History

U.S.-Ethiopia Treaty

TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE KING OF ETHIOPIA
TO REGULATE THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Signed at Addis-Ababa, December 97, 1908
Ratification advised by the Senate, March 19, 1904. 
Ratified by the President, March 17, 1904.
 
King of Ethiopia notified of ratification, August 2, 1904. 
Proclaimed, September 30, 1904.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF America

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas a treaty of commerce between the United States of America and His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, was concluded on the twenty-seventh day of December, one thousand nine hundred and three, the original of which treaty, being in the Amharic and French languages, is word for word as follows:

TREATY OF COMMERCE.

His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, and the United States of America, having agreed to regulate the commercial rela­tions between the two coun­tries and develop them, and render them more and more advantageous to the two con­tracting Powers:

His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, in the name of the Empire, and Robert P. Skinner, in the name of the United States of America, have agreed and stipulated that which follows:

ARTICLE I.

The citizens of the two Powers, like the citizens of other countries, shall be able freely to travel and to trans­act business throughout the extent of the territories of the two contracting Powers, while respecting the usages and sub­mitting themselves to the tribunals of the countries in which they may be located.

ARTICLE II.

In order to facilitate com­mercial relations, the two Governments shall assure, throughout the extent of their respective territories, the security of those engaged fn business therein and of their property.

ARTICLE III.

The two contracting Governments shall reciprocally grant to all citizens of the United States of America and to the citizens of Ethiopia all the advantages which they shall accord to other Powers in respect to Customs duties, imposts, and jurisdiction.

ARTICLE IV.

Throughout the extent of the Ethiopian Empire the citizens of the United States of America shall have the use of the telegraphs, posts, and all other means of transportation upon the same terms as the citizens of other Powers.

ARTICLE V.

In order to perpetuate and strengthen the friendly relations which exist between Ethiopia and the United States of America, the two Governments agree to receive reciprocally representatives acceptable to the two Governments. These representatives shall not, however, be maintained at their posts unless they are agreeable to the receiving Power; in such cases they shall be replaced.

ARTICLE VI.

The duration of the present treaty shall be ten years. It is understood that at the expiration of these ten years the two Governments shall be able to modify all or any part of this treaty. The Government which shall re­quest at that time the modifi­cation shall make its proposal to the other Government one year before the expiration of the treaty.

ARTICLE VII.

The present treaty shall take effect, if ratified by the Government of the United States, and if this ratifica­tion shall be notified to His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, within the period of one year.

His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, in the name of his Empire, and Robert P. Skinner, in virtue of his full powers, in the name of the United States of America, have signed the present treaty, written in double text, Amharic and French, and in identical terms.

Done at Addis-Ababa this seventeenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, in the year grace (correspondent au 27 of grace (corresponding to December, 1903). December 27, 1903). 

 

[Seal of MENELIK IL]

(Signed) ROBERT P. SKINNER.

 

And whereas it is provided by the said treaty that it shall take effect ' if ratified by the Government of the United States of America, and if this ratification shall be notified to His Majesty King Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, within the period of one year';

And whereas the said treaty has been duly ratified on the part of the United States of America, and notification of such ratification was given to His Majesty Menelik II., King of Kings of Ethiopia, on the second day of August, one thousand nine hundred and four;

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said treaty to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and twenty-ninth.

[SEAL] THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

By the President  FRANCIS B. Loomis,

Acting-Secretary of State.