CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 480

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(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

C O

0654 [February 15.]

SECTION 1.

PEGS 17 MAR

No. 1.

[5666]

Sir G. Buchanan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 15.)

(No. 38. Very Confidential.)

(Telegraphic. P.

RUSSO-CHINESE relations.

My despatch No. 501 of the 27th December.

St. Petersburgh, February 15, 1911.

At my interview with M. Sazonow to-day, his Excellency banded me a statement of the rights which Russia claims as having been secured to her by her treaty with China of 1881. The document was marked "Strictly Private," and the following is a summary of its contents:-

1. By article 1 of the regulations attached to the treaty of 1881 Russia secured the right of imposing customs dues on all trade between Russia and China, save in the zone known as the 50-verst zone, where trade is free from all customs dues.

2. Article 11 of the treaty secures to Russian subjects the right of extra- territoriality, and gives the mixed courts sole competence in disputes arising between Russian and Chinese subjects.

3. Article 12 gives to Russian subjects the right of residence in Western China and Mongolia, where they may carry on trade free of all customs dues in goods of whatever origin. No monopolies must be established in hindrance of this trade.

4. In accordance with the terms of article 10 Russian consuls may be appointed to Hami, Guchen, and Kobdo, and China must consent to their appointment when the number of lawsuits pending between Russians and Chinese renders their appointment necessary,

5. The Chinese authorities in a consular district must recognise the official status of the Russian consul, and have no right to refuse to co-operate with him in settling disputes between Chinese and Russian subjects.

6. By article 13 Russian subjects are given full liberty to acquire land and build houses in every town where Russia has the right of appointing a consul.

This statement of rights is to be handed to the Wai-wu Pu by the Russian Minister at Peking, together with an intimation to the effect that the Russian Government will be compelled to take measures unless its terms are complied with.

No fixed term is set for compliance with the Russian demands, and M. Sazonow explained to me that the document could not therefore be regarded as in the nature of an ultimatum, though the Russian Government, he said, intended to secure compliance by force, if necessary.

I asked what would be the nature of the force to be employed, and his Excellency hinted that military measures would be taken, if necessary, in Mongolia or Turkestan. He assured me that no measures would be taken in Manchuria in any circumstances.

[1909 p-1]

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