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St. Maarten's
Capital - Pilipsburg |
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St. Maarten
Museum |
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St. Maarten
Park |
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History |
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Modern
History |
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Culture |
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Treaty of Concordia,
(a.k.a. The Partition Treaty of 1648) by which French and Dutch settlers
agreed that the peoples of St.Martin shall coexist in a cooperative manner:
Today,
the 23rd of March 1648, have assembled Robert de Lonvillliers, Knight
and Lord of this place, Governor of the island of St.Maarten, on behalf
of his Most Christian Majesty (i.e. the King of France) and Martin Thomas,
likewise Governor of the said island, on behalf of the Prince of Orange
and the States General of Holland, and Henri de Lonvilliers, Lord of Benevent,
Savin and Courpon,, Chevalier, Lord of La Tour, lieutenant -colonel of
the island, and David Coppins, Lieutenant of a Dutch company, and Pitre
van Zeun Hus (Pieter van Zevenhuizen?), likewise Lieutenant of a company
of the above mentioned, who, on either side, have agreed upon the following:
1. that the French shall continue in that quarter where they are established
at this present, and that they shall inhabit the entire coast (actually:
side) which faces Anguilla;
2. that the Dutch shall have the quarter of the fort, and the soil surrounding
it on the south coast;
3. that the French and Dutch established on the said island shall live
as friends and allies, and that, in case of either party molesting the
other, this shall constitute an infringement of this treaty, and shall
therefore be punishable by the laws of war;
4. that, if a Frenchman or Dutchman being guilty of a criminal act or
an infringement of this agreement, or of
disobedience to the commands of his superiors, or of whatever other remissness,
shall withdraw to the territory of the other nation, the contracting parties
shall be bound to cause such person to be arrested in their territory,
and to deliver him up to his Governor on the latter's first requesting
it;
5. that the chase, the fisheries, the salt pans, the rivers, the lakes,
the fresh waters, the dye-wood, mines and minerals, harbours and roadsteads,
and other commodities of the said island shall be common, and shall serve
to provide the wants of the inhabitants;
6. that it shall be permitted to French persons at this present residing
with the Dutch to join the French , if it so please them, and to take
with their movables, foodstuffs and money and other commodities, provided
they shall have settled their debts or given sufficient security, and
that the Dutch shall be able to do like-wise and on the same conditions;
7. that, if enemies should attack one part or the other, the parties to
this treaty shall be obliged to render each other aid and assistance;
8.
that the delimitation and partition of the said island between the two
nations shall be submitted to the General of the French and the Governor
of St. Eustatius, and to the deputies that shall be sent to visit the
places; and that, their report having been made, they shall delimit their
quarters, and proceed in the manner stipulated above;
9. that any claims one party may have against the other shall be submitted
to the King of France and the gentlemen of His Council, and to the Prince
of Orange and the States of Holland. Neither of the above parties shall
be able to construct fortifications without contravening the above agreement
and compensations with respect to the other party.
Given on the
date heretofore mentioned, on the mountain surnamed des Accords ( Concordia)
of the said island, and signed by the said gentlemen, in the presence
of Bernard de la Fond, Knight and Lord of Esperance, Lieutenant of a French
Company on St. Christophe.
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