Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 18 Part 2c.djvu/704

 SIAM, 1856. 697 American citizens coming to reside at Bangkok may rent land and P¤¤=l¤¤¤·><>*`l¤¤d» buy 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 any- where 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 otlilcer, 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 thatis 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. Anrrcma V. All American citizens visiting or residing in Siam shall be allowed Religions liberty. the free exercise of their religion, and liberty to build places of worship in such localities as shall be consented to by the Siamese authorities. The Siamese Government will place no restriction upon the employment $i¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤"¤¤°¤· by the Americans of Siamese subjects as servants, or in any other capacity. But wherever a Siamese subject belongs or owes service to some particular master, the servant who engages himself to an American citizen without the consent of his master may be reclaimed by him, and the Siamese Government will not enforce an agreement between an American citizen and any Siamese in his employ, unless made with the knowledge and consent of the master who has a right to dispose of the services of the person engaged. Anrxcmn VI. American ships of war may enter the river and anchor at Pakuam; fAm°¥'}°¤¤ ¤b*P• but they shall not proceed above Paknam unless with the consent of the ° '"‘ Siamese authorities, which shall be given where it is necessary that a ship shall go into dock for repairs. Any American ship of war conveying to Siam a public functionary, accredited by the American Government to the Court of Bangkok, shall be allowed to come up to Bangkok, but shall not pass the torts called Phrachamit and Pit-pach-nuck, unless expressly permitted to do so by the Siamese Government. But, Siamese authoriin the absence of an American ship of war, the Siameseauthorities eu- liu W Md A¤>¤¤- SBKB to furnish the Consul with a force sufficient to enable him to give °°“ °°"“1°· elfect to his authority over American citizens, and to enforce disc1pline among American shipping. An·r1cLm VII. The measurement duty hitherto paid by American vessels trading to d£:.“:b';§:h':•f“* Bangkok, under the treaty of 1833, shall be abolished from the date of [SW Amcb I,] this treaty coming into operation, and American shipping or trade will ,,0,,, 0,- 1833, pf 694.]