ART. 28. Si le Ministre de Belgique désire que le modèle des titres soit notifié officiellement par la Tsungli Yamên au Gouvernement du pays où aura lieu l'émission de ces titres, le Tsungli Yamên le notifiera au ministère du pays. ART. 29. Le présent contrat est fait en trois exemplaires : I pour le Tsungli Yamên I pour la Compagnie Générale et I pour le Syndicat Belge. Le texte Français fera foi en cas de contestation. Ce contrat sera soumis à l'approbation de Sa Majesté l'Empereur de Chine. Le Tsungli Yamên devra le notifier au Ministre de Belgique et au besoin au Ministre du pays où si fera l'émission des titres. Les clauses des contrats signés à Wuchang le 27 Mai, 1897, et à Shanghai le 21 Juillet, 1897, qui ne sont pas contraires au présent contrat, seront respectées,—notamment l'art. 14 du contrat de Wuchang, l'art. 2 du contrat de Shanghai, etc. La Banque Centrale Belge du Bruxelles et la Banque Russo-Chinoise, dès qu'elles auront connaissance du présent contrat, devront prendre leurs dispositions pour l'exécution des clauses qui les intéressent. Elle ne doivent s'occuper que de ce qui les intéresse directement. La Compagnie Générale ne reconnaît que le Syndicat Belge seul comme responsable, comformément à l'art. 14 du contrat de Wuchang. Fait à Shanghai le 26 Juin, 1898, 8e jour de la 5e lune de la 24e année de Kwang Hau. (Signée) CHENG-TA-JEN, Surintendant des Chemins de Fer. HUBERT, Représentant du Syndicat Belge. H.-ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT RESPECTING SPHERES OF INFLUENCE IN CHINA (Signed April 28, 1899) SIR C. SCOTT to CounT MOURAVIEFF: The undersigned British Ambassador, duly authorised to that effect, has the honour to make the following declaration to his Excellency Count Mouravieff, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Great Britain and Russia, animated by a sincere desire to avoid in China all cause of conflict on questions where their interests meet, and taking into consideration the economic and geographical gravitation of certain parts of the empire, have agreed as follows: I. Great Britain engages not to seek for her own account, or on behalf of British subjects, or of others, any railway concession to the north of the Great Wall of China, and not to obstruct, directly or indirectly, applications for railway concessions in that region supported by the Russian Government. 2. Russia, on her part, engages not to seek for her own account, or in behalf of Russian subjects, or of others, any railway concession on the basin of the Yang-tse, and not to obstruct, directly or indirectly, applications for railway concessions in that region supported by the British Government. The two contracting parties, having no wise in view to infringe in any way the sovereign rights of China on existing treaties, will not fail to communicate to the Chinese Government the present arrangement, which, by averting all cause of complications between them, is of a nature to consolidate peace in the Far East, and to serve primordial interests of China itself. (Signed) CHARLES S. SCOTT. ST. PETERSBURG, April 28, 1899. (A copy of the above note was signed at the same time by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, " duly authorised to that effect.") I. TREATY OF OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN (Signed at London, January 30, 1902) The Governments of Great Britain and Japan, actuated solely by a desire to maintain the status quo and general peace in the extreme East, being moreover specially interested in maintaining the independence and territorial integrity of the Empire of China and the Empire of Korea, and in securing equal opportunities in those countries for the commerce and industry of all nations, hereby agree as follows: Article I. The high contracting parties having mutually recognised the independence of China and of Korea, declare themselves to be entirely uninfluenced by any aggressive tendencies in either country. Having in view, however, their special interests, of which those of Great Britain relate principally to China, while Japan, in addition to the interests which she possesses in China, is interested in a peculiar degree politically, as well as commercially and industrially, in Korea, the high contracting parties recognise that it will be admissible for either of them to take such measures as may be indispensable in order to safeguard those interests if threatened either by the aggressive action. of any other Power, or by disturbances arising in China or Korea, and necessitating the intervention of either of the high contracting parties for the protection of the lives and property of its subjects. Article II. If either Great Britain or Japan, in the defence of their respective interests as above described, should become involved in war with another Power, the other high contracting party will maintain a strict neutrality, and use its efforts to prevent other Powers from joining in hostilities against its ally. Article III. If in the above event any other Power or Powers should join in hostilities against that ally, the other high contracting party will come to its assistance and will conduct the war in common, and make peace in mutual agreement with it. Article IV. The high contracting parties agree that neither of them will, without consulting the other, enter into separate arrangements with another Power to the prejudice of the interests above described. Article V. Whenever, in the opinion of either Great Britain or Japan, the above-mentioned interests are in jeopardy, the two Governments will communicate with each other fully and frankly. Article VI. The present agreement shall come into effect immediately after the date of its signature, and remain in force for five years from that date. In case neither of the high contracting parties should have notified twelve months before the expiration of the said five years the intention of terminating it, it shall remain binding until the expiration of one year from the day on which either of the high contracting parties shall have denounced it. But if, when the date fixed for its expiration arrives, either ally is actually engaged in war, the alliance shall, ipso facto, continue until peace is concluded. In faith whereof the undersigned, duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this agreement, and have affixed thereto their seals. Done in duplicate at London the 30th January, 1902. [L. S.] [L. S.] LANSDOWNE, His Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. HAYASHI, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan at the Court of St. James. Translation. J. PROTOCOL. Mr. Hayashi, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and MajorGeneral Ye Tché Yong, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs ad interim of his Majesty the Emperor of Korea, being respectively duly empowered for the purpose have agreed upon the following articles : Article I. For the purpose of maintaining a permanent and solid friendship between Japan and Korea and firmly establishing peace in the Far East, the Imperial Government of Korea shall place full confidence in the Imperial Government of Japan and adopt the advice of the latter in regard to improvement in administration. Article II. The Imperial Government of Japan shall in a spirit of firm friendship ensure the safety and repose of the Imperial House of Korea. Article III. The Imperial Government of Japan definitely guarantees the independence and territorial integrity of the Korean Empire. Article IV. In case the welfare of the Imperial House of Korea or the territorial integrity of Korea should be endangered by the aggression of a third Power or by internal disturbances, the Imperial Government of Japan shall immediately take such necessary measures as circumstances require, and in such case the Imperial Government of Korea shall give full facilities to promote actions of the Imperial Japanese Government. The Imperial Government of Japan may for the attainment of the above-mentioned object occupy, when the circumstances require it, such places as may be necessary from a strategic point of view. Article V. The Governments of the two countries shall not in future without mutual consent conclude with a third |