Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/330

 GREAT BRITAIN, 1850. 323 either may possess, with any State or Government through whose territory the sa1d_canal may pass, for the purpose of acquiring or holding directly or indirectly, for the citizens or subjects of the one any right; or  in regard to commerce or navigation through the said canal which shall not be offered on the same termsto the citizens or 'subjects of the other. Anrronn H. Vessels of the United States or Great Britain traversing the said Privileges or vescanal shall, in case of war between the contracting parties, beexempted eels traversing the from blockade, detention, or capture by either of the belligerents; and °°““1· this provision shall extend to such a distance from the two ends of the said canal as may hereafter be found expedient to establish. Aarronn III. In order to secure the 'construction of the said canal, the contracting Prervrty ¤f vvparties engage that, if any such canal shall be undertaken upon fair` **1 °“8‘¢°‘ *“ and equitable terms by any parties having the authority of the local °°°° m°°`°°' government or governments through whose territory the same may pass, then the persons employed in making the said canal, and their property used or to be used for that object, shall be protected, from the commencement of the said canal to its completion, by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, from unjust detention, con|ls~ cation, seizure, or any violence whatsoever. Aarronm IV.· The contracting parties will use whatever iulluence they respectively 0¢¤•t¤wti¤¤ of exercise with any State, States, or Governments possessing, or claiming gmx *° "° to possess, any jurisdiction or right over the territory which the sail! ' canal shall traverse, or which shall be near the waters applicable thereto, in order to induce such States or Governments to facilitate the construction of the said canal by every means in their power; and furthermore, Fm Pom, the United States and Great Britain agree to use their good oiilces, wherever or however it may be most expedient, in order to procure the establishment of two free ports, one at each end of the said canal. Anmcm V. The contracting parties further engage that when the said canal shall Neutral i ty or have been completed they will protect it from interruption, seizure, or °“°“l· unjust coniiscation, and that they will guarantee the neutrality thereof, so that the scid canal may forever be open and free, and the capital invested therein secure. Nevertheless, the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, in according their protection to the construction of the said canal, and guaranteeing its neutrality and security when completed, always understand that this protection and guarantee are granted conditionally, and may be withdrawn by both Governments, or either Government, if both Governments or either Government shoul deem that the personas or company undertaking or managing the same adopt or establish such regulations concerning the tratlic thereupon as are contrary to the spirit and intention of this convention, either by making unfair discrlminations in favor of the commerce of one of the contracting parties over the commerce of the other, or by imposing oppressive exactions or unreasonable tolls upon passengers, vessels, goods wares, merchandise, or other articles. Neither party however, shall withdraw the aforesaid protection and guarantee without first giving sl: months’ notice to the other.