This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
18
[December 6.]
SECTION 3.
(No. 306.) My Lord,
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received December 6.)
Peking, October 22, 1902,
I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of the Treaty signed by the Portuguese and Chinese Plenipotentiaries on the 15th instant, with which my colleague, Senhor Azevedo da Castello Branco, has been so good as to furnish me. This copy does not contain the Articles relating to the number of copies, the ratification and publication which were appended to the original.
Article I simply confirms the Treaty of 1887. By Article II, Portugal accepts the increase of the Import Tariff stipulated for by Article 6 of the Final Protocol of the 7th September, 1901, and annuls the Tariff Article of the Treaty of 1887.
Articles III to VI provide for the establishment at Macao of a branch of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, which will treat vessels sailing from the Colony as if this branch was a Treaty port Custom-house, and for the establishment of appropriate Customs Regulations.
Senhor Azevedo was so obliging as to inform me that he had signed at the same time an exchange of notes by which China undertakes to accord to Portugal a Concession for a railway between Macao and Canton (Samshui), the details of which are to be settled hereafter, and names Sir Robert Hart as the Chinese Plenipotentiary for drawing up the Agreement relative to the Customs Regulations of Macao, provided for in Article VI of the Treaty.
My Portuguese colleague expects that after the ratification of this Treaty the Portuguese Government will appoint a Plenipotentiary, possibly himself, to negotiate a new Commercial Treaty with China, which, it is understood, the Chinese Government desire to negotiate on the lines of Sir James Mackay's Treaty.
In saying good-bye to me before he quitted Peking on leave of absence, Senhor Azevedo expressed his warm thanks for the friendly assistance I had afforded to him during the progress of his negotiations with the Chinese Government, which have resulted in the present Treaty.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Treaty between Portugal and China signed at Peking, October 15, 1902.
ARTICLE I.
LE Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce signé entre le Portugal et la Chine le 1 Décembre, 1887, continue à être en vigueur avec les modifications et altérations provenantes du présent Traité.
ARTICLE II.
Le Portugal accepte l'élévation des Tarifs d'Importation stipulé par l'Article 6 du Protocole de Pékin du 7 Septembre, 1901, et, à partir de la ratification du présent Traité, et tant que le Traité d'Amitié et de Commerce entre le Portugal et la Chine actuellement en vigueur n'aura pas été revisé, le Portugal jouira du traitement de la nation la plus favorisée, et en aucun cas il ne sera exigé des sujets Portugais de droits plus ou moins élevés que ceux qui seront exigés des sujets de n'importe quel autre nation.
Cet Article annulle l'Article XII du Traité de 1887.
[2326 --3]