4. All the said Controllers of the Companies at the Administration's controlling stations shall have their names placed on the registers of their respective nationalities. Each of them shall respect the laws of China, and conform with the Treaties made by their respective countries with the Government of China. But the Administration cannot undertake any responsibility for their personal safety.

5. They shall respect the authority of the local Manager; and their salaries as well as all other expenses are to be paid by their employers.

X.-1. The settlement of accounts for all telegrams exchanged between the Administration and the Companies, as well as of the division of revenue stipulated in Article II and in Article VIII of the present Convention, shall be established monthly at Shanghai, and paid at Shanghai within six weeks after the end of the month in account.

2. To this end the results of the abstracts of the controlling stations, signed by the Controllers of the two Contracting Parties, stipulated for in Article IX of the present Convention, or by the representative of the Administration at the controlling stations where no Controller of the Companies be actually present, shall be telegraphed to Shanghai, to be entered in the accounts settled there, subject to subsequent revision, after receipt in Shanghai of the said signed abstracts and copies of telegrams abstracted.

3. The month shall be reckoned according to the European calendar.

4. Telegrams referring to the settlement and payment of accounts shall be considered as service telegrams, and transmitted free of charge.

XI.-1. To the present Convention is annexed a Table signed by the Contracting Parties, and showing the charges which shall be applied by the Administration and by the Companies to telegrams described in Articles II and VIII of the present Convention, as soon as it comes into force, and also the rate of exchange at which the collection of charges and the settlement of accounts shall take place, as well as the amount of contribution to the Joint Purse.

2. This Table will be subject to revision by the Contracting Parties periodically, and in accordance with the stipulations of the present Convention.

XII. The rules laid down in the Service Regulations of the International Telegraph Convention shall be observed with regard to the technical treatment of telegrams exchanged between the Administration and the Companies; and both Contracting Parties undertake to do all in their power to prevent re-transmission and other circumventions of the rules to the detriment of either party.

XIII. As both the Administration and the Companies are under obligations to treat certain Government or press telegrams passing the routes named in Sections 1, 3, and 5 of Article I and Article VIII of the present Convention in an exceptional manner, it is agreed that the proceeds of the proportions of the total charges accruing to the Administration or the Companies shall be carried to the Joint Purse, and divided according to Article II and Article VIII of the present Convention, as shown in the Table stipulated in Article XI of the present Convention.

XIV.-1. The present Convention cannot be mortgaged, sold, or other

wise transferred, wholly or partly; neither can any creditor or others acquire it wholly or partly, in case of liquidation, compulsory or otherwise.

2. Any difference arising between the Contracting Parties touching the construction of the present Convention shall be referred for decision to the Governments (or their Legations at Peking) which have ratified it.

XV.-The Companies shall not extend their present cable system on Chinese territory without the consent of the Administration; but the following existing Agreements between the Administration and the two Companies are to be extended, to continue in force for the period of the present Convention unaltered, excepting as varied by the present Convention:

Agreement between the Administration and the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen, dated the 19th May, 1883; Agreements between the Administration and the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited), dated the 31st March, 1883, 7th May, 1883, 21st January, 1884, and 17th October, 1884.

XVI.-1. The present Convention shall be ratified by Tsung-li Yamên, and by the Ministers at Peking for Russia, Great Britain, and Denmark.

2. It shall be put into execution from the first day of the month following the date of its ratification, and shall remain in force until the 31st December, 1910, and shall thereafter continue in force until six months after one of the Contracting Parties shall have given notice of its intention to modify or to abrogate it.

In witness whereof the Undersigned, duly authorized to this effect, have signed the present Convention.

Done in Shanghai in the French language, in the English language, and in the Chinese language. Three expeditions duly compared and found to be in agreement, have been signed in each of these languages, on the 11th day of the month of July, 1896, corresponding with the 1st day of the 6th moon, of the 22nd year of the reign of Kwang Hsu.

For the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration,
SHENG HSUEN HUAI, Director-General.
(Seal of Administration.)
For the Great Northern Telegraph Company of
Copenhagen,

J. HENNINGSEN, Manager in China.
For the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China
Telegraph Company (Limited),

TABLE DRAWN UP IN EXECUTION OF THE STIPULATION IN ARTICLE XI OF THE CONVENTION DATED JULY 11, 1896.

Charges per Single Word of Ordinary Telegrams.

1. Total charge for terminal telegrams by the routes defined in Article I, Section 1, of the Convention between China and Hong Kong, on the one side, and Europe (Russia excepted), on the other side, 8 fr. 50 c., at the rate of exchange of 8 fr. 50 c., equal to 2 dol. 75 c. (Mexican), to which must be added the out-payments beyond Europe.

This total charge of 8 fr. 50 c. will be reduced to 7 fr. simultaneously with the coming into force of the Tariffs adopted by the International Telegraph Conference at Buda-Pesth, 1896.

2. Transit charge stipulated in Article V of the Convention, 5 fr.

This charge will be calculated at the rate of exchange stipulated in the Administration's Conventions with other Administrations.

3. Local charges between the ports of Shanghai, Foochow, Amoy, Hong Kong (Article VIII of the Convention) :

(a) Between the ports of Shanghai and Hong Kong, 40 cents of a Mexican dollar. (b) Between either of the ports of Shanghai or Hong Kong, on the the one side,

and the ports of Amoy and Foochow, on the other side; and between the ports of Amoy and Foochow, 20 cents of a Mexican dollar.

(c) Bonâ fide Chinese telegrams at half the charges stipulated under (a) and (b). Bonâ fide Chinese telegrams will be defined from time to time by mutual agreement between the Administration and the Companies.

Contribution to the Joint Purse per Single Word of Ordinary Telegrams. (Article I, Sections 1, 3, and 5; Article XIII of the Convention.)

1. By routes described in Article I, Section 1, of the Convention, 5 fr., at the rate of exchange of 8 fr. 50 c., equal to 2 dol. 75 c. (Mexican).

2. By routes described in Article I, Section 3, of the Convention

(a) Viâ cable termini, 5 fr., at the rate of exchange of 8 fr. 50 c., equal to 2 dol. 75 c. (Mexican).

(b) Viâ land frontiers, 5 fr., at the rate of exchange stipulated in the Administration's Conventions for those junctions for the collection of charges.

3. By the Companies' cables viâ Saigon-Moulmein, 2 fr. 421⁄2 c., at the rate of exchange of 8 fr. 50 c., equal to 2 dol. 75 c. (Mexican).

4. Chinese Government telegrams exchanged between China, on the one side, and Europe (Russia excepted), America, and, when transiting Europe, all other countries beyond Europe, on the other side, pass at half charges over the cables in Asia of both Companies, and whichever be the route followed contribute nothing to the Joint Purse, and are not included in the division described in Article II of the Convention.

5. British Government telegrams and French Government telegrams coming under Article II of the Convention pass the cables of the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited), at half charges; and shall, when passing by those cables, contribute to the Joint Purse one-half of the normal contribution.

6. French Government telegrams coming under Article II of the Convention pass free of charge over the cables of the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen; and shall, when passing by those cables, contribute nothing to the Joint Purse.

7. Press telegrams between the Companies' stations in China, on the one side, and Europe (Russia excepted), on the other side, shall, when passing the cables of the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited), contribute to the Joint Purse the full amount of the proportion due to those cables, which is at present fixed at 1 fr. 821⁄2 c., at the exchange of 1 fr., equal to 40 cents of a Mexican dollar.

Should such press telegrams be admitted at reduced charges over the lines of the Administration, or the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen, they will con

tribute to the Joint Purse the actual proportion of the charges due to the Administration or the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen.

8. Simultaneously with the reduction from 8 fr. 50 c. to 7 fr. of the total charge named in Article I, Section 1, of the Convention, the contribution to the Joint Purse shall be revised, and shall be calculated upon the same principle as that adopted in fixing that contribution in the present table.

Special Telegrams at reduced Charges.

1. Chinese Government telegrams originating and terminating in China shall pass at half charges over the Companies' cables between Shanghai, Foochow, Amoy, Hong Kong, always provided that Chinese Government telegrams exchanged terminally between Hong Kong, on the one side, and Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai, on the other side, by the lines of the Administration shall not be included in the division stipulated in Article VIII of the Convention.

2. British Government telegrams exchanged between Shanghai, Foochow, Hong Kong, by the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company's cables, shall pass at half charges.

3. French Government telegrams exchanged between Shanghai, Amoy, Hong Kong, by the Great Northern Telegraph Company's cables shall pass free of charge.

4. Japanese Government telegrams between Shanghai, Foochow, Amoy, Hong Kong, by the cables of both Companies shall pass at half charges.

5. Press telegrams exchanged terminally between Hong Kong and Shanghai by the cables of both Companies shall pass at half charges.

6. Chinese Government telegrams are those which emanate from the Chief of the State, Tsung-li Yamên, the Board of Admiralty, the Viceroys and Governors of provinces, Commanders-in-chief of land and sea forces, Ministers and Diplomatic and Consular Agents of China. Such Government telegrams should bear the seal or stamp of the authority that sends them.

7. Other Government telegrams named in this table are defined according to the Service Regulations of the International Telegraph Convention.

Rate of Exchange.

Except as otherwise provided in the present table and until further agreed on, the normal rate of exchange between francs and Mexican dollars shall be taken to be 1 fr. equal to 40 cents of a Mexican dollar.

In witness whereof the Undersigned, duly authorized to this effect, have signed the present table. Done in Shanghai, in the French language, in the English language, and in the Chinese language. Three expeditions duly compared and found to be in agreement have been signed in each of these languages, on the 11th day of the month of July, 1896, corresponding with the 1st day of the 6th moon of the 22nd year of the reign of Kwang Hsu.

For the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration,

SHENG HSUEN HUAI, Director-General.
(Seal of Administration.)

For the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen,
J. HENNINGSEN, Manager in China.

For the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph
Company (Limited),

WALTER JUDD, Manager in China.

Seen and approved:

Note.

The situation of the Chinese Telegraph Administration in relation to the several cable companies is somewhat obscure by reason of the fact that some of the more important agreements have not been made public. It is understood that, by agreements of 1904 and 1905, the Commercial Pacific and German-Dutch Cable Companies were admitted to participation with the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Companies in their interest under the joint purse arrangement provided in Article 2 of this Convention; and that further agreements concluded between the Chinese Administration and the latter two companies were concluded in 1904, 1911 and 1913, in which provision was made for the modification of the joint purse arrangement, and the term of all telegraph agreements between the Chinese Administration and the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Companies was extended to December 31st, 1930.

The following is the text, as printed in B. & F. State Papers, Vol. 107, p. 726, of the Additional Article to the Convention of July 11, 1896, which was signed at Peking, December 22, 1913:—

Additional Article to Telegraph Convention of 1896.-December 22, 1913.

'In connection with the Agreement entered into on the 11th July, 1896, between the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration, on the one part, and the Great Northern Telegraph Company (Limited) and the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), on the other part, the following additional Article has been agreed upon and under date given signed by the Chinese Government, represented by Mr. C. C. Lung, the Director-General of Telegraph Directorates of Chiao Tung Pu, and by the companies represented by Captain H. Rothe, Co-General Manager of the Great Northern Telegraph Company (Limited), and Mr. W. Bullard, Manager in China of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), each duly furnished with full and special powers for this purpose, and now witnesseth that in the interest of both parties to the Agreement, dated the 11th July, 1896, and for the same term of years, that is, till the 31st December, 1930, no other party will be allowed without the consent of both the said parties to land telegraph cables on the coast of China and islands belonging thereto, or to work such cables in connection with the Chinese lines, or otherwise to establish telegraph connections which might create competition with or injure the interests of the existing lines belonging to China or to the cable companies. This shall, however, not prevent the Chinese Government from establishing local internal cables where no competition can arise, neither shall it prevent the transmission of terminal Formosa traffic over the Foochow-Formosa cable, now belonging to Japan, whilst other traffic must not be exchanged by this line except with the consent of China and of the cable companies.

"The present additional Article shall be ratified by the Wai Chiao Pu and by the Ministers at Peking for Denmark and Great Britain.

"In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized to this effect, have signed the present additional Article.

Done in Peking in the English language and in the Chinese language. Six expeditions duly compared and found to be in Agreement have been signed in each of these languages on the 22nd day of the month of December, 1913, corresponding with the 22nd day of the 12th moon of the 2nd year of the Chinese Republic. "For the Chinese Government,

"C. C. LUNG,

"The Director-General of Telegraph Directorates. "For the Great Northern Telegraph Company (Limited), 'H. ROTHE,

Co-General Manager.

"For the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph
Company (Limited),

66

'W. BULLARD,

Manager in China.

"J. N. JORDAN,

His Britannic Majesty's Minister.

(Seal of British Legation.)

66

(Seal of Wai Chiao Pu.) "

This Additional Article is stated (op. cit.) to have been ratified by the Chinese, Danish and British Governments on December 31, 1913.