TREATY BETWEEN PRUSSIA AND CHINA.
239
Art. XXXII.—If sailors or other individuals of ships-of-war or merchant vessels belonging to any of the contracting German States desert their ships and take refuge in the dominions of the Emperor of China, the Chinese authorities shall, upon que requisition by the Consular Officer, or by the captain, take the necessary steps for the detention of the deserter, and hand him over to the Consular Officer or to the captain. In like manner, if Chinese deserters or criminals take refuge in the houses or on board ships belonging to subjects of the contracting German States, the local Chinese authorities shall apply to the German Consular Officer, who will take the necessary measures for apprehending the said deserter or criminal, and deliver him up to the Chinese authorities.
Art. XXXIII.-If any vessel belonging to any of the contracting German States, while within Chinese waters, he plundered by pirates, it shall be the duty of the Chinese authorities to use every means to capture and punish the said pirates, to recover the stolen property where and in whatever condition it may be, and to hand the same over to the Consul for restoration to the owner. If the robbers or pirates annot be apprehended, or the property taken cannot be entirely recovered, the Chinese authorities shall then be punished in accordance with the Chinese law, but they shall not be held pecuniarily responsible.
Art. XXXIV.—If subjects of any of the contracting German States have any occasion to address a communication to the Chinese authorities, they must submit the same to their Consular Officer, to determine if the matter be just, and the lan- guage be proper and respectful, in which event he shall transmit the same to the proper authorities, or return the same for alterations. If Chinese subjects have occasion to address a Consul of one of the contracting German States, they must adopt the same course, and submit their communication to the Chinese authorities, who will act in like manner.
Art. XXXV.-Any subject of any of the contracting German States having reason to complain of a Chinese, must first proceed to the Consular Officer and state his grievance. The Consular Officer, having inquired into the merits of the case, will endeavour to arrange it amicably. In like manner, if a Chinese have reason to complain of a subject of any of the contracting German States, the Consular Officer shall listen to his complaint and endeavour to bring about a friendly settlement. If the dispute, however, is of such a nature that the Consul cannot settle the same amicably, he shall then request the assistance of the Chinese authorities, that they may conjointly examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably.
Art. XXXVI.-The Chinese authorities shall at all times afford the fullest protection to the subjects of the contracting German States, especially when they are exposed to insult or violence. In all cases of incendiarism, robbery, or demolition, the local authorities shall at once dispatch an armed force to disperse the mob, to apprehend the guilty, and to punish them with the rigour of the law. Those robbed or whose property has been demolished shall have a claim upon the despoilers of their property for indemnification, proportioned to the injury sustained.
Art. XXXVII.—Whenever a subject of His Majesty the Emperor of China fails to discharge the debts due to a subject of one of the contracting German States, or fraudulently absconds, the Chinese authorities, upon application by the creditor, will do their utmost to effect his arrest and to enforce payment of the debt. In like manner the authorities of the contracting German States shall do their utmost to enforce the payment of debts of their subjects towards Chinese subjects, and to bring to justice any who fraudulently abscond. But in no case shall either the Chinese Government or the Government of the contracting German States be held responsible for the debts incurred by their respective subjects.
Art. XXXVIII.—Any subject of His Majesty the Emperor of China, having committed a crime against a subject of one of the contracting German States, shall be apprehended by the Chinese authorities and punished according to the laws of China. In like manner, if a subject of the contracting German States is guilty of a crime against a subject of Bis Majesty the Emperor of China, the Consular Officer shall arrest him and punish him according to the laws of the State to which he belongs,
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