Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 105

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THE BURMAH CONVENTION

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, a provided the ratifications have then been exchanged, or if they have not, then on a 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 i of Kuang Hsu.

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(L.8.)

JOHN WALSHAM.

(L.S.)

SIGNATURE OF CHINESE PLENIPOTENTIARY.

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THE THIBET-SIKKIM CONVENTION

Signed at Calcutta, 17th MARCH, 1890. Ratified at London, 17th August, 1890

Art. I. The boundary of Sikkim and Thibet shall be the crest of the mountain range 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 nor any of its officers shall have official relations of any kiud, formal or informa!, with any other country.

Art. III.-The Government of Great Britain and Ireland and the Government of 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.

Art. V. The question of pasturage on the Sikkim side of the frontier is reserved for further examination and future adjustment.

Art. VI. The high contracting powers reserve for discussion and arrangement, the method in which official communications between the British authorities in India and the authorities in Thibet shall be conducted.

Art. VII. Two Joint Commissioners shall within six months from the ratifica- tion of this Convention be appointed, one by the British Government in India, the other by the Chinese Resident in Thibet. The said Commissioners shall meet and discuss the questions which by the last three preceding articles have been reserved.

Art. VIII.—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.

THE BURMAH CONVENTION

SIGNED AT PEKING, 4TH FEBRUARY, 1897

In consideration of the Government of Great Britain consenting to waive its objections to the alienation by China, by the Convention with France of June 20th 1895, of territory forming a portion of Kiang Hung, in derogation of the provision,

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