Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
Know Ye, that whereas a Convention between the United States of America and Great Britain, concerning the establishment of import duties in that portion of the Dominions of His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar which is under the protection of Great Britain, was concluded at Washington on the 31st of May, one thousand, nine hundred and two, the original of which Convention is, as amended by the Senate of the United States, word for word as follows:
The United States of America and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperer of India, acting in the name of His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar, have, for the purposes hereinafter stated, appointed their respective Plenipotentiares, namely:
- The President of the United States of America, the Honorable John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States of America; and
- His Britannic Majesty, Arthur Stewart Raikes, Esquire, his Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires.
Who, after having communicated each to the other their respective full powers in good and due form, have agreed upon the following Articles:
Article I.
Recognizing that it is just and necessary to facilitate to that portion of the dominions of His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar which is under the protection of Great Britain, and which is situated in the basin of the Congo, as defined by the General Act of the African Conference at Berlin of February 26th, 1885, the accomplishment of the obligations which it has contracted by virtue of the General Act of Brussels of July 2nd, 1890, the United States waives any objection on its part to the collection of import duties upon merchandise imported into that Protectorate.
The tariff of these duties, as provided in the Declaration of Brussels bearing the same date as the said General Act of Brussels, for the period of fifteen years next ensuing from that date, is not to exceed ten per centum of the value of the merchandise at the port of importation, except for spirits and for firearms and ammunition, which are -regulated by the General Act of Brussels.
At the expiration of the said period of fifteen years, and in default of a new agreement, the United States will, with respect to this subject, be restored to the relations with the said Protectorate which [Page 552] existed prior to the Conclusion of this Convention, the right to impose thereafter import duties to a maximum of ten per centum upon merchandise imported into the said Protectorate remaining acquired to the latter so long only as it shall continue to comply with the conditions and limitations stated in this Convention.
Article II.
The United States shall enjoy in the said Protectorate as to import duties all the advantages accorded to the most favored nation.
Neither differential treatment nor transit duty shall be established in said Protectorate.
In the application of the tariff régime of the said Protectorate, the formalities and operations of commerce shall be simplified and facilitated so far as possible.
Article III.
Considering the fact that in Article 1 of this Convention the United States has given it assent under certain conditions to the establishment of import duties in that portion of the Dominions of His Highness the Sultan of Zanzibar which is under the protection of Great Britain, it is well understood that the said Protectorate assures to the flag, to the vessels, to the commerce, and to the citizens and inhabitants of the United States, in all parts of the territory of that Protectorate, all the rights, privileges and immunities concerning import and export duties, tariff régime, interior taxes and charges and, in a general manner, all commercial interests, which are or shall be accorded to the signatory Powers of the Act of Berlin, or to the most favored nation.
This Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as may be and within twelve months from the date hereof.
Done in duplicate at Washington this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two.
John Hay [seal.]
Arthur S Raikes [seal.]
And whereas the Convention has been duly ratified, as amended, on both parts, and the ratifications of the two Governments were exchanged in the city of Washington on the 17th day of October, one thousand, nine hundred and two:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Convention, as amended, to be made public to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
[seal]
By the President:
John Hay
Secretary of State.