Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 11.djvu/728

 684 TREATY WITH THE KINGDOM OF SIAM. MAY 29, 1856. mA;*:*§;<:1¤*{{gl<;¤· Arvrrcrn II. The interests of all American citizens coming to Siam gshall be placed under the regulations and control of a consul, who will be appointed to reside at Bangkok. He will himself conform to and will $2;;:*** md enforce the observance by American citizens of all the provisions of this treaty, and such of the former treaty, negotiated by Mr. Edmund Roberts, VOL viii- P- 454- in 1833, as shall still remain in operation. He shall also give effect to all rules and regulations as are now or may hereafter be enacted for the government of American citizens in Siam, the conduct of their trade, and digfzlezmggt °f for the prevention of violations of the laws of Siam. Any disputes arising ’between American citizens and Siamese subjects shall he heard and determined by the consul, in conjunction with the proper Siamese officers; and criminal offences will be punished, in the case of American offenders, by the consul, according to American laws, and in the case of Siamese offenders by their own laws, through the Siamese authorities. But the consul shall not interfere in any matters referring solely to Siamese; neither will the Siamese authorities interfere in questions which only concern the citizens of the United States. m2giL‘g€;Sglf;°·· ARTICLE III. If Siamese in the employ of American citizens offend smauding against the laws of their country, or if any Siamese, having so offended, or desiring to desert, take refuge with American citizens in Siam, they shall be searched for, and, upon proof of their guilt or desertion, shall be delivered up by the consul to the Siamese authorities. In like manner, any American offenders, resident or trading in Siam, who may desert, escape to, or hide themselves in Siamese territory, shall be apprehended _ and delivered over to the American consul on his requisition. &cR‘$hl t° l"d°· ARTICLE IV. American citizens are permitted to trade freely in all the ` seaports of Siam, but may reside permanently only at Bangkok, or within _ the limits assigned by this treaty. "§,‘;:?°;*;§ °*` American citizens coming to reside at Bangkok may rent land and buy ,.,ghts,k,,,_ or build houses, but cannot purchase land within a circuit of two hundred seng (not more than four miles English) from the city walls, until they shall have lived in Siam for ten years, or shall obtain special authority from the Siamese government to enable them to do so. But with the exception of this limitation American residents in Siam may, at any time, buy or rent houses, lands, or plantations situated anywhere within a distance of twenty-four hours’ journey from the city of Bangkok, to be computed by the rate at which boats of the country can travel. In order to obtain possession of such lands or houses it will be necessary that the American citizen shall, in the first place, make application through the consul to the proper Siamese officer, and the Siamese officer and the consul, having satisfied themselves of the honest intentions of the applicant, will assist him in settling, upon equitable terms, the amount of the purchase money; will make out and fix the boundaries of the property, and will convey the same to the American purchaser under sealed deeds, whereupon he and his property shall be placed under the protection of the governor of the district, and that of the particular local authorities. He shall conform in ordinary matters to any just direction given him by them, and will be subject to the same taxation that is levied on Siamese subjects. But if, through negligence, the want of capital, or other cause, an American citizen should fail to commence the cultivation or improvements of the lands so acquired within a term of three years from the date of receiving possession thereof, the Siamese government shall have the power of resuming the property. upon returning to the American citizen the purchase-money paid by him for the same. Freedom of Aariorn V. All American citizens visiting or residing in Siam shall '°1'$‘°“‘ be allowed the free exercise of their religion, and liberty to build places of worship in such localities as shall be consented to by the Siamese au- 5,,,,,056 m_ thorities. The Siamese government will place no restriction upon the vents. employment by the Americans of Siamese subjects as servants, or in any