Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a sum, not exceeding three millions seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, (inclusive of a sum of two millions of dollars, appropriated by the act of the twenty-sixth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and three, intituled "An act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations,") to be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, be, and the same hereby is appropriated, for the purpose of discharging the claims of citizens of the United States against the government of France, the payment of which has been assumed by the government of the United States, by virtue of a convention made the thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic, respecting the said claims.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause to be paid, at the treasury of the United States, in conformity to the convention aforesaid, the amount of such claims, abovementioned, as, under the provisions of the said convention, shall be awarded to the respective claimants; which payments shall be made on the orders of the minister plenipotentiary of the United States for the time being, to the French Republic, in conformity with the convention aforesaid, and the said minister shall be charged on the treasury books with the whole amount of such payments, until he shall have exhibited satisfactory proof to the accounting officers of the treasury, that his orders, thus paid, have been issued in conformity with the provisions of the said convention.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is authorized to borrow, on the credit of the United States, to be applied to the purposes authorized by this act, a sum not exceeding one million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, at a rate of interest, not exceeding six per centum per annum; reimbursable out of the appropriation made by virtue of the first section of this act, at the pleasure of the United States, or at such period, not exceeding five years from the time of obtaining the loan, as may be stipulated by contract; and it shall be lawful for the Bank of the United States to lend the same.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That so much of the duties on merchandise and tonnage as may be necessary, be, and the same hereby is appropriated for the purpose of paying the interest which shall accrue on the said loan.
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That for defraying the expense incident to the investigation of the claims above mentioned, there be appropriated a sum not exceeding eighteen thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars, to be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, that the compensation to be made to any of the commissioners appointed, or to be appointed, in pursuance of the above-mentioned convention, shall not exceed the rate of four thousand four hundred and fifty dollars per annum; that the compensation of their secretary shall not exceed the rate of two thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum; and that the compensation of the agent shall not exceed the rate of one thousand dollars per annum.
APPROVED, November 10, 1803.