Directory_and_Chronicle_1898 — Page 98

THE THIBET-SIKKIM CONVENTION

vessels shall be dealt with by the Native Customs. The special papers and flag issued by the Maritime Customs must alone be used by the particular vessel for which they were originally issued, and are not transferable from one vessel to another. The use of the British flag by vessels the property of Chinese is strictly prohibited. Infringement of these Regulations will, in the first instance, render the offender liable to the penalties in force at the ports hitherto opened under Treaty, and should the offence be subsequently repeated, the vessel's special papers and flag will be withdrawn, and the vessel herself refused permission thenceforward to trade between Ichang and Chungking.

Art. V.-When once Chinese steamers carrying cargo run to Chungking, British steamers shall in like manner have access to the said port.

Art. VI.—It is agreed that the present Additional Article shall be considered as forming part of the Chefoo Agreement, and as having the same force and validity as if it were inserted therein word for word. It shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Peking, and it shall come into operation six months after its signature, provided the ratifications have then been exchanged, or if they have not, then on the date at which such exchange takes place.

Done at Peking in triplicate (three in English and three in Chinese), this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety, being the eleventh day of the Second Intercalary Moon of the sixteenth year of Kuang Hsü.

(L.8.) (L.S.)

JOHN WALSHAM. SIGNATURE OF CHINESE

PLENIPOTENTIARY.

!

!

THE THIBET-SIKKIM CONVENTION

SIGNED AT CALCUTTA, 17TH MARCH, 1890

Ratified at London, 17th August, 1890

Art. L-The boundary of Sikkim and Thibet shall be the crest of the mountain nge separating the waters flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Thibetan Machu and northwards into other rivers of Thibet. The line commences at Mount Gipmochi on the Bhutan frontier, and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nepaul

territory.

Art. II.—It is admitted that the British Government, whose protectorate over the Sikkim State is hereby recognised, has direct and exclusive control over the internal administration and foreign relations of that State, and except through and with the permission of the British Government neither the ruler of the State or any of its officers shall have officials relations of any kiud, formal or informal,

with any other country.

Art. III.-The Government of Great Britain and Ireland and the Government if China engage reciprocally to respect the boundary as defined in Article I. and to prevent acts of aggression from their respective sides of the frontier.

Art. IV.-The question of providing increased facilities for trade across the Sikkim-Thibet frontier will hereafter be discussed with a view to a mutually satisfactory arrangement by the high contracting powers.

reserved for further examination and future adjustment.

side of the frontier is

Digitized by

Google