Treaty of Amity, Commerce, Navigation, and Limits between the Argentine Confederation and Paraguay
or land ; but in no case shall trading in articles considered con-
traband of war be permitted.
V. That there may be no doubt as to what are the objects or
articles called contraband of war, they are declared to be such as
the following :—l.) Cannons, mortars, howitzers, swivel gnus,
muskets, rifles, carbines, guns, pistols, pikes, swords, sabres,
lances, javelins, halberds, grenades, rockets, bombs, powder,
matches, balls, and all other things appertaining to the use of
these arms. 2.) Shields, helmets, cuirasses, coats of mail, shoul-
der-belts, and uniforms for military use. 3.) Harness, horses,
horse-cloths, saddles, and any other things belonging to these
equipments. 4.) And, generally, all kinds of instruments of iron,
steel, brass, and any other manufactured materials, prepared or
formed expressly for warfare by sea or land.
VI. In the said state of war between one of the High Con-
tracting Parties and a third Power, no citizen of the other shall
accept a commission or letter of marque for the purpose of
assisting or co-operating in a hostile manner with the enemy,
on pain of being treated as a pirate.
VII. Pirates or sea-robbers shall not be admitted into the
ports of the Argentine Confederation nor into those of the
Republic of Paraguay, and the Governments of both States bind
themselves to prosecute them and to enforce the law rigorously
against them, as also against their accomplices and those who
conceal the goods stolen by them.
They also bind themselves to restore vessels and cargoes to
their lawful owners, being citizens of either of the two States, or
to their agents empowered to receive them, or to their respective
Consular Agents.
VIII. If, unfortunately, war should break out between the
Argentine Confederation and the Republic of Paraguay (which
God forbid!) hostilities shall not commence between the two
countries without a previous notification reciprocally commu-
nicated six months before a rupture.
IX. In the case mentioned in the preceding Article No. VIII,
or in case of any misunderstanding, interruption of friendship,
or rupture between the two High Contracting Parties, the citi-
zens of each of the said High Contracting Parties who reside in
the territory of the other, shall be allowed to remain therein to
transact their business and to continue their trade or occupa-
tion, in full enjoyment of their liberty and property, so long as
they conduct themselves peaceably. Their property, of whatever
kind, whether it be in their own custody or intrusted to private
persons or to the State, shall not be liable to embargo or seques-
tration, nor to any other charge or exaction, except such as may
be imposed on similar property belonging to the citizens of the
country. But in case of their conduct giving just cause for suspi-
cion, they may be compelled to leave the country, time being
allowed them sufficient to make their arrangements, and leave
being given them to take their goods and possessions with
them, and to dispose of them in any lawful way.
X. The Argentines in Paraguay and the Paraguayans in the
Argentine Confederation shall be perfectly free to manage their
affairs in person or by an agent, to make contracts, to buy or sell
by wholesale or retail, to assert and to defend their rights in
conformity with the laws of the country in which they reside,
and with the same freedom and right as native citizens.
XI. Perfect and reciprocal equality shall be observed by both
Republics in affording the most ample protection and security
to the property of citizens of one or the other country ; and they
shall not be charged in the duties on importation or exporta-
tion upon their merchandize, nor in the tonnage, port or other
duties established, or which may be established, whether upon
direct commerce or upon the lading, deposit, importation, or
exportation on the coasts of either Republic, with heavier impo-
sitions than those which the native citizens are liable to.
XII. The Argentine citizens in Paraguay and the Paraguayan
citizens in the Argentine Confederation shall enjoy in the
respective territories the fullest right to the possession and free
use of the goods they introduce or acquire by purchase, sale,
exchange, will, gift, or in any other legal manner, in conformity
with the respective laws in force.
Property acquired by inheritance or legacy shall not be taxed
with other or higher duties than those paid by the national citi-
zens in similar cases.
XIII. Argentines residing or travelling in the Republic of
Paraguay, and Paraguayans residing or travelling in the Argen-
tine Confederation, shall not be liable to personal service in the
army or navy, or in the national militia, and they shall be
exempt from contributions of war, forced loans, billeting, and
military requisitions.
XIV. No Argentine property, of whatever nature it may be,
can be detained or embargoed in the Republic of Paraguay for
the pubic service, not even in eases of urgent necessity, with-
out a previous understanding with the proprietors, agents, or
consignees, both of the value of what is detained, and with
regard to the compensation agreed on for the reparations of
the injuries and damages which they may have suffered, and
this should be shown in a written and legally authorized spec-
ification ; and no Paraguayan property of whatever nature it
may be shall be deprived in the Argentine Confederation of
the guarantees accorded by the present Article to Argentine
property.
XV. Both the High Contracting Parties engage not to employ,
in military or naval service, deserters from the forces of the
other, and they agree to deliver up military and naval deserters
when claimed by their respective Consuls or Vice-Consuls.
XVI. In case of the death ab intestatoof any Argentine citizen
in the Paraguayan territory or vice versâ,the Consul-General,
Consul, or Vice-Consul of his nation shall take part with the
executor or curator whom the Government may appoint, in the
inventory, deposit, sealing up, and transfer of the property of
the deceased, until the distribution of the property among his
lawful heirs or among his creditors.
XVII. The navigation of the rivers Paraná, Paraguay, and
Bermejo is entirely free and common to Argentine and
Paraguayan men-of-war and merchantmen, in conformity with
the existing regulations in both Republics.