Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 980

212

CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA, 1886.

2.—It is further understood that, in the event of the termination of the said Additional Article, the Chefoo Argeement, with the exception of clause 3 of Section III., and with the modifications stipulated in clause 1 of the said Additional Article, shall nevertheless remain in force.

I have, &c. (Signed)

TSENG.

CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA RELATING TO BURMAH AND THIBET,

SIGNED AT PEKING, 24TH JULY, 1886.

Whereas Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, and His Majesty the Emperor of China, being sincerely desirous to maintain and perpetuate the relations of friendship and good understanding which now exist between their respective Empires, and to promote and extend the commercial inter- course between their subjects and dominions, the following Convention has been agreed upon and concluded :-

On the part of Great Britain by Nicholas Roderick O'Conor, Esquire, Her Majesty's Secretary of Legation at Washington, and lately Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in China, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, duly empowered thereunto;

And on the part of China by his Highness Prince Ch'ing, President of the Tsung-li Yamên, and his Excellency Sun, Minister of the Tsung-li Yamên, Senior Vice-President of the Board of Works.

Art. I.-Inasmuch as it has been the practice of Burmah to send decennial Missions to present articles of local produce, England agrees that the bighest authority in Burmah shall send the customary decennial Missions, the members of the Missions to be of Burmese race.

Art. II.-China agrees that, in all matters whatsoever appertaining to the authority and rule which England is now exercising in Burmah, England shall be free to do whatever she deems fit and proper.

Art. III.-The frontier between Burmah and China to be marked by a Delimi- tation Commission, and the conditions of frontier trade to be settled by a Frontier Trade Convention, both countries agreeing to protect and encourage trade between China and Burmab.

Art. IV.-Inasmuch as enquiry into the circumstances by the Chinese Govern- ment has shown the existence of many obstacles to the Mission to Thibet provided for in the Separate Article of the Chefoo Agreement, England consents to countermand the Mission forthwith.

With regard to the desire of the British Government to consider arrangements for frontier trade between India and Thibet, it will be the duty of the Chinese Govern- ment, after careful inquiry into the circumstances, to adopt measures to exhort and encourage the people with a view to the promotion and development of trade. Should it be practicable, the Chinese Government shall then proceed carefully to consider Trade Regulations; but, if insuperable obstacles should be found to exist, the British Government will not press the matter unduly.

Art. V. The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible after the date of the signature thereof.

In witness whereof the respective negotiators have signed the same and affixed thereunto the seals of their arms.

Done in triplicate at Peking this twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, corresponding with the Chinese date the twenty-third day of the sixth moon of the twelfth year of Kwang Sü.

(L.S.)

"

NICHOLAS RODERICK O'CONOR.

(Monogram)

"}

CH'ING.

SUNG YU-WEN.