UNITED STATES.
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CHINA
SIGNED, IN THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE LANGUAGES, AT TIENTSIN,
18TH JUNE, 1858
Ratifications exchanged at Pehtang, 16th August, 1859
The United States of America and the Ta-Tsing Empire desiring to maintain firm, lasting, and sincere fri ·ul-hip, have resolved to renew, in a manner clear ind positive, by means of a Treaty or general Cɔ vntion of peace, a nity, al connerce, the rules which shall in future be mutually observel in the intercours of their respective countries; for which most desirable object the Presi lent of the Uitel State and the August Swereign of the Ta-Ts ng Enpire have na ned for their Plenipotentiaries, to wit: the President of the Untel Sites of America, William B. Reed, Eavoy Extra rlinary and Miniser Plenipotentiary to China; and His Majesty the Emperor of China, Kvailiang, a member f h Privy Council and Superinten lent of the Board of Punishments, and Hwa hana, President of the Board of Civil Ofice and Major-General of the Border d Blue Bann r Divis on of the Chinese Bannermen, both of them being Im erial Commisoars an1 Plenipot ntia- ries: And the said Ministers, in virtue of the respective full powers they have received from their governments, have agr-el upon th following articles :-
Art. I.-There shall be, as there has always been, peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Ta-l'sing Empire, and bet veen their people respectively. They shall not insult or of press each other for a y trifling cause, 80 as to produce an estrangement between them; and if any other nation should act unjustly or oppressively, the United States will exert their good offices, n being informed of the case, to bring about an amicable arrangement of the question, thus showing their friendly feelings.
Art. II. In order to perpetuate friend-hip, on th exchange f ratifications by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate of the United States, and by His Majesty the Emperor of China, this Tr aty sha 1 be kept and sacredly guarded in this way, viz.: The original Treaty, as rat fiel by the President of the Unitel States, shall be deposited at Pekin, the capital of His Majesty t e Emperor of China, in charge of the Privy Council; and, as ratified by His Majesty he Emperor of China, shall be deposited at Washington, the capital of the United States, in charge of the Secretary of State.
Art. III. In order that the people of the two countries may know and obey the provisions of this Treaty, the United States of America agree, immediat ly on the exchange of ratifications, to proclaim the same and publish it be proclamation in the Gazettes where the laws of the United States of America are pub'i hel by authority; and His Majesty the Emperor of China, on the exchange of ratifications, agrees immediately to direct the publication of the same at the capital and by the Governors of all the provinces.
Art. ÏV.—In order further to perpetuate friendship, the Minister or Commis- sioner, or the highest diplomatic representative of the United States of America in China, shall at all times have the right to correspond on terms of perfect equality and confidence with the officers of the Privy Council at the capital, or with the Governor- General of the Two Kwang, of Fohkien and Chekiang, or of the Two Kiang; and whenever he desires to have such correspondence with the Privy Council at the capital he shall have the right to send it through either of the said Gover ors-General, or by general post; and all such communications shall be most carefully respected. The Privy Council and Governors-General, as the case may be, shall in all cases consider and acknowledge such communications promptly and respectfully.
Art. V.-The Minister of the United States of America in China, whenever he has business, shall have the right to visit and sojourn at the capital of His Majesty the