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SINO-FOREIGN TREATIES

Tariff Autonomy Treaty between China and Great Britain.

His Excellency, the President of the National Government of the Re public of China, and

His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominion beyond the Seas, Emperor of India.

Desiring to strengthen the good relations which happily exist between them and to facilitate and extend trade and commerce between their respec tive countries,

Have resolved to conclude a treaty for this purpose and have appointe as their plenipotentiaries.—

His Excellency, the President of the National Government of the Re

public of China:

His Excellency, Doctor Chengting T. Wang, Minister for Foreign

Affairs of the National Government of the Republic of China His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the Britis Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India; For Grea Britain and Northern Ireland:

Sir Miles Wedderburn Lampson, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.V.O., H Majesty's Envoy Entraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiar to the Republic of China;

Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due fort have agreed as follows:-

·

Article I.-It is agreed that all provisions of the existing treaties betwee the High Contracting Parties which limit in any way the right of China. settle her national customs tariff in such way as she may think fit are hereb abrogated, and that the principle of complete national tariff autonomy sha apply.

Article II.The nationals of either of the High Contracting Parties shap not be compelled under any pretext whatsoever to pay in the territories His Britannic Majesty to which the present Treaty applies and China re pectively any duties, internal charges or taxes upon goods imported or e ported by them other than or higher than those paid on goods of the san origin by British and Chinese nationals respectively, or by nationals of an other foreign country.

Article III-His Britannic Majesty agrees to the abrogation of all prov sions of the existing treaties between the High Contracting Parties whic limit the right of China to impose tonnage dues at such rates as she ma think fit.

In regard to tonnage dues and all matters connected therewith, Chine ships in those territories of His Britannic Majesty to which the present trea applies and British ships in China, shall receive treatment not less favourab than that accorded to the ships of any other foreign country.

Article IV-The present treaty shall be ratified and the ratifications sha be exchanged in London as soon as possible. It shall come into force on th date on which the two Parties shall have notified each other that ratificatio has been effected..

The Chinese and English texts of the present treaty have been careful compared and verified; but in the event of there being a difference of meani between the two the sense as expressed in the English text shall be held prevail.

:

In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the prese treaty in duplicate, and have affixed thereunto their seals.

Done at Nanking, the twentieth day of the twelfth month of the seve teenth year of the Republic of China, corresponding to the twentieth day December, nineteen hundred and twenty-eight.

(Signed) CHENGTING T. WANG. (Signed) MILES W. LAMPSON.

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