CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 421

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government:]

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AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

201

[February 26.]

Pro 18 MAR 10! SECTION 2,-

(6722]

No. 1.

Sir,

India Office to Foreign Office.(Received February 26.)

India Office, February 25, 1910. IN continuation of my letter of the 22nd instant, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a telegram which has been received from the Viceroy, giving the fall text of the treaty which has been concluded with Bhutan.

It will be observed that the text of article as now revised is practically identical with that proposed in Sir A. Godley's letter of the 22nd April, 1909, to your department.

Subject to Sir E. Grey's concurrence, Viscount Morley proposes to instruct the Government of India to publish the treaty at once.

I am,

&c.

R. RITCHIE.

(Telegraphic.) P.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Government of India to Viscount Morley.

February 22, 1910.

BHUTAN treaty: Your telegram of the 21st instant. The document is signed and sealed on left by C. A. Bell, political officer in Sikkim, and is dated the 8th January, 1910. On the right are the seals of Dharma Rajah, his Highness the Rajah of Bhutan, Tatsang Lamas, and eight Bhutanese officials. Following is full text:-

"Whereas it is desirable to amend articles 4 and 8 of the treaty concluded at Sinchula on the 11th day of November, 1865, corresponding with Bhutia year Shinglang, 24th day of the 9th month, between the British Government and the Government of Bhutan, the under-mentioned amendments are agreed to, on the one part by Mr. C. A. Bell, political officer in Sikkim, in virtue of full powers that (? have been) vested in him by the Right Honourable Sir Gilbert John Elliot Murray Kynynmound, &c., Earl of Minto, Viceroy and Governor-General of India in Council, and on the other part by His Highness Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, K.C.I.E., Maharajah of Bhutan. The following addition has been made to article 4 of the Sinchula treaty of 1865:-

"The British Government has increased the annual allowance to the Government of Bhutan from 50,000 rupees to 100,000 rupees with effect from the 10th January,

1910.'

"Article 8 of the Sinchula treaty, 1865, has been revised, and the revised article runs as follows:-

"The British Government undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part the Bhutanese Government agrees to be guided by the advice of the British Government in regard to its external relation. In the event of dispute with, or cause of complaint against, Maharajahs of Sikkim and Kuch Behar, such matters will be referred for arbitration to the British Government, which will settle them in such manner as justice may require, and insist upon the observance of its decision by the Maharajahs named.'

"Done in quadruplicate at Punaka, Bhutan, this 8th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1910, corresponding with Bhutia date the 27th day of the 11th month of the Earth-Bird (Sa-ja) year.”

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