Being of opinion th a t it is advisable to regnlate and define tbe
rights of British snbjeots in the territories of the said Free States,
and to provide for such matters concerning the exercise of civil
and-criminal jurisdiction as shall be indicated hereunder until the
Association shall have provided in a sufficient manner for the
administration of justice with regard to foreigners,
I t has been agreed :
A rticle I.
The International Association. of the Congo undertakes to levy
no duties of importation or transit on articles of commerce or merchandise
imported by British subjects into the said territories, or
into the territories which hereafter may be placed under its
Government. This freedom from duty shall extend to merchandise
and articles of commerce which shall be transported by the roads
and canals established or to be established round the cataracts of
the Congo.
A rticle II.
British subjects shall a t all times have the rig h t to reside and
settle in the territories which are or shall be under the government
of the Association. They shall enjoy the same protection as subjects
or citizens of the most favoured nation in all matters which
affect their persons and their goods, the free exercise of their religion,
and the rights of navigation, commerce, and industry. Especially
they shall have the rig h t to buy, sell, lease, and let lands,'
buildings, mines, and forests within the said territories ; to found
houses of business, and to engage in commerce and coasting trade
therein under the British flag.
A rticle I II.
The Association undertakes to accord no advantage, however
trifling, to the subjects of another nation, unless such advantage is
immediately extended to British subjects.
A rticle IY.
He r Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland may nominate
consuls or other consxdar agents in the ports or stations on
the said territories, and the Association undertakes to protect them
therein.
A rticle Y.
Every British consul or consular agent who shall have been duly
authorised by the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, shall
have power to establish a consular tribunal for the district assigned
to him, and shall exercise sole and exclusive jurisdiction, civil as
well as criminal, with regard to the persons and property of
British subjects within the said district, in accordance with the
British laws.
A rticle YI.
Nothing contained in the preceding article shall absolve any
British subject from the obligation of observing the laws of the
said Free States applicable to foreigners, bu t all infraction of those
laws on the part of a British subject shall be referred to the British
consular tribunal.
A rticle YUI
f the inhabitants of the said territories which are subject to
the Government of the Association do any injury to the person or
property of a British subject, they shall be arrested and punished
by the authorities of the Association conformably to the laws of
the said Free States. Justice shall be administered equitably and
impartially on both sides.
A rticle Y III.
A British subject having grounds of complaint against an inhabitant
of the said territories, subject to the government of the
Association, shall apply to the British Consulate and there detail
his grievances*
The Consul shall make an inquiry to ascertain th a t the complaint
is well founded, and will do his utmost to arrange it amicably.
In the same way, i f any inhabitant of the same territories
shall have cause of complaint against a B ritish subject, the British
counsel shall hear his complaint and do his utmost to arrange the
matter amicably. I f differences arise of such nature th a t the
British Consul cannot arrange them amicably, he shall have recourse
to the authorities of the Association to examine into the
matter and end it equitably.
Berlin.