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of the Bay of Wei-hai Wei. Within the above-mentioned territory leased Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction.
Great Britain shall have in addition the right to erect fortifications, station troops, or take any other measures necessary for defensive purposes at any points on or near the coast of the region east of the meridian, 121° 40′ east of Greenwich, and to acquire on equitable compensation within that territory such sites as may be necessary for water supply, communications, and hospitals. Within that zone Chinese administration will not be interfered with, but no troops other than Chinese or British shall be allowed therein.
It is also agreed that within the walled city of Wei-hai Wei Chinese officials shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, except so far as may be inconsistent with naval and military requirements for the defence of the territory leased.
It is further agreed that Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise, shall retain the right to use the waters herein leased to Great Britain.
It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the in- habitants of the territory herein specified, and that if land is required for fortifications, public offices, or any official or public purpose, it shall be bought at a fair price.
This Convention shall come into force on signature. It shall be ratified by the Sovereigns of the two countries, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London as 8000 as possible.
In witness whereof the Undersigned, duly authorized, thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Agreement.
Done at Peking in quadruplicate (four copies in English and four in Chinese), the 1st day of July, in the year of our Lord 1898, being the 13th day of the 5th moon of the 24th year of Kuang Hsü.
(L.B.) (L.S.)
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
(Seal of the Chinese Plenipotentiary.)
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
THETIC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
26632.
MY LORD,*
No. 8.
MR. CHOATE to the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. (Received September 22, 1899.)
Answered by No, 9.]
American Embassy, London, September 22, 1999. I AM instructed by the Secretary of State to present to Your Lordship a matter which the President regards as of great and equal importance to Great Britain and the United States in the maintenance of trade and commerce in the East, in which the interest of the two nations differs not in character, but in degree only, and to ask for action on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which the President conceives to be in exact abcord with its uniformly declared policy and traditions, and which will greatly promote the welfare of commerce.
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He understands it to be the settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use any privileges which may be granted to it in China as a means of excluding any com- mercial rivals, and that freedom of trade for it in that Empire means freedom of trade for all the world alike. Her Majesty's Government, while conceding by formal agreements with Germany and Russia, the possession of "spheres of influence or interest in China, in which they are to enjoy special rights and privileges, par- ticularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises, has, at the same time, sought to maintain what is commonly called the "open door" policy, to secure to the commerce and navigation of all nations equality of treatment within such "spheres." The main- tenance of this policy is alike urgently demanded by the commercial communities of our two nations, as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will improve existing conditions, enable them to maintain their positions in the markets of China, and extend their future operations.
While the Government of the United States will in no way commit itself to any recognition of exclusive rights of any Power, within or control over any portion of the Chinese Empire, under such agreements as have been recently made, it cannot conceal its apprehensions that there is danger of complications arising between the