CO537-3711 — Page 141

Hertslet's

China * Treaties,

Vol. I, p.505.

Hertslet's China Treaties Vol. I, p. 391.

5. By Article V of the Treaty of Fortsmouth of September 5, 1905, Russia "ceded" to Japan "with the con- sent of the Government of China" the lease of Fort Arthur; together with all the rights, privileges and concessions secured by the lease. The High Contracting Furties agreed to obtain Chinese coasent for this stipulation.

6.

By Article I of a Treaty and Additional agreement dated December 22, 1905, the Imperial Chinese Government consented to the above assignment. Article II provided:- "The Imperial Japanese Government engage that in regard to the leased territory as well as in the matter of railway construction they will so far as circumstances permit conform to the original agreement concluded between China and Russia."

7. As regards the position following the Japanese assumption of authority in 1905, Young writes that it did not appear that the Chinese Government had ever made any serious effort to recover any form of administrative authority over the City and that for a quarter of a century the Japanese had exercised complete civil and military authority.

3. Great Britain:

(Wei-hai-wei):

By a Convention dated July 1, 1898, Wei-hai-wei in the province of Shantung was leased to Great Britain "for so long a period as Port Arthur shall remain in the occupa- tion of Russia.

2. The Convention provided that "within the above-mentioned territory leased Greaty Britain shall have sole jurisdiction."

3.

4.

It contained the following provision:-

"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".

Chinese jurisdiction in Wei-hai-wei continued until the territory was restored to China in 1930.

McMurray,

Treaties â

Agreement

concerning

China,

Vol.1,p.128

4. France:

By a Convention of May 27, 1898, Kuang-Chow an was

. leased for 99 years to France for the purpose of establishing a naval and coaling station. Article I provides that this lease did not affect the rights of sovereignty of China over the leased territories.

2. Article III specifically states that the territory should be governed and administered during the 99 years by France alone. The same article provides that the inhabitants should continue in the enjoyment of their lands "under the protection of France" so long as they duly observed French laws and regulations.