Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 178

ADDITIONAL CONVENTION BETWEEN FRANCE AND

CHINA

SIGNED AT PEKING, 20TH JUNE, 1895

Art. I. It is agreed, to assure the policing of the frontier, that the French Government will have the right of maintaining an agent of the Consular order at Tonghing opposite Monkay on the frontier of Kwantung. A further regulation will determine the conditions under which these should be exercised in accordance with the French and Chinese authorities and the communal police of the Sino- Annamite frontier.

Art. II.--Article II. of the Convention, signed at Peking, June 26th, 1887, is modified and completed as follows:-It is agreed between the high contracting parties that the town of Lungchow in Kwangsi and that of Mêngtse in Yunnan are open to French-Annamite commerce. It is intended besides that the port open to commerce on the river route of Laokay to Mêngtse will no longer be Manhao, but Hokow, and that the French Government have the right of maintaining at Hokow an agent under the Consul at Mêngtse, at the same time the Chinese Government can maintain a Customs agent.

Art. III.—It is agreed that the town of Szemno in Yunnan shall be open to French-Annamite commerce, like Lungehow and Mêngtse, and that the French Government will have the right as in the other open port of maintaining a Consul at the same time that the Chinese Government can maintain a Customs agent. The local authorities will employ themselves to facilitate the installation of the French Consul in the proper residence. Frenchmen and protected French subjects may establish themselves at Szemao under conditions of the Articles VII., X., XI., and XII., and others of the Treaty of June 27th, 1858; also by Article III, of the Convention of April 25th, 1886. Goods destined for China can be transported by the rivers, particularly the Loso and the Mekong as well as by land routes, and particularly by the Mandarin-road, which leads either from Mongle or Ipang to Szemao and Puerh, the duties which these goods will be subject to being paid at Szemao.

Art. IV.-Article IX. of the Commercial Convention of April 25th, 1886, is modified as follows:-(1) Chinese goods in transit from one of the other four towns open to commerce on the frontier, Lungchow, Mengtse, Szemao, and Hokow, in passing by Aunam, will pay on leaving the reduced duties of four-tenths. A special certificate will be delivered stating the payment of this duty, and destined to accompany the goods. When they have come to another town they shall be exempt from payment and import duty. (2) Chinese goods which shall be exported from the four above-named localities and transported to Chinese ports, maritime or fluvial, open to commerce, shall be freed on leaving the frontier by payment of the reduced export duty of four-tenths. A special certificate will be delivered stating the payment of this duty, and destined to accompany the goods. When they shall arrive at one of the ports, maritime or fluvial, open to commerce, they shall be freed the half-duty of re-importation in conformity with the general rule for all such goods in the maritime or fluvial ports open to commerce. (3) Chinese goods which shall be transported from Chinese port, maritime or fluvial, open to commerce, by way of Annam, towards the four above-named localities, shall be freed on leaving of all duty. A special certificate will br