PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
דוויקון זון
C.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
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Printed confidentially for the use of the Colonial Office.
Eastern, No. 86.
WEIHAIWEI.
CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM.
Weihaiwei was leased to Great Britain "for so long a period as Port Arthur shall remain in "the occupation of Russia.'
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It was leased "in order to provide Great "Britain with a suitable naval harbour in North "China, and for the better protection of British "commerce in the neighbouring seas.' lt is provided that "Chinese vessels of war, whether "neutral or otherwise, shall retain the right to use "the waters herein leased to Great Britain."
The Chinese Government were told that it was not wanted as a commercial port, but as a naval "base as a counterpoise to Port Arthur," and also that, if they could persuade the Russians to give. up Port Arthur, they could retain Weihaiwei as well.
The German Government were told that the sole object of taking Weihaiwei was "to main- "tain the balance of power in the Gulf of Pechili, which is menaced by Russia's occupation of Port "Arthur," and that "it is not possible to make "Weihaiwei a commercial port, and it would "never be worth while to connect it with the
peninsula by railway."
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A formal declaration was made as follows:- England formally declares that, in establishing "herself at Weihaiwei, she has no intention of
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injuring or contesting the interests of Germany "in the Province of Shantung, or of creating "difficulties for her in that province. It is "specially understood that England will not con- "struct any railroad communication from Wei- haiwei, and the district leased therewith, into "the interior of the province."
高温
The United States Government have been informed that "Her Majesty's Government would "be willing, in the event of Customs duties being "at any time imposed on goods reaching Weihai- "wei by sea, that they should be collected on "behalf of China at the Chinese treaty rate, and the proceeds remitted to the Chinese Govern- "ment."
The Weibaiwei Convention was signed on 1st July 1898. The treaty between Germany and China for the lease of Kiao-Chau was signed on 6th March 1898. The Emperor of China ceded to
i 82579. 50-6/04. Pk. 21. E. & S.
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