Directory_and_Chronicle_1875 — Page 657

214

TREATY BETWEEN THE GERMAN STATES AND SIAM.

Consul, he shall in conjunction with the Siamese authorities arrange such suitable conditions and terms as shall admit of the mines being worked. German subjects shall likewise be permitted to engage in and carry on in Siam any description of manufacture not contrary to law, upon like reasonable terms arranged between the German and the Siamese authorities.

Art. IX.-When a subject of one of the Contracting German States, residing permanently or temporarily in the Kingdom of Siam, has any cause of complaint or any claim against a Siamese, he shall first submit his grievance to the German Consular Officer, who, after having examined the affair, shall endeavour to settle it amicably. In the same manner when a Siamese shall have a complaint to make against any German subject, the Consular Officer shall listen to his complaint, but if in such case this proves impossible, the Consular Officer shall apply to the competent Siamese functionary, and having conjointly examined the affair, they shall decide thereon according to equity.

Art. X.-Îf a crime or an offence be committed in Siam, and the offender be a subject of any of the Contracting German States, he shall be punished by the Consular Officer in conformity to the respective German laws; or be sent to Germany for punishment. If the offender be a Siamese, he shall be punished by the Siamese authorities according to the laws of the country.

Art, XI.--Should any act of piracy be committed on vessels belonging to any of the Contracting German States on the coast or in the vicinity of the Kingdom of Siam, the authorities of the nearest place, on being informed of the same, shall use all means in their power towards the capture of the pirates, and the recovery of the stolen property, which shall be delivered to the Consular Officer, to be restored by him to the owners. The same course shall be followed by the Siamese authorities in all acts of pillage or robbery directed against the property of German subjects on shore. The Siamese Government shall not be held responsible for property stolen from German subjects, as soon as it is proved that it has employed all means in its power for the recovery of the same; and this principle shall equally hold good with regard to Siamese subjects living under the protection of any of the Contracting German States, and to their property.

Art. XII.-On the German Consular Officer sending a written application to the Siamese authorities, he shall receive from them every aid and support in detecting or arresting German sailors or other subjects, or any individual under the protection of a German flag. The German Consular Officer shall also, at his request, receive from the Siamese authorities every necessary assistance, and a sufficient force to give due effect to his authority over German subjects, and to keep up discipline among German shipping in Siam. In like manner, whenever a Siamese, guilty of desertion or any other crime, should take refuge in the house of a subject of any of the Contracting German States, or on board of German vessels, the local authorities shall address themselves to the German Consular Officer, who, on proof of the culpability of the accused, shall immediately authorise his arrest. All concealment and connivance shall be carefully avoideded by both parties.

Art. XIII.-Should a subject of any of the Contracting German States, engaged in business in the Kingdom of Siam, become bankrupt, the German Consular Officer shall take possession of all his goods, in order to distribute them proportionately among the creditors, for which end he shall receive every aid from the Siamese authorities; he shall also neglect no means to seize, on behalf of the creditors, all the goods which the said bankrupt may possess in other countries. In like manner in Siam, the authorities of the Kingdom shall adjudicate and distribute the effects of Siamese subjects who may become insolvent in their commercial transactions with subjects of the Contracting German States.

Art. XIV. Should a Siamese subject refuse or evade the payment of a debt to a German subject, the Siamese authorities shall afford the creditor every aid and facility for recovering what is due to him. In like manner the German Consular Officer shall give every assistance to Siamese subjects to recover the debts which may be due to them by subjects of the Contracting German States.