Directory_and_Chronicle_1886 — Page 945

AMENDED TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

REGULATIONS FOR THE LAND TRADE.

235

Art. I.-A trade by free exchange and free of duty (free trade) between Russia and Chinese subjects is authorised within a zone extending for fifty versts (100 li) on either side the frontier. The supervision of this trade will rest with the two Governments, in accordance with their respective frontier regulations.

Art. II.-Russian subjects proceeding on business to Mongolia and to the districts situated on the northern and southern slopes of the Tian-shan mountains may only cross the frontier at certain points specified in the list annexed to these regulations. They must procure from the Russian authorities permits in the Russian and Chinese languages, with Mongolian and Tartar translations. The name of the owner of the goods, or that of the leader of the caravan, a specification of the goods, the number of packages, and the number of heads of cattle may be indicated in the Mongolian or Tartar languages, in the Chinese text of these permits. Merchants, on entering Chinese territory, are bound to produce their periuits at the Chinese post nearest to the frontier, where, after examination, the permit is to be counter- signed by the chief of the post. The Chinese authorities are entitled to arrest merchants who have crossed the frontier without a permit, and to deliver them over to the Russian authorities nearest to the frontier, or to the competent Russian Consul, for the infliction of a severe penalty. In case of the permit being lost, the owner is bound to give notice to the nearest Russian Consul, in order that a fresh one may be issued to him, and to inform the local authorities, in order to obtain a temporary certificate which will enable him to pursue his journey. Merchandise introduced into Mongolia and the districts situated on the slopes of the Tian-shan, but which have found no sale there, may be forwarded to the towns of Tientsin and Sou- tcheou (Tsai-yu-kwan), to be sold or to be sent farther into China. With regard to the duties on such merchandise, to the issue of permits for its carriage, and to other Customs formalities, proceedings shall be taken in accordance with the following provisions.

Art. III.-Russian merchants forwarding goods from Kiachta and the Nertchinsk country to Tientsin must send them by way of Kalgan, Dounba, and Toun-tcheou. Merchandise forwarded to Tientsin from the Russian frontier by Kobdo and Kouihoua-tchen is to follow the same route. Merchants must be provided with transport permits issued by the Russian authorities, and duly visé by the competent Chisese authorities, which must give, in the Chinese and Russian languages, the name of the owner of the goods, the number of packages, and a description of the goods they contain. The officials of the Chinese Custom houses situated on the road by which merchandise is forwarded will proceed, without delay, to verify the number of the packages, and to examine the goods, which they will allow to pass onwards, after fixing a visa to the permit. Packages opened in the course of the Customs examinations will be closed again at the Custom-house, the number of packages opened being noted on the permit. The Customs examination is not to last more than two hours. The permits are to be presented within a term of six months at the Tientsin Custom-house to be cancelled. If the owner of the goods finds this term insufficient, he must at the proper time and pl ce give notice to the Chinese authorities. In case of the permit being lost the merchant must give notice to the authorities who delivered it to him to obtain a duplicate, and must for that purpose make known the number and date of the missing permit. The nearest Custom-house on his road, after having ascertained the accuracy of the merchant's declarations, will give him a provisional certificate, accompanied by which his goods may proceed on their journey. An inaccurate declaration of the quantity of the goods, if it be proved that it was intended to conceal sales effected on the road, or to escape payment of duty, v render the merchant liable to the infliction of the penalties laid down by Art. VIII. of the present regulations.

Art. IV. Russian merchants who may wish to sell at Kalgan any portion of the goods brought from Russia must make a declaration to that effect to the local authorities within the space of five days. Those authorities, after the merchant has

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