A.—3

6

States charged with committing offences against Tongans shall be amenable only to the consular jurisdiction, and shall be punished according to the law of the United States; and Tongans charged with committing offences against citizens of the United States shall be tried by Tongan Courts and punished according to Tongan law. Claims of a civil nature against citizens of the United States shall be cognizable only in the consular jurisdiction, and Tongan Courts shall be open to citizens of the United States to prosecute such claims against Tongans according to law; provided that citizens of the United States charged with violations of laws and regulations of Tonga relating to Customs, taxation, public health, and local police not cognizable as such under the laws of the United States shall be amenable to the jurisdiction of the Tongan Courts, upon notice to the nearest United States Consul or commercial agent, if there be one, resident in Tonga; who shall have the right to be present at the trial and to direct or provide for the defence of the accused. The proceedings at all such trials shall be public, and the records thereof shall be public and accessible. " Article Xlll.—Perfect and entire freedom of conscience and worship, with right of sepulture, according to their creed, shall be enjoyed by the citizens or subjects of either of the high contracting parties within the jurisdiction of the other. " Article XIV. —This treaty shall become effective upon promulgation, and shall continue in force for ten years, and thereafter .until one year after notice shall have been given by one of the high contracting parties to the other of its desire to terminate the same ; save and accept as to Article Vi. (relating to the establishment of a coaling-station), which shall be terminable only by mutual consent. " Article XV. —This treaty shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Nukualofa as soon as possible. This treaty is executed in duplicate, one copy being in English and the other in Tongan, both versions having the same meaning and intention ; but the English version shall be considered the original and shall control in case of any variance. " In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this treaty and thereunto affixed their respective seals. " Done in the harbour of Nukualofa, in Tongatabu, on board the United States steamer " Mohican," this second day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-six. " (1.5.) Geo. H. Bates. " (1.5.) Shirley W. Baker." Note.—Here follows the text of two treaties, between the King of Tonga and Great Britain and Germany respectively, both similar in character to that concluded between Mr. Bates and Mr. Baker. The treaty with England differs from the others only in that it names four crimes upon which the extradition of criminals can be demanded by either party.

No. 7. The Agent-General to the Premier. Sir,— 16th May, 1887. I have received a letter from the Colonial Office informing me that the Secretary of State has received a telegram from His Excellency the Governor, in reply to one from that department respecting the proposed Consulate at Rarotonga, in which the Governor states that "his Ministers decline" the proposal made. I mentioned in my letter of the 21st February, No. 259, that I expected the position of Rarotonga to be taken up during the sittings of the Conference; but the course taken by Her Majesty's Government respecting Samoa, and the postponement of the Tongan question, prevented this being done. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. „ F. D. Bell.

No. 3.

No. 8. The Agent-General to the Premier. . Sir,— 18th May, 1887. I beg to enclose the Times' report of statements by the Secretary of State in the House of Commons respecting Tonga. Sir Henry Holland read to the House a telegram, dated the 30th April, which he had received from the High Commissioner, Sir Charles Mitchell, on his return from Tonga that day, stating that all was quiet in the island. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures., [Extract from the Times, Saturday, 14th May, 1887.] Tonga. Mr. W. James asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any intelligence had been received at the Colonial Office confirming the report sent Home, appearing in the Melbourne Argus to the effect that previously to the arrival of Sir Charles Mitchell in Tonga peace had been established, by the whole of the Wesleyan body having been exterminated ? Sir H. Holland : We have not got that information ; but we have received a more satisfactory telegram, from which it appears that at least some Wesleyans are left. A telegram was received, yesterday from Sir C. Mitchell in the following words : " April 30.—Returned from Tonga to-day. Send report by next mail. Full inquiry showed report of religious persecution true to considerable extent. King promises make chiefs observe Constitution as regards religious freedom in future, and generally protect Wesleyans. All quiet now. Europeans in no case interfered with."