Directory_and_Chronicle_1869 — Page 419

CONVENTION SIGNED BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA,

AT PEKING. ON THE 14TH NOVEMBER, 1860.

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TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE TEXT.

Their Imperial Majesties the Emperors of China and Russia, having made them- selves fully acquainted with the terms of the Treaty concluded in the year 1858, propose to establish certain regulations with a view to the consolidation of amity, commerce, and alliance between the two States, and in order to provide against all misunder- standing and disputes, and for this purpose, have appointed Plenipotentiaries, that is to say -His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China, His Imperial Highness the Prince of Kung; His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, His Excellency, Privy Councillor, F-ko-na-te-yay-fuh:*—who, and after communicating to each other their full powers, have conjointly agreed upon the following convention.

Art. 1.-In accordance with the first articles of the Treaty concluded at Gaehwan (Ay-Kom, on the Amoor), on the 2nd of June, 1858, and the ninth article of the Treaty concluded at Tientsin, on the 13th of June of the same year, it is agreed that the Eastern boundaries, separating Russian from Chinese territory, shall be as follows:- from the junction of the rivers Shih-lih-ngih-urh (Songary River) and Koona:--that is to say, down the Amoor to its junction with the Usuri, the country to the North belongs to Russia, and that to the South, as far as the mouth of the Usuri, to China; from the mouth of the Usuri, southwards, to Lake Hin-Ka, the rivers Usuri, and Songatehan shall be the boundaries,—that is to say, the tract of country east of the said rivers belongs to Russia, and that west of the same to China; from the source of the Songatchan, the boundary shall traverse Lake Hin-Ka in a right line from the Songatchan to the Pih-ling; and from the mouth of the Pih-ling, it shall follow the range of mountains to the Houptou's mouth, from which it shall pass to the mouth of the Toumen, running along the Houchun and the Hae-chung-keen range,--that is to say, the country east of the boundary line thus indicated (from Lake Hin-Ka to the mouth of the Toumen) belongs to Russia, and that lying to the west thereof to China. From the point at which the frontiers of the two countries meet at the Toumen to the mouth of the said river, there shall be neutral territory, separating the Russian from the Chinese possessions, 20 le in width. Further, in accordance with the Ninth article of the Tientsin Treaty, it is agreed that a chart shall be made, in which the portion colored red shall indicate the frontiers, and on which shall be written the Russian words "A-pa-ra-kih-ta-yay-jene-keae-e-yih-gih-la-ma-na-wo-pa-la-sa-too-woo,” in order to facilitate accurate reference: and the said charts shall be duly authenticated by the seals and signatures of the High Ministers of the two countries.

The tract of country above referred to is unoccupied waste land. Should Chinese squatters be found in any part of it, or should any portions be used by Chinese as fishing or hunting grounds, Russia shall not take possession of such, but the Chinese shall be allowed to fish and to hunt as they have been wont to do.

From the time of setting up the boundary warks there shall never be any changes made; and Russia engages not to encroach upon the Chinese territory in the vicinity of the frontiers, nor will ground be seized in any other part of China.

Art. 2. Following the range of hills along the Amoor's course, the long established Chinese frontier posts, and the marks put down in the 6th year of Yung-ching's reign

• This is the Chinese expression for Ignatieff, the Russian Plenipotentiary's name.---Translator.