Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 812

AMENDED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

AMENDED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

SIGNED, IN THE RUSSIAN, CHINESE, and FRENCH LANGUAGES, AT ST. PETERSBuro, 1881.

Ratified same year.

TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE TEXT.

241

His Majesty the Emperor of China and His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, being desirous to bring to a satisfactory conclusion the questions of the frontier and of trade in the interest of the two countries, and in order to preserve friendly rela- tions, for that purpose bave named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:-

His Majesty the Emperor of China, Tsêng, Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia, of the First Class of the Second Order of Nobility, Sub-Director of the Grand Court of Revision;

And His Majesty the Emp ror of Russia, M. Giers, Member of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and President of the Senate; and M. Butzow, Minister Plenipotentiary to China;

Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, and found them to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the follow- ing articles:-

Art. E-His Majesty the Emperor of Russia hereby argees to restore to China the territory of Ili which has been held on behalf of China by Russian troops since the year 1871, whereupon that part in the West of Ili, the boundaries of which are defined in Art. VII. of this Treaty, will become Russian territory.

M

Art. II. His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to issue a Decree to the effect that the inhabitants of Ili, whether during the rebellion or after its pacification, will, without distinction of race or creed, be neither tried nor punished for anything they may have done, nor will their property be interfered with; and the Chinese officials will, previous to taking over Ili, issue a proclamation to the inhabitants of Ili in accordance with the terms of the gracious decree of His Majesty the Emperor of China.

Art. III.-The inhabitants of Ili are free either to remain where they are and become Chinese subjects or they may go over to Russian territory; but previous to the rendition of Ili they must be asked distinctly whether they wish to go over to Russia, and a space of one year from the date of the rendition of Ili will be given within which they may go over and take their property with them, and the Chinese offic.als will not prevent them.

Art. IV. Russians who have purchased land within the territory of Ili will, after the restoration of Ili, retain their property as before; but those inhabitants of Ili who, at the time of the restoration of that territory, go over to Russia, cannot adduce this article as a law affecting them. Land owned by Russians, with the exception of the allotments granted for trading purposes by Art. XIII. of the Treaty of Commerce signed at Kuldja in the year 1851, will pay the same taxes as land owned by Chinese.

Art. V. High officers will be deputed by both countries, the one side to hand over, and the other to take over Ili. They will conduct their negotiations in all matters affecting the transfer in accordance with the stipulations of the Treaty in the town of Ili; and the Governor-General of the provinces of Shensi and Kansub, and the Governor-General of Turkestan will decide the manner and order of the negotia- tions to be conducted by the High officers. The Governor-General of Shensi and Kansub will, on receipt of His Majesty the Emperor of China's commands assenting to the Treaty, depute a proper official to carry this information to the Governor- General of Turkestan; and within three months at most after the arrival of this official at Tashikan the transfer of Ili will be completed.