Books and Manuscripts

President James K. Polk authorizes the first commercial treaty with Belgium

Washington, (D.C.), March 30, 1846. One sheet folded to make four pages, 10 x 8 1/4 in. (254 x 209 mm). Printed presidential order, signed by Polk, directing "the Secretary of State," and future president, James Buchanan, "to affix the Seal of the United States to the ratified copy of the Treaty of Commerce & Navigation, between the U.S. & Belgium, concluded & signed at Bruxelles, on the 10th November, 1845;" docketed in pencil on verso; pencil inscription along top of recto, "Mr Hutter--for file--"; creasing from contemporary folds, scattered edge-wear.

President Polk directs his Secretary of State, the future 15th president, James Buchanan, to ratify the first commercial treaty with independent Belgium. The terms of the commercial treaty were agreed upon and signed on November 10, 1845 by the United States's Chargés d'affaires to Belgium Thomas Green Clemson and Belgian statesman Adolphe Deschamps. The ratifications were exchanged later in the same day when this document was signed, and were proclaimed the following day. Two previous commercial treaties between the United States and Belgium were attempted, in 1833 and 1840, but both failed to materialize.