town of Chinchou. || 8. China is not to grant any mining, railway, or other rights without the permission of Russia in the territory upon the Russian border, i. e. Manchuria, Mongolia, Ili, Yarkand, &c., and Russia's permission is to be obtained before China builds railways in these provinces. No lease is to be granted to any but Russians outside of Newchwang. || 9. The indemnities of the Powers and the expenses incurred by Russia in Manchuria are to be dealt with on the same footing. || 10. Compensation shall be settled with the Railway Company with regard to the damage done to the Manchurian Railway and suffered by its employés. || 11. The form such compensation may take is the granting of new Concessions or modification of contracts now existing. || 12. Building of a railway line, on the same terms as the Manchurian Railway, from the main or branch line in the direction of Peking up to the Great Wall.

Pressure is being brought by the Russian Legation on Li Hungchang to obtain his consent. The whole question has evidently been referred to the Court.

Nr. 13042. CHINA. Kaiserliches Edikt über die russische Forderung und Anrufung der europäischen Ver

mittlung.

February 28. (Communicated by Chinese Minister, March 1, 1901.) (Translation.) || Russia promises to deliver up the three eastern provinces (Manchuria). She proposes an Agreement of twelve Articles. We have authorized our Plenipotentiary to amend and modify them, so as to preserve our rights of sovereignty. The foreign Representatives also advise China not to accept them. || But in reflecting upon the present situation, though we are grateful to the advice of foreign Representatives, it is impossible for China alone to incur the displeasure of Russia by remaining firm. This is not only a question for China to study with all possible care, in order that it may be solved without any danger to her, but also a question in which the foreign Governments interested should maintain the balance of power. || We hereby appoint Lu Hai Kwan, Li Shen Doh, Lofêngluh, and Wu Ting Fang to consult confidentially with the respective Foreign Offices, and ask them most earnestly for their conjoint mediation between us and Russia, so that the question may be peacefully solved in a manner which will prove beneficial to all nations concerned. || Respect this.

Nr. 13043. VEREINIGTE STAATEN. Der Staatssekretär des

Ausw. an den chinesischen Gesandten in Washing

ton. Warnung vor einem Sonderabkommen.*)

February 19, 1901.

The preservation of the territorial integrity of China having been recognized by all the Powers now engaged in joint negotiation concerning the injuries recently inflicted upon their Ministers and nationals by certain officials and subjects of the Chinese Empire, it is evidently advantageous to China to continue the present international understanding upon this subject. It would be, therefore, unwise and dangerous in the extreme for China to make any arrangement, or to consider any proposition of a private nature, involving the surrender of territory or financial obligations by Convention with any particular Power, and the Government of the United States, aiming solely at the preservation of China from the danger indicated, and the conservation of the largest and most beneficial relations between the Empire and other countries, in accordance with the principles set forth in its Circular note of the 3rd July, 1900 - and in a purley friendly spirit toward the Chinese Empire and all the Powers now interested in the negotiations desires to express its sense of the impropriety, inexpediency, and even extreme danger to the interests of China, of considering any private territorial or financial arrangements, at least without the full knowledge and approval of all the Powers now engaged in negotiation.

Nr. 13044. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Minister des Ausw. an

den Botschafter in Petersburg. Bemerkungen zu Nr. 12589.

Foreign Office, March 4, 1901.

(Telegraphic.) || Express my thanks to Count Lamsdorff for his permission, to present to Parliament your despatch of the 6th ultimo,**) recording a conversation with his Excellency respecting the reported Russo-Chinese Agreement as to Manchuria. His Majesty's Government will avail themselves of the permission, and will present the despatch to Parliament. || I fear that, though its presentation will somewhat allay, it will not dispel, the apprehensions created by the publication of various

*) Der englischen Regierung am 4. März mitgeteilt. Red.

**) Nr. 12589. Bd. 66. Red.

versions of the Agreement which is now under discussion at St. Petersburgh, according to advices received by His Majesty's Government. || By the terms of these the idea is certainly suggested that much more is involved than a temporary and provisional arrangement having in view the prevention of the recurrence of the recent disturbances, as well as the protection of the railway. || There is no limit assigned for the duration of the Agreement as a whole, and its termination is made to depend, in respect of certain clauses, on the fulfilment of conditions, in complying with which there might be an indefinite delay. || Again, other provisions are of an enduring character on the face of them, and also in some cases inconsistent with the Treaty obligations incurred towards other Powers by China. || The Agreement is also described as containing provisions for the conclusion of a separate arrangement with regard to the indemnity for the destruction of the Trans-Manchurian Railway, which is claimed by Russia. || China should not, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, enter into any separate arrangement with individual Powers which might be calculated to affect permanently her territorial, political, financial, or commercial status. || In reply to inquiries made by China as to our views, His Majesty's Government have expressed this opinion, and they are glad to find that the intention of making an arrangement of the kind is disclaimed by the Russian Government. || His Majesty's Government trust, however, in view of the persistent reports to which I have referred, that the Russian Government may communicate to them, for their information, the actual text of the Agreement or Agreements.

Nr. 13045. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Berlin. Deutschland wünscht, daß China nur mit dem Konzert der Großmächte unterhandelt.

Foreign Office, March 5, 1901.

(Telegraphic.) || Russian-Manchurian Agreements: my telegram to Sir E. Satow of the 1st instant. || I have learnt from the German Ambassador that his Government have been informed by the American Ambassador at Berlin of the appeal which the Chinese Court have made at Washington, and of their request for advice. It is the intention of the German Government to reply to the following effect to any such appeal. || The principle that China questions should be settled by the concert of the

Powers, and not directly between Cabinet and Cabinet, has all along obtained the adherence of the German Government. || Consequently, they suggest that the Chinese Government should apply to the Conference of Ministers' at Peking in this matter.

Nr. 13046. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Peking. China soll nur mit

dem Konzert unterhandeln.

Foreign Office, March 5, 1901.

(Telegraphic.) || Russian-Manchurian Agreements: my telegram to Sir F. Lascelles of today repeated to you. || Do what you can to induce the Chinese Government to accept the German suggestion that they should apply to the Conference of Ministers at Peking in this matter.

Nr. 13047. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gesandte in Peking an den Minister des Ausw. Übersendet den Text des russischen Vertragsentwurfs.

Peking, March 6, 1901. (March 6).

(Telegraphic.) I Have obtained Chinese text, which is evidently translated from the Russian. Following is a translation:

,,1. The Emperor of Russia, being anxious to give evidence of his friendly feeling towards China, is willing to forget the hostile acts committed in Manchuria, and to hand back the whole of that country China its administration to be carried on as heretofore. ||,,2. Under Article 6 of the Manchurian Railway Agreement, the Administration is authorized to maintain troops for the protection of the line. The country, however, being at present in an unsettled condition, and such troops few in number, a body of soldiers must be retained until order is restored, and until China shall have carried out the provisions of the last four Articles of the present Convention. 3. In the event of grave disturbances the Russian garrisons will afford China every assistance in suppressing the same that lies in their power. || 4. In the recent attacks against Russia, Chinese troops having taken a prominent part, China agrees, pending the completion of the line and its opening to traffic, not to establish an army in those provinces. She will consult with Russia as to the number of troops she may subsequently wish to establish there. The importation

of munitions of war into Manchuria is prohibited. ||,,5. With a view to safeguarding the interests of the territory in question, China will, on representations being made by Russia, at once deprive of office any Military Governor or other high official, whose conduct of affairs may prove antagonistic to the maintenance of friendly relations. || „A police force, consisting of mounted and unmounted units, may be organized in the interior of Manchuria. It numbers shall be determined after consultation with Russia, and from its armament artillery shall be excluded. The services of the subjects of any other Power shall not be employed in connection therewith. |,,6. In conformity with the undertaking given by China at an earlier date, she will not employ the subjects of any other Power in training Chinese soldiers or sailors in North China.|| ,,7. The neighbouring local authorities will, in the interests of peace and order, draw up new special Regulations with reference to the neutral zone (see Agreement of the 27th March, 1898) treated of-in Article 5 of the Agreement relating to the lease of part of the Liaotung Peninsula. China's autonomous rights in the City of Chinchou, secured to her by Article 4 of the Special Agreement of the 7th May, 1898, are hereby abrogated. || 8. China shall not, without the consent of Russia, grant to any other Power, or the subjects thereof, privileges with regard to mines, railroads or other matters in conterminous (i. e., with Russia) regions, such as Manchuria, Mongolia, and the sections of the new Dominion known as Tarbagati, Ili, Kashgar, Yarkand, and Khoten. Nor shall China, without Russia's consent, construct railroads there herself. || ,,Except as far as Newchwang is concerned, no leases of land shall be granted to the subjects of any other Power. |,,9. China being under obligation to pay Russia's war expenses and the claims of other Powers, arising out of the recent troubles, the amount of the indemnity presented in the name of Russia, the period within which it will have to be paid, and the security therefor will all be arranged in concert with the other Powers. || 10. The compensation to be paid for the destruction of the railway lines, for the robbery of property, belonging to the Railway Administration and its employés, as well as claims for delay in carrying on the construction of the line, will form subject of arrangement between China and the Administration.,,11. The above-mentioned claims may, by agreement with the Administration, either in part or in whole, be commuted for other privileges. The grant of such privileges would involve a complete revision of the previous Agreement. || 12. In conformity with the undertaking previously given by China, it is agreed that a line may be constructed from either the trunk line or the branch