Directory_and_Chronicle_1902 — Page 162

TRADE REGULATIONS FOR THE TONKIN FRONTIER JOINTLY DETERMINED ON BY FRANCE AND CHINA

SIGNED AT PEKING, 25TH APRIL, 1886

[Translated from the French Text]

Whereas in Article VI. of the Treaty between the President of the French Re- public and His Majesty the Emperor of China, signed the 9th day of June, 1865, it is stated that "Regulations for the conduct of overland trade between Tonkin and the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Kwang-si, and Kwang-tung shall be jointly discussed and concluded by Commissioners appointed by the two Powers, and will form a supple- ment to the present Treaty;" and whereas in the tenth article of that agreement it is set forth that "provisions of former Treaties and Regulations agreed to by France and China, except in so far as they are modified by the present agreement, will continue to retain their original validity," the two High Contracting Parties have for this purpose named as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say:-

The President of the French Republic, G. Cogordan, Minister Plenipotentiary of France to China, Officer of the Legion of Honour, Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy, &c., &c., together with E. Bruwaert, Consul of the first class, Assistant Commissioner for Treaty negotiations, Knight of the Order of Gustav of Sweden, and of the Order of Leopold of Belgium;

And His Majesty the Emperor of China, Li, Grand Preceptor of the Heir Ap- parent, Grand Secretary of State, Superintendent of Trade for the Northern Seaboard, Joint Commissioner of Admiralty, Governor of Chihli, and a member of the first degree of the third order of the hereditary nobility, with the title of Sou-yi;

Who after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, and found them to be in due form, have concluded the following Articles :-

Art. I. In accordance with the terms of Article V. of the Treaty of the 19th June, 1885, the high contracting parties agree that for the present two places shall be opened to trade, one to the north of Langson and the other above Lao-kai. China will establish Custom Houses there, and France shall have the right to appoint Consuls, who shall enjoy all rights and privileges conceded in China to the Consuls of the most favoured nation.

The work of the Commission charged with the delimitation of the two countries not being completed at the time of the signature of the present Convention, the place to be opened to trade north of Langson shall be selected and determined in the course of the present year by arrangement between the Imperial Government and the representative of France at Peking. As to the place to be opened to trade above Lao-kai, this will also be determined by common accord when the frontier between the two countries shall have been defined.

Art. II. The Imperial Government may appoint Consuls at Hanoi and at Haiphong. Chinese Consuls may also be sent later on to other large towns in Tonkin by arrangement with the French Government.

The agents shall be treated in the same manner and have the same rights and privileges as the Consuls of the most favoured nation in France. They shall maintain official relations with the French authorities charged with the Protectorate.

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