Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/130

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CHINA. 1844.
123

officers for punishment. And if criminals, subjects of China, take refuge in the houses or on board the vessels of citizens of the United States, they shall not be Chinese criminals. harbored or concealed, but shall be delivered up to justice, on due requisition by the Chinese local officers addressed to those of the United States.

Merchants, &c., of United States. The merchants, seamen, and other citizens of the United States, shall be under the superintendence of the appropriate officers of their Government. If individuals of either nation commit acts of violence and disorder, use arms to the injury of others, or create disturbances endangering life, the officers of the two Governments will exert themselves to enforce order, and to maintain the public peace, by doing impartial justice in the premises.

ARTICLE XXX.

Coorespondence between the two Governments. The superior authorities of the United States and China in corresponding together shall do so in terms of equality and in the form of mutual communication, (chau-hwui.) The Consuls, and the local officers, civil and military, in corresponding together, shall likewise employ the style and form of mutual communication, (chau-hwui.) When inferior officers of the one Government address superior officers of the other, they shall do so in the style and form of memorial, (chin-chin.) Private individuals, in addressing superior officers, shall employ the style of petition, (pin-ching.) In no case shall any terms or style be suffered which shall be offensive or disrespectful to either party. Presents not to be demanded. And it is agreed that no presents, under any pretext or form whatever, shall ever be demanded of the United States by China, or of China by the United States.

ARTICLE XXXI.

Transmission of communications. Communications from the Government of the United States to the Court of China shall be transmitted through the medium of the Imperial Commissioner charged with the superintendence of the concerns of foreign nations with China, or through the Governor-General of the Liang Kwang, that of Min and Cheh, or that of the Liang Kiang.

ARTICLE XXXII.

Intercourse with ships of war. Whenever ships of war of the United States in cruising for the protection of the commerce of their country shall arrive at any of the ports of China, the commanders of said ships and the superior local authorities of Government shall hold intercourse together in terms of equality and courtesy in token of the friendly relations of their respective nations. And the said ships of war shall enjoy all suitable facilities on the part of the Chinese Government in the purchase of provisions, procuring water, and making repairs, if occasion require.

ARTICLE XXXIII.

Clandestine trade. Citizens of the United States, who shall attempt to trade clandestinely with such of the ports of China as are not open to foreign commerce, or who shall trade in opium or any other contraband article of merchandise, shall be subject to be dealt with by the Chinese Government, without being entitled to any countenance or protection from that of the United States; and the United States will take measures to prevent their flag from being abused by the subjects of other nations as a cover for the violation of the laws of the Empire.

ARTICLE XXXIV.

Future treaties.

When the present convention shall have been definitively concluded, it shall be obligatory on both powers, and its provisions shall not be