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Treaty of San Ildefonso
Preliminary and Secret Treaty between the French Republic and His Catholic
Majesty the King of Spain, Concerning the Aggrandizement of His Royal
Highness the Infant Duke of Parma in Italy and the Retrocession of Louisiana.
His Catholic Majesty having always manifested an earnest desire to procure
for His Royal Highness the Duke of Parma an aggrandizement which would
place his domains on a footing more consonant with his dignity; and the
French Republic on its part having long since made known to His Majesty
the King of Spain its desire to be again placed in possession of the colony
of Louisiana; and the two Governments having exchanged their views on
these two subjects of common interest, and circumstances permitting them
to assume obligations in this regard which, so far as depends on them,
win assure mutual satisfaction, they have authorized for this purpose
the foUowinz: the French Republic, the Citizen Alexandre Berthier General
in Chief, and His Catholic Majesty, Don Mariano Luis de Urquijo, knight
of the Order of Charles III, and of that of St. John of Jerusalem, 0a
Counselor of State, his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary appointed
near the Batavian Republic, and his First Secretary of State ad interim,
who, having exchanged their powers, have agreed upon the following articles,
subject to ratification.
ARTICLE 1
The French Republic undertakes to procure for His Royal Highness the
Infant Duke of Parma an aggrandizement of territory which shad increase
the population of his domains to one minion inhabitants, with the title
of King and with all the rights which attach to the royal dignity; and
the French Republic undertakes to obtain in this regard the assent of
His Majesty the Emperor and King and that of the other interested states'
BO that His Highness the Infant Duke of Parma may be put into possession
of the said territories without opposition upon the conclusion of the
peace to be made between the French Republic and His Imperial Majesty.
ARTICLE 2
The aggrandizement to be given to His Royal Highness the Duke of Parma
may consist of Tuscany, in case the present negotiations of the French
Government with His Imperial Majesty shall permit that Government to dispose
thereof; or it may consist of the three Roman legations or of any other
continental provinces of Italy which form a rounded state.
ARTICLE 3
His Catholic Majesty promises and undertakes on his part to retrocede
to the French Republic, six months after the fun and entire execution
of the above conditions and provisions regarding His Royal Highness the
Duke of Parma, the colony or province of Louisiana, with the same extent
that it now has in the hands of Spain and that it had when France possessed
it, and such as it ought to be according to the treaties subsequently
concluded between Spain and other states.
ARTICLE 4
His Catholic Majesty will give the necessary orders for the occupation
of Louisiana by France as soon as the territories which are to form the
arrandizement of the Duke of Parma shall be placed in the hands of His
Royal Highness. The French Republic may, according to its convenience,
postpone the taking of possession; when that is to be executed, the states
directly or indirectly interested will agree upon such further conditions
as their common interests and the interest of the respective inhabitants
require.
ARTICLE 5
His Catholic Majesty undertakes to deliver to the French Republic in
Spanish ports in Europe, one month after the execution of the provision
with regard to the Duke of Parma, six ships of war in good condition built
for seventy-four guns, armed and equipped and ready to receive French
crews and supplies.
ARTICLE 6
As the provisions of the present treaty have no prejudicial object and
leave intact the rights of an, it is not to be supposed that they win
give offense to any power. However, if the contrary shall happen and if
the two states, because of the execution thereof, shall be attacked or
threatened, the two powers agree to make common cause not only to repel
the aggression but also to take conciliatory measures prosper for the
maintenance of peace with all their neighbors.
ARTICLE 7
The obligations contained in the present treaty derogate in no respect
from those which are expressed in the Treaty of Alliance signed at San
Ildefonso on the 2d Fructidor, year 4 (August 19, 1796); on the contrary
they unite anew the interests of the two powers and assure the guaranties
stipulated in the Treaty of Alliance for ad cases in which they should
be applied.
ARTICLE 8
The ratifications of these preliminary articles shall be effected and
exchanged within the period of one month, or sooner if possible, counting
from the day of the signature of the present treaty.
In faith whereof we, the undersigned Ministers Plenipotentiary of the
French Republic and of His Catholic Majesty, in virtue of our respective
powers, have signed these preliminary articles and have affixed thereto
our seals.
Done at San Ildefonso the 9th Vendemiaire, 9th year of the French Republic
(October 1, 1800)
[Seal] ALEXANDRE BIRTHIER
[Seal] MARIANO LUIS DE URQUIJO
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