Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 158

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN RELATIVE TO CHINA AND COREA

Mr Lord,

No. 2.

COUNT HATZFELDT TO THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY.

(RECEIVED OCTOBER 16TH.) (Translation.)

GERMAN EMBASSY, LONDON,

October 16th, 1900.

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I have the honour to inform your Excellency that my Government have con- urred in the following points agreed to between your Excellency and myself:-

The Imperial German Government and Her Britannic Majesty's Government, being desirous to maintain their interests in China and their rights under existing Treaties, have agreed to observe the following principles in regard to their mutual policy in China:

"1. It is a matter of joint and permanent international interest that the ports co the rivers and littoral of China should remain free and open to trade and to very other legitimate form of economic activity for the nationals of all countries. without distinction; and the two Governments agree on their part to uphold the same for all Chinese territory as far as they can exercise influence.

"2. The Imperial German Government and Her Britannic Majesty's Govern- ment will not, on their part, make use of the present complication to obtain for themselves any territorial advantages in Chinese dominions, and will direct their policy towards maintaining undiminished the territorial condition of the Chinese Empire.

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3. In case of another Power making use of the complications in China in order to obtain under any form whatever such territorial advantages, the two Contracting Parties reserve to themselves to come to a preliminary understanding as to the eventual steps to be taken for the protection of their own interests in China.

"4. The two Governments will communicate this Agreement to the other Powers interested, and especially to Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States of America, and will invite them to accept the principles recorded in it."

With the highest respect, &c., &c.,

(Signed)

HATZFELDT.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN

RELATIVE TO CHINA AND COREA.

SIGNED AT LONDON, 30TH JANUARY, 1902.

The Governments of Great Britain and Japan, actuated solely by a desire to waintain status quo and general peace in the extreme East, being moreover specially interested in maintaining the independence and territorial integrity of the Empire of China and the Empire of Corea, and in securing equal opportunities in those countries for the commerce and industry of all nations, hereby agree as follows:-

Art. I.-The High Contracting Parties having mutually recognized the inde- pendence of China and of Corea, declare themselves to be entirely uninfluenced by any aggressive tendencies in either country. Having in view, however, their special interests, of which those of Great Britain relate principally to China, while Japan, in addition to the interests which she possesses in China, is interested in a peculiar degree politically as well as commercially and industrially in Corea, the High Con- tracting Parties recognize that it will be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests if threatened either by the aggressive action of any other Power, or by disturbances arising in China or Corea, and necessitating the intervention of either of the High Contracting Parties for the protection of the lives and property of its subjects.

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