HC Deb 09 June 1815 vol 31 cc712-3
Lord Castlereagh

presented, by command of the Prince Regent, a Copy of the following

CONVENTION between his Britannic Majesty and the King of Sweden, signed at London the 13th August, 1814.

In the name of the most Holy and Undivided Trinity,

His Swedish Majesty, by Article 9 of the Treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th of May last, having consented in virtue of arrangements stipulated with the Allies, that the Island of Guadaloupe should be restored to his Most Christian Majesty, and it being understood and agreed that in consideration of the incorporation of the Belgic provinces with Holland, as provided for in the Treaty of Paris, Holland should be liable to furnish, out of the colonies now in possession of his Britannic Majesty, the compensation to which his Swedish Majesty is entitled for the rights ceded as aforesaid; and whereas it has been deemed more expedient by his Swedish Majesty, and by the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands, that in the event of such incorporation taking place as aforesaid, the compensation to be furnished by Holland, should be made in money; and his Swedish Majesty having agreed to accept the sum of 24 millions of livres in full satisfaction of his said rights: and his Britannic Majesty, as the friend and ally of both Powers, being willing to become answerable to his Swedish Majesty for the due and punctual discharge of the said compensation, their said Majesties have resolved to enter into engagements accordingly, and have for this purpose nominated as their Plenipotentiaries, namely, his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the right honourable Robert Stewart, viscount Castlereagh, one of his said Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, Member of Parliament, Colonel of the Londonderry regiment of Militia, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and his principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c.; and his Majesty the King of Sweden, the Sieur Gotthard Maurice de Rehausen, his Envoy Extraordinary, and Minister Plenipotentiary to his Britannic Majesty, Colonel in his Armies, Commander of his Order of the Polar Star, and Knight of the Order of the Sword; who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed to the following Articles:—

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty agrees to pay, and his Swedish Majesty to accent the sum of 24 millions of livres, in full discharge and satisfaction of his claims under Article 9 of the Treaty of Paris. The said sum to be payable in London to his Swedish Majesty's minister, according to the rate of exchange between London and Paris at each time of payment, in twelve equal monthly instalments: the first monthly instalment to become due and payable by his Britannic Majesty one month after the ratification of the Treaty, by which the said Belgic provinces shall be incorporated with Holland as aforesaid.

Art. 2. It is agreed and understood, that the above arrangement being contingent upon the due execution of the engagements contained in the Treaty of Paris, his Swedish Majesty's rights to compensation from his Britannic Majesty and his Allies, shall not be prejudiced by any failure or non-fulfilment of the engagements in question, but shall continue in full force and effect, unless otherwise satisfied, as if this Convention had not been made.

The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratification shall be exchanged at London within one month from the date hereof, or sooner, if possible.

In witness whereof, we, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, in virtue of our respective full powers, have signed the present Convention, and have affixed thereto the seals of our arms.

Done at London, this 13th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1814.