Year: 1875

Whereas a general convention of friendship
commerce, and extradition between the United
States of America and the Orange Free State was
concluded and signed by their respective plenipo-
tentiaries, at BloemfOnten, on the twenty-second
day of December, one thousand eight hundred aud
seventy-onc, which general convention is word for
word as follows:


GENERAL CONVENTION OF FRIENDSHIP, COMMERCE,
AND ExTRADITIoN BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA AND THE ORANGE FREE STATE.
The United States of America and the Orange
Free State equally animated by the desire TO draw
more closely the bonds of friendship which so hap
PLY exist between the two republics, well as to
augment, by all the means at their disposal, the
commercial intercourse of their respective citizens,
have mutually resolved to conclude general con-
yention of friendship, commerce, and eXtradition.
FoT this purpose they have appointed as their
plenipotentiaries, tO-wit: The President of the
United States, Willard w. Edgcomb. special agent
of the United States, and their consul the Cape
of Good Hope, and the President of the Orange
Free State, Friedrich kaufman Hohne, gov. secty,
who after communication of their respective full
powers, have agreed to the following articles:


ARTICLE l.


The citizens of the United States of America
and the citizens of the Orange Free State shall be
admitted and treated upon a footing of reciprocal
equality in the two countries where such admission
and treatment shall not conflict with the consttu-
tional legal provisions of the contracting par
ties. No pecuniary other more burdensome
condition shall be imposed upon them than upon
the citizens of the country where they reside nor
any condition whatever to which the latter shall
not be subject.


The foregoing privileges, however, shall not ex-
tend to the enjoyment of political rights.


ARTICLE ii.


The citizens of one of the two countries residing
or established in the other shall be free from per
sona military service; but they shall be liable to
the pecuniary or other contributions which may be
required by way of compensation, from citizens of
the country where they reside, who are exempt
from the said service.





exacted from the citizens OF one of the two conn
tries residing established in the other than shall
be levied upon citizens of the country in which
they reside, nor any contribution whatever to which
the latter shall not be liable.


In case of war or of the seizure or occupation of
property for public purposes, the citizens of of
the two countries residing or established in the
other shall be placed upon an equal footing with
the citizens of the country in which they reside
with respect to indemnities for damages they may
have sustained.


ARTICLE III.


The citizens of each one of the contracting par
ties shall have power to dispose of their personal
property within the jurisdiction of the other, by
sale, testament, donation, in any other manner,
and their heirs, whether by testament alb intes-
tato, their successors being citizens of the other
party shall succeed to the said property inherit
it, and they may take possession thereof, either by
themselves or by others acting for them; they may
dispose of the same they may think proper, pay
ing no other charges than those to which the in
habitants of the country wherein the said property
is situated shall be liable to pay in similar case
In the absence of such heir, heirs or other success
ors the same shall be taken by the authorities
for the preservation of the property that would be
taken for the preservation of the property of ma
tive OF the same country, until the lawful proprietor
shall have had time to take measures for possessing
| himself of the same.


But IN case real estate situated within the terri
tories of of the contracting parties should fal
to citizen of the other party, who, on account o
his being alien, could not be permitted to holC
such property, there shall be accorded to the saiC
heir or other successor such term the laws viii
permit TO sell such property he shall be at libert!
! at all times to withdraw and export the proceeds
thereof without difficulty. and without paying Il
the government any other charges than thos
which, in q similar case, would be paid by an in
habitant of the country In which the real estat
may be situated.


ARTICLE ".


ANY controversary which may arise among tn
claimants TO the property of decedent shall be de
cded according to the laws and by the judges of tn
country in which the property may be situated
| ARTICLE V.


The contracting parties give to each other tn
privilege of having, each in their res>cve States
consuls and vice-consuls of their own appoint
ment, who shall enjoy the same privileges as thos
of the most favored nation.


But before any consul or yice-consul shall act a
such, he shall, in the ordinary form, be approves
bv the government of the country in which hi
functions are to be discharged.


In their private and business transactions, con
suls and vice-cousus shall be submitted to the sam
laws and usages private individuals, citizens o
! the place in which they reside.


II is hereby understood that in case of ohens
apainst the laws by consul or vice-consul
the government from which The receivedl his exc
ouatur may withdraw the same, send him ava
from the country, or have him punished in con
formity with the laws, assigning to the other gov
ernment its reason for so doing.


The archives and papers belonging to the con
suates shall be inviolate, and under no prete1
whatever shall any magistrate or other iunctlonar
inspect, seize, or in any way interfere with them


ARTICLE VI.


Neither of the contracting parties shall impos
anv higher or other duties upon the importation
exportatlon or transit of the natural or indust-S