July 12-17, 1839: Treaty with France
In July of 1839, Captain Laplace of the French frigate L’Artémise, arrived in the islands under orders to put an end to the persecution of Catholics in the Hawaiian Kingdom. King Kauikeaouli issued the Edict of Toleration on July 17, 1839, and paid $20,000 as a guarantee of “his future conduct towards France.” Additionally, the treaty ensured the release of all imprisoned Catholics, and established the creation of a site for a Catholic Church. The church was required to be located in a port frequented by the French, and ministered by a French priest.
Below are excerpts from the 1839 treaty between the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and France. A transcription of the Hawaiian language follows.
Available in Chronological File, 1790 – 1849 1839 July 15, 17, 30.
He kuikahi i hoopaaia iwaena o ke alii o ko Hawaii pae aina, a me Kapena Leplace, ke alii o ka manuwa lʻartimiie, ua hana hoi oia ma ka inoa o ke alii o ko Farani.
Pauku II. Ua haiia ka noa ana o ko Roma pule ma na aina a pau malalo iho o ke Alii o ko Hawaii pae aina e like no ka hoomaluia o ka poe mamuli oia pulae, me ka hoomaluia o ka poe kue ia lakou.
II. II. E haawiia e na lii o Honolulu kahi e ku ai ka hale pule no ko Roma pule, ke awa i hele pinepineia e ko Farani, a na kekahi kahuna o ko lakou ai—na e hana i ko laila oihana.
Available in Chronological File, 1790 – 1849 1839 July 15, 17, 30.
aina e lawe i ka wa e ki pu aloha ana ka papu o Honolulu i ka hae o Farani, he iwakaluakumamakahi pu, a na ua manuwa la kekahi e ki pu aloha.
Ua hanaia a ua kakauia ka inoa a na mea olelo
Iulai 12, 1839
Ma ka inoa o ke Alii o Kamehameha III
Kekauluohi
Kekuanaoa
Kamehameha III
Seal
Another treaty was also concluded at this time which more generally related to the relations between France and Hawaiʻi. Below are the signature pages for the French versions dated July 12 and July 17. French transcriptions provided by Brittanie Nery.
Available in Chronological File, 1790 – 1849 1839 July 15, 17, 30.
Available in Chronological File, 1790 – 1849 1839 July 15, 17, 30.
Article 8. Les sujets du Roi [Tameamea] III auront droit dans les possessions Françaises à tous les avantages dont les Français jouissent aux iles Sandwich et ils seront en outre considéré comme appartenant à la nation la plus favorisée dans ses relations commerciales avec la France.
Fait et signé entre les parties contractaute
le 17 Juillet 1839