CONVENTION BETWEEN THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH AND THE EMPEROR OF CHINA
SIGNED AT PEKING, 25TH OCTOBER, 1860
His Majesty the Emperor of the French and His Majesty the Emperor of China, being desirous to put an end to the difference which has arisen between the two Empires, and to re-establish and assure for ever the relations of peace and amity which before existed and which regrettable events have interrupted, have named as their respective Plenipotentiaries:-
His Majesty the Emperor of the French, Sieur Jean Baptiste Louis, Baron Gros, Senator of the Empire, Ambassador and High Commissioner of France in China, Grand Officer of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour, Knight Grand Cross of several Orders, etc., etc., etc. ;
And His Majesty the Emperor of China, Prince Kung, a member of the Imperial Family and High Commissioner;
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles :-
Art. I. His Majesty the Emperor of China las regarded with rain the conduct of the Chinese military authorities at the mouth of the Tientsin river, in the month of June last year, when the Ministers Plenipotentiary of France and England arrived there on their way to Peking to exchange the ratifications of the Treaties of Tientsin.
Art. II. When the Ambassador, the High Commissioner of His Majesty the Emperor of the French, shall be in Peking for the purpose of exchanging the ratifica- tions of the Treaty of Tientsin, he shall be treated during his stay in the capital with the honours due to his rank, and all possible facilities shall be given him by the Chinese Authorities in order that he may without obstacle fulfil the high mission confided to him.
Art. III.-The treaty signed at Tientsin on the 27th June, 1858, shall be faith- fully placed in execution in all its clauses immediately after the exchange of the ratifications referred to in the preceding article, subject to the modifications introduced by the present Convention.
Art. IV.-Article IV. of the Secret Treaty of Tientsin, by which His Majesty the Emperor of China undertook to pay to the French Government an indemnity of two million taels, is annulled and replaced by the present Article, which increases the amount of the indemnity to eight million taels.
It is agreed that the sum already paid by the Canton Customs on account of the sum of two million taels stipulated by the Treaty of Tientsin shall be considered as having been paid in advance and on account of the eight million taels referred to in the present article.
The provisions of the Article of the Secret Treaty of Tientsin as to the mode of payment of the two million taels are annulled. Payment of the remainder of the sum of eight million taels to be paid by the Chinese Government as provided by the present Convention shall be made in quarterly instalments consisting of one-fifth of the gross Customs revenues at the ports open to foreign trade, the first term commencing on the 1st October of the present year, and finishing on the 31st December following. This sum, specially reserved for the payment of the indemnity due to France, shall be paid into the hands of the Minister for France or of his delegates in Mexican dollars or in bar silver at the rate of the day of payment.
A sum of five hundred thousand taels shall, however, be paid on account in advance at one time, and at Tientsin, on the 30th November next, or sooner if the Chinese Government judges it convenient.
A Mixed Commission, appointed by the Minister of France and by the Chinese Authorities, shall determine the rules to be followed in effecting the payment of the whole of the indemnity, the verification of the amount, the giving of receipts, and in short fulfilling all the formalities required in such case.
Art. V. The sum of eight million taels is allowed to the French Government to liquidate the expenses of its armament against Chin, as also for the indemnification of French subjects and protégés of France who sustained loss by the burning of the
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