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Belts, and commonly called the Sound dues, have re
solved to conclude a Convention for that purpose, and
have named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say, the
President o f the United States, L ew is Cass, Secretary o f
State of the United States, and His Majesty, the King
o f Denmark, Torb en B i l l e , Esq., knight o f the Danne-
brog and decorated with the cross o f honor o f the same
order, his said Majesty’s Chargé d'Affaires near the
Government o f the United States, who, after having
communicated to each other their fu ll pozuers in due form,
have agreed to and signed the following articles-.
ARTICLE I.
His Majesty the King o f Denmark declares entire
freedom o f the navigation o f the Sound and the Belts
in favor o f American vessels and their cargoes from
and fo r ever after the day when this convention shall
go into effect as hereinafter provided; and it is hereby
agreed that American vessels and their cargoes after that
day shall not be subject, to any charges whatever in
passing the Sound and the Belts, or to any detention m
the said waters, and both Governments will concur, i f
occasion should require it, in taking measures toprevent
abuse o f the free flag o f the United States by the
shipping o f other nations which shall not have secured
the same freedom and exemption from charges enjoyed
by that of the United States.
ARTICLE II.
His Danish Majesty further engages that the pas
sages o f the Sound and the Belts shall continue to be
lighted and buoyed as heretofore without any charge
upon American vessels or their cargoes on passing the
Sound and the Belts, and that the present establishments