Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 155

TREATY BETWEEN PRUSSIA AND CHINA

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until they have procured new ones, or to convey them to the next Consulate, but they shall not be permitted to subject them to ill-usage or allow them to be ill-used.

It is, however, distinctly understood that no passport may be given to places at present occupied by the rebels until peace has been restored.

Art. IX. The subjects of the contracting German States shall be permitted to engage compradores, interpreters, writers, workmen, sailors, and servants from any part of China, upon a remuneration agreed to by both parties, as also to hire boats for the transport of persons and merchandise. They shall also be permitted to engage Chinese for acquiring the Chinese language or dialects, or to instruct them in foreign languages. There shall be no restriction in the purchasing of German or Chinese books. Art. X.-Persons professing or teaching the Christian religion shall enjoy full protection of their persons and property, and be allowed free exercise of their religion.

Art. XI.-Any merchant-vessel of any of the contracting German States arriving at any of the open ports shall be at liberty to engage the services of a pilot to take her to port. In like manner, after she has discharged all legal dues and duties, and is ready to take her departure, she shall be permitted to select a pilot to conduct her out of port.

Art. XII. Whenever a vessel belonging to any of the contracting German States has entered a harbour, the Superintendent of Customs may, if he see fit, depute one or more Customs officers to guard the ship, and to see that no merchandise is smuggled. These officers shall live in a boat of their own, or stay on board the ship, as may best suit their convenience. Their salaries, food, and expenses shall be defrayed by the Chinese Customs authorities, and they shall not be entitled to any fees whatever from the master or consignee. Every violation of this regulation shall be punished proportionally to the amount exacted, which shall be returned in full.

Art. XIII.-Within twenty-four hours after the arrival of the ship, the master, unless he be prevented by lawful causes, or in his stead the supercargo or the consignee, shall lodge in the hands of the Consul the ship's papers and copy of the manifest.

Within a further period of twenty-four hours the Consul will report to the Superintendent of Customs the name of the ship, the number of the crew, her registered tonnage, and the nature of the cargo.

If owing to neglect on the part of the master the above rule be not complied with within forty-eight hours after the ship's arrival he shall be liable to fine of fifty Dollars for every day's delay; the total amount of penalty, however, shall rot exceed two hundred Dollars.

Immediately after the receipt of the report, the Superintendent of Customs shall issue a permit to open hatches.

If the master shall open hatches and begin to discharge the cargo without said permit, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and the goods so discharged without permit shall be liable to confiscation.

Art. XIV. Whenever a merchant, a subject of any of the contracting Germany States, has cargo to land or ship, he must apply to the Superintendent of Customs for a special permit. Merchandise landed or shipped without such permit shall be subject to forfeiture.

Art. XV. The subjects of the contracting German States shall pay duties on all goods imported or exported by them at the ports open to foreign trade according to the tariff appended to this Treaty; but in no case shall they be taxed with higher duties than, at present or in future, subjects of the most favoured nations are liable to. The commercial stipulations appended to this Treaty shall constitute an integral part of the same, and shall therefore be considered binding upon both the high con- tracting parties.

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Art. XVI. With respect to articles subject to an ad valorem duty, if the Gerinan merchant cannot agree with the Chinese officers as to their value, then each party shall call in two or three merchants to examine and appraise the goods, and the highest price at which any of these merchants may declare himself willing to purchase them shall be assumed as the value of the goods.

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