Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 13

VII. Proposed Amendment to Article 9

VIII. Final Text of the Dutch-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce
VII. Proposed Amendment to Article 9: A Translation, 29 August 1782 Netherlands, States General of JA VII. Proposed Amendment to Article 9: A Translation, 29 August 1782 Netherlands, States General of Adams, John
VII. Proposed Amendment to Article 9: A Translation
29 August 1782

Article 9, in order to remove all difficulty, should be changed in the following manner.

It is further agreed and concluded that it shall be wholly free for all merchants, commanders of ships, and other subjects and inhabitants of the contracting parties in every place, subjected to the jurisdiction of the two powers respectively, to manage themselves, their own business. And moreover, as to 347 image 348 the use of interpreters or brokers, as also in relation to the loading or unloading of their vessels and everything which has relation thereto, they shall be, on one side and on the other, considered and treated upon the footing of natural subjects, or at least1 upon an equality with the most favored nation.

Agreed with this Amendment. to wit—insert the Words “ou au moins” in Place of the Word “et” between “Pays” and “en” in the French Translation.2

Consenti, avec cette Correction viz. inserer les Mots “Ou, au moins” a la place de “et” entre “Pays” et “en,” in la Traduction françoise.

MS (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Amendment of the 9th Article, proposed to me by the Pensionary Bleiswick 29 Aug. 1782 & agreed to the Same day.” Beside the Dutch text is a French translation by C. W. F. Dumas. Filmed at 22–29 Aug., Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 357.

1.

The preceding three words were inserted at JA’s request; see note 2.

 2.

This paragraph and the French translation that follows are in JA’s hand. The article, with JA’s addition, was included verbatim in Art. 9 of the final version of the treaty (No. VIII, below).