HC Deb 06 February 1826 vol 14 cc120-4

The following Convention was laid on the table:—

CONVENTION OF COMMERCE between his Majesty and the Most Christian King, together with two Additional Articles thereunto annexed. Signed at London, January 26th, 1826.

In the name of the Most Holy Trinity.—His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on the one part, and His Majesty the King of France and Navarre on the other part, being equally animated by the desire of facilitating the commercial intercourse between their respective subjects, and being persuaded that nothing can more contribute to the fulfilment of their mutual wishes in this respect, than to simplify and equalize the regulations which are now in force relative to the navigation of both kingdoms, by the reciprocal abrogation of all discriminating duties levied upon the vessels of either of the two nations in the ports of the other, whether under the head of duties of tonnage, harbours, lighthouse, pilotage, and others of the same description; or in the shape of increased duties upon goods on account of their being imported or exported in other than national vessels; have named as their plenipotentiaries to conclude a convention for this purpose—that is to say:—

His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Right Hon. George Canning, a Member of his said Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, and his said Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Right Hon. William Huskisson, a Member of His said Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, President of the Committee of Privy Council for Affairs of Trade and Foreign Plantations, and Treasurer of His said Majesty's Navy:

And His Majesty the King of France and Navarre, the Prince Jules, Count de Polignac, a Peer of France, Marechal de-Camp of His Most Christian Majesty's Forces, Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Officer of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour, Grand Cross of the Order of St. Maurice of Sardinia, Aide-de-Camp of His Most Christian Majesty, and his Ambassador at the Court of His Britannic Majesty:

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:—

Art. 1.—From and after the fifth of April of the present year, French vessels, coming from or departing for the ports of France, or, if in ballast, coming from or departing for any place, shall not be subject, in the ports of the United Kingdom, either on entering into or departing from the same, to any higher duties of tonnage, harbour, light-house, pilotage, quarantine, or other similar or corresponding duties, of whatever nature, or under whatever denomination, than those to which British vessels, in respect of the same voyages, are or may be subject, on entering into or departing from such ports; and, reciprocally, from and after the same period, British vessels coming from or departing for the ports of the United Kingdom, or if in ballast, coming from or departing for any place, shall not be subject, in the ports of France, either on entering into or departing from the same, to any higher duties of tonnage, harbour, light-house, pilotage, quarantine, or other similar or corresponding duties, of whatever nature, or under whatever denominations, than those to which French vessels, in respect to the same voyages, are or may be subject on entering into or departing from such ports; whether such duties are collected separately, or are consolidated in one and the same duty; his most Christian Majesty reserving to himself to regulate the amount of such duty or duties in France, according to the rate at which they are or may be established in the United Kingdom: at the same time, with the view of diminishing the burdens imposed upon the navigation of the two countries, his most Christian Majesty will always be disposed to reduce the amount of the said burdens in France, in proportion to any reduction which may hereafter be made of those now levied in the ports of the United Kingdom.

Art. 2.—Goods, wares, and merchandise, which can or may be legally imported into the ports of the United Kingdom from the ports of France, if so imported in French vessels, shall be subject to no higher duties than if imported in British vessels, and, reciprocally, goods, wares, and merchandise, which can or may be legally imported into the ports of France, from the ports of the United Kingdom, if so imported in British vessels, shall be subject to no higher duties than if imported in French vessels. The produce of Asia, Africa, and America, not being allowed to be imported from the said countries nor from any other, in French vessels, nor from France in French, British, or any other vessels, into the ports of the United Kingdom, for home consumption, but only for warehousing and re-exportation, his most Christian Majesty reserves to himself to direct that, in like manner, the produce of Asia, Africa, and America, shall not be imported from the said countries, nor from any other, in British vessels, nor from the United Kingdom in British, French, or any other vessels, into the ports of France, for the consumption of that kingdom, but only for warehousing and re-exportation.

With regard to the productions of the countries of Europe, it is understood between the high contracting parties, that such productions shall not be imported in British ships into France for the consumption of that kingdom, unless such ships shall have been laden therewith in some port of the United Kingdom; and that his Britannic Majesty may adopt, if he shall think fit, some corresponding restrictive measure, with regard to the productions of the countries of Europe imported into the ports of the United Kingdom in French vessels: the high contracting parties reserving, however, to themselves the power of making, by mutual consent, such relaxations in the strict execution of the present article as they may think useful to the respective interests of the two countries, upon the principle of mutual concessions, affording each to the other reciprocal or equivalent advantages.

Art. 3.—All goods, wares, and merchandise, which can or may be legally exported from the ports of either of the two countries, shall, on their export, pay the same duties of export, action, whether the exportation of such goods, wares, and merchandise, be made in British or in French vessels, provided the said vessels proceed, respectively, direct from the ports of the one country to those of the other. And all the said goods, wares, and merchandise, so exported in British or French vessels, shall be reciprocally entitled to the same bounties, drawbacks, and other allowances of the same nature, which are granted by the regulations of each country respectively.

Art. 4.—It is mutually agreed between the high contracting parties, that in the intercourse of navigation between their two countries, the vessels of any third power shall, in no case, obtain more favourable conditions than those stipulated in the present convention in favour of British and French vessels.

Art. 5.—The fishing-boats of either of the two countries, which may be forced by stress of weather to seek shelter in the ports or on the coast of the other country, shall not be subject to any duties or port charges of any description whatsoever; provided the said boats, when so driven in by stress of weather, shall not discharge or receive on board any cargo, or portion of cargo, in the ports or on the parts of the coast where they shall have sought shelter.

Art. 6.—It is agreed that the provisions of the present convention between the high contracting parties shall be reciprocally extended and in force, in all the possessions subject to their respective dominion in Europe.

Art. 7.—The present convention shall be in force for the term of ten years, from the 5th of April of the present year; and further, until the end of twelve months after either of the high contracting parties shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate its operation; each of the high contracting parties reserving to itself the right of giving such notice to the other, at the end of the said term of ten years: and it is agreed between them, that, at the end of the twelve months' extension agreed to on both sides, this convention, and all the stipulations thereof, shall altogether cease and determine.

Art. 8.—The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London, within the space of one month, or sooner if possible.

In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. Done at Loudon, the twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1826.

(L. S.) GEORGE CANNING.

(L. S.) WILLIAM HUSKISSON.

(L. S.) LE PRINCE DE POLIGNAC.