a copy of the Preliminary Convention signed by the Representatives of there Powers at Tientsin instant:- the 12th prestige or dignity of China, and she will annul all her existing treaties with Annam which injuriously affect Touquin.
5.This Treaty having been signed by both parties, the two nations will appoint Plenipotentiaries, who after three months will meet and conclude a Treaty comprising in detail all the points now agreed upon.
The shore Preliminary Treaty shall be written in duplicate in Chinese and French, and be signed and sealed at Tientsin, each party retaining as evidence a copy of each version. According to international custom, the French version will be held correct.
236 PRELIMINARY CONVENTION. FULL TEXT.
At the present moment, there being much trouble in the minds of men and great confusion in affairs. His Majesty the Emperor of China and the French Republic, wishing their two nations to live in amity, and desiring to secure perpetual peace, now proceed to conclude a Preliminary Treaty, which shall serve as the basis of an elaborate Treaty hereafter to be agreed upon.
The Chinese Plenipotentiary Li and the French Plenipotentiary Fournier, having communicated to each other their respective full powers and found them to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:
1.--Whatever contingencies may arise, also in the case of attempts at encroachment by other nations, France agrees to secure and protect the Southern frontier of China which is contiguous to Northern Annam.
2-There being no fear, after the convincing proofs given by France, of that country's making encroachments or causing disturbances, China agrees at once to recall within her own frontier all her troops now stationed in Northern Annam; also, not to concern herself with any existing or future treaties between France and Annam.
3.-In gratitude for China's wish to arrange matters, and out of respect for the earnest desire shown by Li for the general welfare, France is willing not to demand any indemnity from China. At the same time China promises that, on her frontier which touches Northern Annam, she will allow French and Annamite and likewise Chinese goods to come and go and be disposed of freely. She also agrees that when she sends an envoy to conclude the detailed Treaty, he shall also arrange a tariff, which shall be exceedingly liberal, and which will thus be of great advantage to French and Annamite trade.
4-France agrees that, in future, in making or altering any treaty with Annam, she will in no case insert expressions derogatory to the prestige or dignity of China, and she will annul all her existing treaties with Annam which injuriously affect Touquin.
The Representative of China on this occasion was Li Hung-Chang, the Viceroy of the Metropolitan Province of Chihli, (in which Peking is situated;) while the Representative of France was Captain Fournier, Commanding the French Frigate "Volta", and acting under the orders of Admiral L'espès.
The Foreign Ministers at Peking