CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 606

تایی ریتلی

Copy. (153607).

CO 67840

R. 27 OV 19

595

1. In order to avoid the silting of the harbour of Macau the local Portuguese Government started earth works and dredging which have given rise to protests being handed in, both in Peking and Lisbon, by the Chinese Government on the grounds that it alters the statu-quo provided in Article II of the Chino-Portu- guese Treaty of December 1st, 1887,

2. The works have been carried out within the provi- sional limite to which the statu-quo applies and in waters where solely Portuguese jurisdiction is gener- ally recognised and in compliance with our obligations to guarantee the navigability, and useful therefore to Portugal,China and generally. The provisional limits are, as regards the interior harbour, the parallel between Apo-siac and Ilha Verde, and, as regards the Macau roads, the meridian passing through the largest of the Nove Ilhas.-

By

The Chinese Government claim that the maintenance of the statu-quo involves the prohibition of carrying out any works or alterations within the zone attri- buted by the above-referred to Article to either country until a definite delimitation has been arrived at. An interpretation inconsistent in a question of delimitation and that would impede any necessary measures to avoid the total ruin of the locality.

4.

When similar works have formally been carried out the Chinese Government have abandoned such protests on receipt of our reply.

5. In case of the present protest the Portuguese

Government/

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