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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15TH OCTOBER, 1892.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 413. The following Circular Despatch, with its enclosures, is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th October, 1892.
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
CIRCULAR.
DOWNING STREET,
29th August, 1892.
SIR,-I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the Colony under your government, a copy of a Treaty between the Governments of Great Britain and the United States of America relative to Merchant Seamen Deserters, signed at Washington on the 3rd of June, and of which the ratifications were exchanged at Washington on 1st August last, together with a copy of an Order of the Queen in Council, dated the 18th of August, extending the provisions of the Foreign Deserters Act, 1852, to the United States.
I have the honour to be,
The Officer Administering the Government of
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
RIPON.
HONGKONG.
TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES RESPECTING MERCHANT SEAMEN DESERTERS.
Signed at Washington, June 3, 1892.
[Ratifications exchanged at Washington, August 1, 1892.]
WHEREAS the Governments of Great Britain and the United States of America are desirous to make provision for the apprehension, recovery, and restoration of persons who may desert from merchant- vessels of their respective countries while in the ports of the other country, and to conclude a Treaty for the above purpose, the High Contracting Parties have accordingly appointed as their Plenipotentiaries to conclude the said Treaty, that is to say:
Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Sir Julian Pauncefote, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States; and
The President of the United States of America, James G. Blaine, Secretary of State of the United States;
Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers found in due and good form, have agreed upon the following Articles :-
ARTICLE I.
The Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents of either of the High Contract- ing Parties, residing in the dominions, possessions, or Colonies of the other, shall have power to require from the proper authorities the assistance provided by law for the apprehension, recovery, and restoration of seamen who may desert from any ship belonging to a subject or citizen of their respective countries while in the ports of the other country. If, however, any such deserter shall have committed any crime or offence in the country where he is found, his surrender or restoration may be delayed until the proper Tribunal before which the case shall be pending, or may be cognizable, shall have pronounced its sentence, and the sentence shall have been carried into effect.
It is understood that the preceding stipulations shall not apply to the subjects or citizens of the country where the desertion shall take place.
ARTICLE II.
The present Treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at London or at Washington without delay.