the treaty signed this day, if that part of the VIIth Article which stipulates, that in order to be considered as a Mexican ship, a ship shall actually have been built in Mexico, should be strictly and literally observed, and immediately brought into operation—it is agreed that, for the space of ten years, to be reckoned from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, any ships, wheresoever built, being bonâ fide the property of, and wholly owned by, one or more citizens of Mexico, and whereof the master, and three-fourths of the mariners at least, are also natural-born citizens of Mexico, or persons domiciliated in Mexico by act of the government, as lawful subjects of Mexico to be certified according to the laws of that country, shall be considered as Mexican ships; his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland reserving to himself the right, at the end of the said term of ten years, to claim the principle of reciprocal restrictions stipulated for in Article VII. above referred to, if the interests of British navigation shall be found to be prejudiced by the present exception to that reciprocity in favour of Mexican shipping.
