A.—s.

Dispositions Generales. Article I. — Regime commun. (1.) L'Archipcl dcs Nouvelles-Hebrides, y compris les lies de Banks et les lies de Torres, formera un territoire d'influence commune, sur lequel les sujets et citoyens dcs deux Puissances Signataires jouiront de droits egaux de residence, de protection personnelle et de commerce, chacune dcs deux Puissances demeurant souveraine a l'egard de ses uationaux, et ni I'une ni I'autre n'exero.ant uue autorite separee sur l'Arohipel. (2.) Les ressortissants dcs tierces Puissances jouiront dcs memes droits et seront soumis aux memes obligations que les citoyens Franpais et les sujets Britanniques. Us auront a opter dang un delai de six mois pour le regime applicable aux ressortissants de l'une ou de I'autre Puissance. A defaut d'option de leur part, les Hauts Commissaires dont il est parle a I'Article II ci-apres ou leurs Delegues determiner out d'office le regime sous lequel ils devront etre places. (3.) Pour tout cc gui ne sera pas contraire aux dispositions de la preseute Convention ou dcs reglements gui seront pris pour en assurer l'execution, les ressortissants dcs deux Puissances Signataires, ainsi que les ressortissants dcs tierces Puissances, conserveront dans toute sa plenitude leur statut personnel et reel dans PArchipel dcs Nouvelles-Hebrides. (4.) Les deux Puissances Signataires s'engageut mutuellement a ne pas clever de fortifications dans I'Archipel et a ne pas y etablir d'etablissements de deportation ou de transportation. Article ll. — Autorites locales: Police. (1.) Deux Hauts Commissaires, nommes, l'un par le Gouvcrnement de la Republique Francaise, I'autre par le Gouverneinent de Sa Majeste Britannique, representeront dans I'Archipel les Puissances Signataires. (2.) Chacun dcs Hauts Commissaires sera assiste dun Commissaire-Resident, auquel il deleguera, dans la mesure qu'il jugera utile, son autorite et gui le representera dans l'Arcliipel lorsqu'il ny residera pas. (3.) Les Hauts Commissaires ou leurs Delegues disposeront dun corps de police ayant un efiectif suffisant pour assurer dune maiiiere efficace la protection dcs personnes et dcs biens. (4.) Le corps de police sera divise en deux sections ayant l'une et I'autre un efiectif egal. Chacune dcs deux sections sera respectivement placee sous les ordres de l'un dcs deux Coni-missaires-Residents, gui ue pourra en aucun cas en disposer contrairement aux regies tracees par la presente Convention. (5.) Lorsqu'il sera necessaire de faire emploi, partiel ou total, dcs deux sections dv corps, clans les conditions prevues par la presente Convention ou par les reglements destines a en assurer l'execution, les Hauts Commissaires ou leurs Delegates en exerceront coiijointement la direction. Article lll. — Chef-lieu. (1.) Le siege dans I'Archipel de l'un et de I'autre Gouvernement et dv Tribunal Mixte prevu a I'Article X de la presente Convention sera etabli a Port-Vila, dans Pile de Vate.

General Provisions. Article I. — Status. (1.) The Group of the New Hebrides, including the Banks and Torres Islands, shall form a region of joint influence, in which the subjects and citizens of the two Signatory Powers shall enjoy equal rights of residence, personal protection, and trade, each of the two Powers retaining jurisdiction over its subjects or citizens, and neither exercising a separate control over the Group. (2.) The subjects or citizens of other Powers shall enjoy the same rights and shall be subject to the same obligations as British subjects or French citizens. They must choose within six months between the legal systems of one of the two Powers. Failing such choice, the High Commissioners mentioned in Article II or their delegates shall decide under which system they shall be placed. (3.) In all matters not contrary to the provisions of the present Convention or the regulations made thereunder, the subjects and citizens of the two Signatory Powers and the subjects and citizens of other Powers shall, within the New Hebrides, remain subject to the fullest extent to the laws of their respective countries. (4.) The two Signatory Powers undertake not to erect fortifications in the Group and not to establish penal settlements of any kind. Article ll. — Local Authorities: Police. (1.) The Signatory Powers shall be represented in the Group by two High Commissioners, one appointed by His Britannic Majesty's Government, the other by the Government of Liie French Republic. (2.) The High Commissioners shall each be assisted by a Resident Commissioner, to whom they shall delegate their respective powers, in so far as they consider it expedient, and who shall represent them in the Group when they do not reside there. (3.) The High Commissioners or their delegates shall be provided with a Police Force of sufficient strength to guarantee effectively the protection of life and property. (4.) The Force shall be divided into two divisions, of equal strength. Each of these two divisions shall be under the orders of one of the two Resident Commissioners, and shall in no case be employed otherwise than in conformity with the principles laid down by the present Convention. (5.) When it is necessary to employ some or all of both divisions of the Force in conformity with the present Convention or of the regulations framed for its execution, the Force shall be under the joint direction of the High Commissioners or their delegates. Article lll. — Seat of Government. (1.) The headquarters of each Government in the Group and the Joint Court provided for in Article X shall be at Vila, in the Island of Efate.

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