1912_TREATY_OF_TIENTSIN — Page 3

TREATY OF TIENTSIN.

33

British Re- presentative

III. His Majesty the Emperor of China hereby agrees that the Residence of Ambassador, Minister, or other Diplomatic Agent, so appointed by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, may reside, with his family and at Teking. establishment, permanently at the capital, or may visit it occasionally at the option of the British Government. He shall not be called upon Ceremonial, to perform any ceremony derogatory to him as representing the Sovereign &c. of an independent nation on a footing of equality with that of China. On the other hand, he shall use the same forms of ceremony and respect to His Majesty the Emperor as are employed by the Ambassadors, Ministers, or Diplomatic Agents of Her Majesty towards the Sovereigns of independent and equal European nations.

Government

It is further agreed, that Her Majesty's Government may acquire at Right of Peking a site for building, or may hire houses for the accommodation British of Her Majesty's Mission, and the Chinese Government will assist it in to hire so doing.

houses, &c, Right of at Peking.

Her Majesty's Representative shall be at liberty to choose his own servants and attendants, who shall not be subject to any kind of molest- British Re- ation whatever.

presentative to choose

servants &c.

Any person guilty of disrespect or violence to Her Majesty's Repre- his own sentative, or to any member of his family or establishment, in deed or Non-molesta- word, shall be severely punished.

tion of

presentative British Re-

or his suite.

Rights and

presentative.

IV. It is further agreed that no obstacle or difficulty shall be made to the free movements of Her Majesty's Representative, and that he, and persons of his suite, may come and go, and travel at their plea- privileges of sure. He shall, moreover, have full liberty to send and receive his British Re- correspondence to and from any point on the sea-coast that he may select; and his letters and effects shall be held sacred and inviolable. He may employ, for their transmission, special couriers, who shall meet with the same protection and facilities for travelling as the persons employed in carrying despatches for the Imperial Government; and, generally, he shall enjoy the same privileges as are accorded to officers of the same rank by the usage and consent of Western nations.

Expenses of

borne by British Government.

All expenses attending the Diplomatic Mission of Great Britain shall Mission to be be borne by the British Government.

V. His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to nominate one of Transaction the Secretaries of State, or a President of one of the Boards, as the of business high officer with whom the Ambassador, Minister, or the other Diplo- British Re-

between matic Agent of Her Majesty the Queen shall transact business, either presentativo personally or in writing, on a footing of perfect equality.

and Chinese Government,

VI. Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain agrees that the Privileges of privileges hereby secured shall be enjoyed in her dominions by the Chinese Am-

bassadors,