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Belgian-American Diplomacy - Treaty of May 12, 1863, Between Belgium and the Netherlands Annexed to the Treaty of July 20, 1863 Between the United States and Belgium
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Annexed to the Treaty of July 20, 1863 Between the United States and Belgium.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians and His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, having come to an agreement upon the conditions of the redemption, by capitalization, of the dues established upon the navigation of the Scheldt and of its mouths, by paragraph three of the ninth article of the treaty of the 19th April, 1839, have resolved to conclude a special treaty on this subject, and have appointed for their Plenipotentiaries:

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, M. Aldephonse Alexander Felix, Baron du Jardin, Commander of the Order of Leopold, decorated with the Iron Cross Commander of the Lion of the Netherlands, Chevalier Grand Cross of the Oaken Crown, Grand Cross and Commander of several other orders, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary near to His Majesty the King of the Netherlands. His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, M. Paul Van der Maesen de Sombreff, Chevalier Grand Cross of the Order of the Nichan Iftihar of Tunis, his Minister of Foreign Affairs; M. Jean Rudolphe Thorbecke, Chevalier Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands, Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold of Belgium, and of many other orders, his Minister of Interior; and M. Gerard Henri Betz, his Minister of Finance;

Who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in good and, due form, have concluded upon the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

His Majesty the King of the Netherlands renounces forever, for the sum of 17,141,640 florins of Holland, the dues levied upon the navigation of the Scheldt(1) and of its mouths, by virtue of paragraph three of Article IX. of the treaty of 19th April, 1839.

ARTICLE II.

This sum shall be paid to the Government of the Netherlands by the Belgian Government, at Antwerp, or at Amsterdam, at the choice of the latter. the franc calculated at 47¼ cents of the Netherlands as follows:

One-third immediately after the exchange of ratifications, and the two other thirds in three equal installments, payable on the 1st May, 1864, 1st May, 1865, and 1st May, 1866. The Belgian Government may anticipate the above-named payments.

ARTICLE III.

From and after the payment of the first, installment of one-third, the dues shall cease to be levied by the Government of the Netherlands.

The sums not immediately paid shall bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, in favor of the treasury of the Netherlands.

ARTICLE IV.

It is understood that the capitalization of the dues shall not in any way affect the engagements by which the two States are bound, in what concerns the Scheldt, by treaties in force.

ARTICLE V.

The pilotage dues now levied on the Scheldt are reduced 20 per cent. for sailing vessels, 25 per cent. for towed vessels, and 30 per cent. for steam vessels.

It is, moreover, agreed that the pilotage dues on the Scheldt can never be higher than the pilotage dues levied at the mouths of the Meuse.

ARTICLE VI.

The present treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at the Hague within four months, or earlier if possible.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries above named have signed the same and affixed their seals.

Done at the Hague, the 12th May, 1863.

[L. S.]BARON DU JARDIN.
[L. S.]P. VAN DER MAESEN DE SOMBREFF.
[L. S.]THORBECKE.
[L. S.]BETZ.

(1) A river that originates in northern France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands on it way to the North Sea. (Note added by the Avalon Project). Back

Source:
Treaties, Conventions, International Acts and Agreements Between the United States of America and Other Powers 1776-1909.
Compiled by William M. Malloy
Under Resolution of the Senate of January 18, 1909
Washington : Government Printing Office, 1910.
127 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06511.