreed as follows:
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Article 1

1. At the time of its sinking, La Belle was an auxiliary vessel of the French Navy.

2. The French Republic has not abandoned or transferred title of the wreck of La Belle

and continues to retain title to the wreck of La Belle.

Article 2

1. The French Republic does not desire the return of the wreck of La Belle to its territory.

2. The wreck of La Belle shall remain in the custody of the Commission for a period of

ninety-nine years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, which period shall be

automatically renewed unless the Parties agree otherwise.

3. Artifacts may be placed on temporary loan for public exhibition as agreed between the

parties to the administrative arrangement referred to in Article 3.

4. Artifacts in the custody of the Commission shall not be subject to seizure.

Article 3

1. The Musa national de la Marine, a public agency under the authority of the French

Ministry of Defense, and the Commission shall negotiate and conclude, consistent with this

Agreement, an administrative arrangement relating to the curation (including the security,

storage, preservation and conservation), research, documentation, and exhibition of the wreck

of La Belle.

2. The arrangement shall also provide for a regime applicable to publications relating to

the wreck of La Belle.

3. Treatment and burial of human remains from La Salle's exploratory mission to Texas

shall be as agreed between the Ambassador of France to the United States or his designee and

the Commission.

Article 4

All activities and commitments undertaken under this Agreement by the Parties and any

administrative arrangement entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall be contingent upon

the availability of funds.

Article 5

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on signature and shall be of unlimited duration.

2. The Agreement may be terminated only by mutual agreement of the Parties.

DONE at Washington, D.C., on the thirty-first day of March, 2003, in duplicate, in'the

English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: FRENCH REPUBLIC:

4a-ILAA-L7
ACCORD

ENTRE

LE GOUVERNEMENT DES ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE

ET

LE GOUVERNEMENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE

CONCERNANT L'EPAVE DE "LA BELLE"

Le Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d'Amerique et le Gouvernement de la Republique

francaise (ci-aprês denommes "les Parties"),

Considerant que le navire "La Belle" qui avait ete confie a Cavelier de La Salle par le Roi

de France, en 1684, afin d'etablir une colonie a l'embouchure du Mississippi, a coule en 1686

dans l'actuelle baie de Matagorda, Etat du Texas, Etats-Unis d'Amerique,

Reconnaissant le fait que la Texas Historical Commission qui est une administration de

l'Etat du Texas (ci-apres denommee "la Commission") a repere les vestiges de "La Belle" en

juillet 1995 et que l'Etat du Texas est actuellement en possession de la coque de "La Belle" et

des objets qui en proviennent (ci-apres designs "1' epave de "La Belle" "),

Reconnaissant egalement l'importance historique et archeologique de repave de "La

Belle", du site du naufrage et de la documentation y afferente,

Desireux de preserver et de conserver les vestiges de "La Belle", les documents lies aux

fouilles, ainsi que le site du naufrage afin de transmettre aux generations futures des

temoignages historiques de cette exploration de Cavelier de La Salle dans ce qui est devenu le

Texas,

Considerant en outre que dans ce but, une cooperation en matiere de recherche, de

protection et de mise en valeur de repave de "La Belle", notamment par l'organisation

d'expositions de par le monde, est necessaire, et que celle-ci ne peut etre mise en oeuvre sans

un accord prealable sur la propriate de repave de "La Belle", son usage et toutes autres

questions juridiques de cette nature,

Sont convenus des dispositions suivantes:
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Article 1

1. Lors de son naufrage, "La Belle" etait un navire auxiliaire de la Marine francaise.

2. La Republique francaise n'a ni abandonne ni transfere son droit de propriete sur

repave de "La Belle" et exerce toujours les memes droits sur ladite epave.

Article 2

1. La Republique francaise ne souhaite pas le retour sur son territoire de l'epave de "La

Belle".

2. L'epave de "La Belle" restera sous la garde de la Commission pendant une periode de

quatre-vingt-dix-neuf ans a compter de Pentree en vigueur du present Accord; ladite periode

sera reconduite automatiquement sauf accord contraire entre les Parties.

3. Les objets provenant de l'epave peuvent faire l'objet d'un prét temporaire pour

exposition publique selon les modalites convenues par les Parties a l'arrangement

administratif vise a Part 3.

4. Les objets sous la garde de la Commission ne peuvent faire l'objet d'une saisie.

Article 3

1. Le Musee national de la Marine, etablissement public sous tutelle du ministêre

francais de la Defense, et la Commission negocient et concluent, conformement au present

Accord, un arrangement administratif portant sur la conservation (y compris la securite, le

conditionnement, la sauvegarde et la preservation), la recherche, la documentation et

l'exposition de repave de "La Belle".

2. L'arrangement prevoit egalement un regime applicable aux publications ayant trait a

l'epave de "La Belle".

3. L'Ambassadeur de France aux Etats-Unis ou son representant, et la Commission se

mettront d'accord sur le traitement et l'inhumation des restes humains de l'exploration de

La Salle au Texas.

Article 4

Toutes les activites entreprises et tous les engagements souscrits par les Parties dans le

cadre du present Accord, ainsi que tout arrangement administratif conclu en vertu de celui-ci,

seront executes dans la limite de leurs disponibilites budgetaires respectives.

Article 5

1. Le present Accord entrera en vigueur a la date de sa signature et le restera pour une

duree illimitee.

2. Le present Accord ne pourra étre &nonce que par accord mutuel entre les Parties.

FAIT a Washington le 31 mars 2003, en double exemplaire en langues anglaise et francaise,

les deux textes faisant egalement foi.

Pour le Gouvernement Pour le Gouvernement

des Etats-Unis d'Amerique: de la Republique francaise:

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