to protect it herself, the rights of the Russo-Chinese Company being transferred to the Russian Government.

Nr. 13034. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Gesandte in Peking an

den Minister des Ausw. Das Abkommen scheint authentisch zu sein.

Peking, January 4, 1901. (January 5.) (Telegraphic.) || Your Lordship's telegram of yesterday. || It is believed that the report as telegraphed to the ,,Times" is authentic. Delegates of Tsêng Ch'i, the Tartar General, and of Admiral Alexeieff, the Russian Gommander-in-chief, appear to have signed it on the 22nd November. || The Convention is said to be now in Peking awaiting confirmation. This confirmation is not likely to take place, I learn from Chinese sources, because the Chinese Delegate who signed at Port Arthur did so without being duly authorized. Any information obtainable will be telegraphed to your Lordship.

Nr. 13035. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an

den Gesandten in Tokio. Japan wünscht gemeinsam mit England Näheres über das Abkommen zu erfahren.

Foreign Office, January 12, 1901.

Sir, The Japanese Minister called here to-day and informed Mr. Bertie that his Government had inquired of the Russian Government whether it was true, as reported, that arrangements had been made between the Russian Government and the Chinese authorities for negotiations with the Chinese Minister at St. Petersburgh in regard to a settlement of affairs in Manchuria, and, if so, what was the nature of the proposed arrangements for making this communication. Baron Hayashi stated that it would be for the interests of both Great Britain and Japan to obtain all the information possible on the subject, and that he was instructed to suggest that the action taken by the Japanese Government in the matter would probably be attended with a more satisfactory result if similar inquiries were also made by Her Majesty's Go

vernment.

Lansdowne.

Nr. 13036. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Peking. Der chinesische Ge

sandte leugnet die Existenz eines solchen Abkommens.

Foreign Office, January 15, 1901.

Sir, The Chinese Minister told me to-day that it was not the case that an agreement, as stated in the newspapers, had been arrived at between the Chinese and Russian Governments for the occupation of the Province of Manchuria by the latter.

Lansdowne.

--

Nr. 13037. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Gesandten in Tokio. Der japanische Gesandte in London macht Mitteilungen über das russischchinesische Abkommen und wünscht Vorstellun gen dagegen.

Foreign Office, February 5, 1901.

Sir, The Japanese Minister informed me this afternoon that his Government had learnt from a reliable source that the Russian Government was pressing the Chinese Government to ratify the Agreement which had been concluded between Admiral Alexeieff and the Chines General Commanding in Manchuria in regard to that province. || The Japanese Government had authorized him to say that they proposed to inform the Chinese Minister at Tôkiô that in the opinion of the Japanese Government the conclusion of any such Agreement would be „ source of danger" to the Chinese Government, and that no arrangement affecting territorial rights in the Chinese Empire ought to be concluded between the Chinese Government and any one of the Powers. || Baron Hayashi suggested to me that a similar intimation should be made by His Majesty's Government to the Chinese Minister in London. || He said that, in the opinion of the Japanese Government, the only safety for China lay in coming to terms with the whole of the Powers. | Baron Hayashi also informed me that the Chinese Government, if left to itself, would like to repudiate the Manchurian Agreement, and punish the Tartar General who had concluded it. But he doubted their having sufficient strength of mind to act in this manner, unless they received moral support from some of the Powers. || I promised to consider Baron Hayashi's suggestion.

Lansdowne.

Nr. 13038. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an die deutsche Botschaft in London. Dasselbe.

His Majesty's Government understand that the Russian Government are pressing the Chinese Government to ratify the Agreement concluded between Admiral Alexeieff and the Chinese General Commanding in Manchuria in regard to that province. || They also understand that the Chinese Government would like, if encouraged by foreign Powers, to repudiate the Agreement, and punish the Tartar General who concluded it. || In these circumstances, the Japanese Government propose to inform the Chinese Minister at Tôkiô that the conclusion of any such Agreement would be a source of danger to the Chinese Government, and that no arrangement affecting territorial rights in the Chinese Empire ought to be concluded between the Chinese Government and any one of the Powers. His Majesty's Government are disposed to make a similar communication to the Chinese Minister in London.

Foreign Office, February 7, 1901.

Nr. 13039. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Berlin. Die deutsche Regierung wünscht keine Sonderverträge Chinas finanziellen oder territorialen Charakters.

Foreign Office, February 12, 1901.

Sir, || Baron Eckardstein informed me to-day, in reference to the conversation which I had with him on the 7th instant, and which was recorded in my despatch of the 7th instant to your Excellency, that the German Government would instruct their Minister at Peking to make an intimation to the Chinese Government in the following terms: ||,,In the opinion of the Imperial Government the Chinese Government should not conclude with any Power individual Treaties of a territorial or financial character before they can estimate their obligations towards all the Powers as a whole, and before the compliance with such obligations is accepted." || The German Government would communicate this intimation to their Minister at Tôkiô, and it would also be made at Berlin to the Chinese Minister there. || I expressed my satisfaction at learning that the German Government were prepared to adopt this course. Although the language used varied somewhat from that which we had suggested, it seemed to me that, in principle, the two announcements were in agreement, and I trusted that they would have a salutary effect. Lansdowne.

Nr. 13040. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an

den Gesandten in Peking. Soll China vor dem Abkommen mit Rußland über, die Mandschurei

warnen.

Foreign Office, February 13, 1901.

(Telegraphic.) || Russo-Chinese Agreement respecting Manchuria. || The German Government will inform the Chinese Government that they should not, in the opinion of the Imperial Government, conclude individual Treaties of a territorial or financial character with any Power before they can estimate their obligations towards all the Powers as a whole, and before the compliance with such obligations is accepted. || I have informed the Chinese Minister that any such Agreement as that reported to have been concluded with regard to Manchuria would, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, be a source of danger to the Chinese Government, and that no Arrangement affecting territorial rights in the Chinese Empire ought to be concluded between the Chinese Government and any one of the Powers. || I request that you will make a communication to the Chinese Government in the terms of that made by me to the Chinese Minister as reported above. || (Repeated to Tôkiô.)

Nr. 13041. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Gesandte in Peking an den Minister des Ausw. Übersendet den Vertrag, dessen Unterzeichnung Rußland von China verlangt.

Peking, February 27, 1901. (February 27.)

(Telegraphic.) || The following are, I learn, the provisions of the Treaty which the Russian Government is pressing upon the Chinese Minister at St. Petersburgh: 1. Manchuria to be restored. || 2. Until the last four provisions of the Treaty are carried out, Russia will maintain an additional force for the protection of the Manchurian Railway. [ 3. Assistance to be given to China by Russia in keeping order. || 4. No army to be maintained by China until the completion of the Manchurian Railway, and then Russia is to be consulted as to the strength of the army. No munitions of war are to be imported. || 5. If Russia complains of any official, however high his rank, he shall be cashiered. The strength of the police is to be settled with Russia; they are not to possess artillery, and no foreigners other than Russians are to be employed in it. 6. No foreigners are to be employed in connection with the sea or land forces in North China. || 7. Abolition of Chinese administration in the

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.