Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 140

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND RUSSIA 67

The general arrangement established by the above-mentioned notes is not to infringe in any way the rights acquired under the said Loan Contract, and the Chinese Government is at liberty to appoint both an English engineer and a European accountant to supervise the construction of the line in question and the expenditure of the money appropriated to it. But it remains well understood that this fact cannot be taken as constituting a right of property or foreign control, and that the line in question is to remain a Chinese line, subject to the contrǝl of the Chinese Government, and cannot be mortgaged or alienated to a non-Chinese Company.

As regards the branch line from Siaoheïchan to Sinminting, in addition to the aforesaid restrictions, it has been agreed that it is to be constructed by China berself, who may permit European-not necessarily British-engineers to periodi- cally inspect it, and to verify and certify that the works are being properly executed. The present special Agreement is naturally not to interfere in any way with the right of the Russian Government to support, if it thinks fit, applications of Russian subjects or establishments for Concessions for railways, which, starting from the main Manchurian line in a south-westerly direction, would traverse the region in which the Chinese line terminating at Sinminting and Newchwang is to he constructed.

The Undersigned, etc.

St. Petersburg, April 16 (28), 1899.

(Signed) Count MOURAVIEFF.

CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM

AND CHINA RESPECTING TIBET

Signed at Peking, April 27th, 1906

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED THe ConventiON BETWEEN the United KINGDOM and Tibet, signed at Lhasa, September 7TH, 1904

Ratifications exchanged at London July 23rd, 1906

Whereas His Majesty the King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty the Emperor of China are sincerely desirous to maintain and perpetuate the relations of friendship and good understanding which now exist between their respective Empires;

And whereas the refusal of Tibet to recognise the validity of or to carry into full effect the provisions of the Anglo-Chinese Convention of March 17th 1890 and Regulations of December 5th 1893 placed the British Government under the necessity of taking steps to secure their rights and interests under the said Convention and Regulations;

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