CLX
RENDITION OF WEIHAIWEI
gards the Chinese lotholders in the said area appropriate documents will be issued to them by the Chinese authorities on the production of the deeds issued by His Majesty's Govern- ment, which shall forthwith be returned to the British Consul to be cancelled in the same manner as similar deeds issued to nationals other than Chinese.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) MILES W. LAMPSON. H. E. Dr. Chengting T. Wang, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
WAICHIAOPU, NANKING.
September 17, 1930.
Excellency,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's Note of to-day's date, which reads as follows:
With reference to our recent conversa- tions regarding a settlement of the question of land tenure in the British Concession area at Amoy, I have the honour to request Your Excellency's confirmation of my understand- ing that the documents of title to the lots of land in the said aroa issued by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to nationals other than Chinese will be exchanged for Chinese deeds of perpetual lease, a regis tration fee of $1 per mow being charged, and that the said Coñoession will cease to exist and the Exchange of Notes of 1852 embody- ing the agreement covering the leasing of the said area to His Majesty's Government will be cancelled as from the date on which the Chinese deeds of perpetual lease for the lots above referred to have been duly executed and issued and handed to the British Consul at Amoy for transmission to the lotholders other than Chinese in the said area, and that as re- gards the Chinese Iotholders in the said area. appropriate documents will be issued to them by the Chinese authorities on the produc- tion of the deeds issued by His Majesty's Government, which shall forthwith be re- turned to the British Consul to be cancelled in the same manner as similar deeds issued to nationals other than Chinese."
I beg to confirm the correctness of your understanding as stated in your Note under reply.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) CHENGTING T. WANG.
H. E. Sir Miles W. Lampson,
British Minister to China, Nanking.
Excellency,
WAICHIAOPŲ, NANKING.
September 17, 1930.
With reference to the Notes exchanged between us today regarding the settlement of the question of land tenure in the British Concession area at Amoy, I have the honour to state that, pending the actual application throughout the Amoy district of a new law overning land taxation throughout China, he annual land tax to be paid by the holders a the Amoy district of Chinese deeds of per- etual lease to be issued in exchange for British Crown Leases shall remain at the present rate.
I avall myself of this opportunity to renew Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) CHINGTING T. Wang.
His Excellency,
Sir Miles W. Lampson,
British Minister to China, Nanking.
Sir,
483.
BRITISH LEGATION, NANKING.
September 17, 1930.
I have the honour to acknowledge the re- ceipt of Your Excellenoy's Note of today's date in which you state that "pending the actual application throughout the Amoy district of a new law governing land taxation throughout China, the annual land tax to be paid by the holders in the Amoy district of Chinese deeds of perpetual lease to be issued in exchange for British Crown Leases shall remain at the present rate."
I have taken due note of this statement with which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are in agreement.
I avall myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
(Signed) MILES W, LAMPSON.
His Excellency,
Dr. Chengting T. Wang,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nanking.
Rendition of Weihaiwei
*
On July 1, 1898, the Territory and Port of Weihaiwei were leased to Great Britain by the Manchu Government for. "so long a perlod as Port Arthur shall romain in the occupation of Russia.' Great Britain at the Washington Conference undertook under certain conditions to restore Welhalwer to China, and in 1923, the former Peking Govern- ment caused a commission to be organized. under Mr. M. T. Liang to negotiate with the British Government for its rendition. An agreement was duly reached, but owing to the collapse of the then Chinese Cabinet, it was not signed.
When the final negotiations were initiated between Dr. C. T. Wang and Sir Mlles Lamp- son, the above-mentioned draft Agreement was practically scrapped. A new Convention and Agreement were initialled on February 13, 1930, and formally signed at Nanking on April 18, 1930. The exchange of ratifications was effected on October 1, 1930, and the transfer of Weihaiwei to Chinese control took place on the same day. Mr. Wang Chia-chen, Administrative Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Sir Reginald F. Johnston, British Commissioner for Welhalwei, officiated at the ceremony.
The following is the text of the Convention and Agreement signed between Dr. C. T. Wang and Sir Miles Lampson:
CONVENTION AND AGREEMENT FOR THE RENDITION OF WELHAIWEI
(Signed at Nanking, April 18th, 1930). His Excellency, the President of the Na- tlonal Government of the Republic of China, and
His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India.
Desiring that the territory of Weihaiwel leased by China to His Britannic Majesty under the Convention of July 1, 1898, should be restored in full sovereignty to China, have resolved to conclude a Convention for that purpose and to that end have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries :
His Excellency the President of the Na- tional Government of the Republic of China; Dr. Chengting T. Wang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China;
His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India ;
For Great Britain and Northern Ireland : Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O., His Majesty's Envoy Extraord- inary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of China;
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