632638-1898-Despatch--Treaty-between-Great-Britain-and-Ethiopia- — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD APRIL, 1898.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. --No. 182. The following Circular Despatch, with its enclosure, is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 20th April, 1898.

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

CIRCULAR.

DOWNING STREET,

19th February, 1898.

SIR,-I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government and for publication in the Colony, copies of a Treaty between Great Britain and Ethiopia signed on the 14th May, 1897, and ratified by the Queen on the 28th July, 1897.

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND ETHIOPIA.

Signed by the Emperor Menelek II, and by Her Majesty's Envoy, at Adis Abbaba, May 14, 1897.

[Ratified by the Queen, July 28, 1897.] [English version.*]

HER Majesty Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, and His Majesty Menelek II, by the grace of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia, being desirous of strengthening and rendering more effective and profitable the ancient friendship which has existed between their respective kingdoms;

Her Majesty Queen Victoria having appointed as her Special Envoy and Representative to His Majesty the Emperor Menelek II, James Rennell Rodd, Esq., Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, whose full powers have been found in due and proper form, and His Majesty the Emperor Menelck, negotiating in his own name as King of Kings of Ethiopia, they have agreed upon and do conclude the following Articles, which shall be binding on themselves, their heirs and successors :-

ARTICLE I.

The subjects of or persons protected by each of the Contracting Parties shall have full liberty to come and go and engage in commerce in the territories of the other, enjoying the protection of the Government within whose jurisdiction they are; but it is forbidden for armel ban Is from either side to cross the frontier of the other on any pretext whatever without previous authorization from the competent authorities.

ARTICLE II.

The frontiers of the British Protectorate on the Somali Coast recognized by the Emperor Menelek shall be determined subsequently by exchange of notes between James Rennell Rodd, Esq., as Repre- sentative of Her Majesty the Queen, and Ras Maconen, as Representative of His Majesty the Emperor Menelck, at Harrar. These notes shall be annexed to the present Treaty, of which they will form an integral part, so soon as they have received the approval of the High Contracting Parties, pending which the status quo shall be maintained.

ARTICLE III.

The caravan route between Zeyla and Harrar by way of Gildessa shall remain open throughout its whole extent to the commerce of both nations.

* The Amharic version signed by King Menelek appeared in the left column of the original Treaty.