Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 814

AMENDED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

243

import of goods, and in lea-ing shops and houses where the subjects of the two countries are concerned, contracts will be drawn up and laid before the Consul and the local authority, who will sign and seal the same in proof of such contract; and should the subjects of the two countries fail to draw up contracts the Consul and the local authority will take steps to compel them so to do.

Art. XII.—Russians may trade in Mongolia and with the Mongolian tribes (whether or not there ar- Chinese officials stationed there) without paying duty, as formerly; and they may trade at Ili, Tarbagatai, Kashgar, and Urumt'si, and at the various towns to the North and South of the Tien-shan, without paying duty for the time being; but when trade springs up a fixed tariff will be drawn up and agreed upon by the two countries and the duty-free rate will be abolished. At the various places in China mentioned above, where Russians may trade in foreign and other merchandise, the system of ready money or barter may be employed; and Russians may also pay their debts with various kinds of goods.

Art. XIII.-At the places at which Russian Consuls are to be appointed and at Kalgan Russians may build shop, houses, and godowns, whether they themselves purchase the land or it is granted to them by the local authorities for building purposes in accordance with Art III. of the Rules drawn up in the year 1851 for the regula tion of trade at Ili and Tarbagatai. But this concession, allowing Russians to build shops, houses, and godowns at Kalgan, where there is no Consul, shall not be adduced as a precedent with regard to other places in the interior.

Russian

Art. XIV.-Russian merchants conveying gods overland into the interior of China for purposes of trade may, as formerly, pass through Kalgan and Tungchow to Tientsin, whence the goods may be exported to other ports. They may also dispose of their goods at the above-mentioned places in the interior. merchants may convey overland to Russia by the same route goods purchased at the above-mentioned towns and trading places, and in the interior. Russian merchants may also proceed to Suchow (Kia-yü-kwan) for purposes of trade, but their caravans will stop there. The same facilities will be granted as at Tientsin.

Art. XV.-Russians in the interior of China and beyond the Wall engaged in the overland trade will abide by the Regulations attached to this Treaty. The Articles relating to trade contained in this Treaty and the Overland Trade Regulations attached thereto may be revised after a lapse of ten years from the date of the ratification; but if notice is not given within a period of six months before the expiration of the ten years of the modifications desired, they will remain in force for a further period of ten years. Russian merchants trading on the seaboard of China will abide by the regulations affecting other countries; and should it afterwards be found necessary to revise and modify such regulations, negotiations will be entered into for that purpose between the two countries.

Art. XVI.--When the Russian overland trade becomes prosperous, the two contracting Powers will agree upon and fix a tariff of duties on goods exported from and imported into China, which will prove even still more satisfactory than the present tariff. Generally speaking, the duty on imports and exports will be fixed at the rate of five per cent. ad valorem. Until the tariff of duties is fixed, the export duty on the various second class teas, which at present pay the same duty as teas of the first class, will be reduced; and within one year after the ratification of this Treaty the Tsung-li Yamên and the Russian Minister at Peking will jointly discuss and agree upon the duties to be paid on teas of all kinds.

Art. XVII.-As disputes have arisen with reference to the construction to be put upon Art. X. of the Treaty concluded at Peking in the year 1880, the meaning thereof is distinctly stated in this Article. The meaning of the words, "the cattle shall be sought for and returned," is that when cattle have been stolen and carried off, the cattle will, as soon as the robber is arrested, be sought for and returned; and should the cattle stolen not be found, the robber will have to pay their value as compensation. Should, however, the robber not have the means of making good the loss, the local authorities will not make it good on his behalf. The frontier authorities will, in accordance with the laws of their respective countries, punish severely robbers