Treaty between China and Russia for the Connection of Telegraphic Lines on their Frontier.
1.-In order to establish Telegraphic Communication, China and Russia agree to connect their lines in the manner hereafter described.
2. The points of Junction shall be as follows:----
1.-The Chinese telegraph office at Hunchun shall connect with the Russian telegraph office at Passiette [?]. 2.-The Chinese telegraph office at Helampo shall connect with the Russian office at Blagowestchensk.
3. The Chinese line about to be constructed to Kiatcha shall connect with the Russian office at Kiatcha. Should there be places where the Chinese and Russian lines are in close proximity, connection will be established if it seems advantageous to both countries.
3-The Hunchun and Passiette [?] connection will be made immediately after the treaty [is ratified]. The Helampo and Blagowestchensk connection will be made as soon as the cable has been laid, but in any case the delay may not exceed six months after the signing of this treaty. The Kiatcha connection will be made as soon as China shall have constructed the line from Peking to Kiatcha; but in any case not later than five years after the signing of this treaty.
4. The telegraphs above referred to shall be erected and maintained by each country's administration within its own borders, and neither shall encroach as much as an inch within the territory of the other. As regards the cable beneath the Amur for the junction at Helampo-Blagowestchensk, the cost shall be borne by the two telegraph administrations, and the cable shall be the property of both countries.
5.--In all matters referring to telegraphing and the receipt and despatch of messages, the rules of the Telegraph Union shall be observed, and the rules now in force regarding messages sent by cable between China and Russia, shall equally apply to messages transmitted by the land-lines. Messages on telegraphic business shall be transmitted free of charge. As regards the transmission of messages sent over the lines as referred to in Art. 2 of this treaty, the Chinese and Russian administrations will each make its own arrangements in such a way that at all times messages shall be sent off as soon as they are received.
6.-China and Russia each having its own lines to the frontier, each country fixes its own tariff, and during the time this treaty is in force the rates agreed to in Art. 7 may not be altered without the consent of both Powers. The two countries further agree, in accordance with the rules of the Telegraphic Union, that should hereafter either land-lines or cables give communication with Foreign countries
C. O.
22046
RECR
DEC 14 NOV 22