their external Tariff arrangements, and that it would be wholly inequitable and illogical to retaliate upon the mother country in consequence of the manner in which the Colonies had made use of their opportunities. This argument, however, although it appears to His Majesty's Government a legitimate rejoinder to that of Baron von Richthofen, is not one on which they desire to lay stress, for, so far as the present controversy is concerned, they have no intention of drawing a distinction between their own interests and those of the self-governing Colonies. || I have thought it desirable to make these observations in reply to those contained in Baron von Richthofen's note. It seems to me, however, that if the question is to be further discussed, it would be to the advantage of both sides that it should, as suggested by Baron von Richthofen, take the form of an exchange of ideas in regard to the means of obviating the present difference, and His Majesty's Government would certainly be ready to approach such a discussion in the most considerate spirit. || You are authorized to make a communication in the sense of this despatch to the German Government, and to leave a copy with Baron von Richthofen. Lansdowne.

Verhandlungen über die Besetzung der Mandschurei und Niutschwangs durch Rufsland. 1901-1904.*)

Nr. 13032. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Minister des Ausw. an den Botschafter in Petersburg und den Gesandten in Peking. Ist die Nachricht der „Times" über eine russisch-chinesische Teilung der Mandschurei zutreffend?

Foreign Office, January 3, 1901.

(Telegraphic.) || Report what you can ascertain in regard to an alleged Agreement between Russia and China dealing with Southern Manchuria, the substance of which was given by the Peking correspondent of the „Times", in a telegram dated the 31st December, which appeared in its issue of the 3rd January. It involves the resumption of civil government by the Chinese under what is virtually a Russian Protectorate.

Anlage.

Extract from the Times," January 3, 1901.

Peking, December 31, 1900.

An Agreement has been concluded between Russia and China regarding the Russian military occupation of Feng-tien, the southern and most important province of Manchuria, and the resumption of Chinese civil administration under Russian protection. The Agreement was signed by a representative of Tseng, the Tartar-General at Mukden, and General Korostovitch, representing Admiral Alexeieff, the Russian Commander-inchief. Russia consents to allow the Tartar General and the Chinese officials to resume the civil government of Mukden and Feng-tien province, on the following conditions: - || 1. The Tartar-General Tseng under

*) Engl. Blaubuch Cd. 1936. (China 2. 1904.) Vgl. Bd. 65. 66.

takes to protect the province and pacify it, and to assist in the construction of the railroad. || 2. He must treat kindly the Russians in military occupation, protecting the railway and pacifying the province, and provide them which lodging and provisions. || 3. He must disarm and disband the Chinese soldiery, delivering in their entirety to the Russian military officials all munitions of war in the arsenals not already occupied by the Russians. || 4. All forts and defences in Feng-tien not occupied by the Russians, and all powder magazines not required by the Russians, must be dismantled in the presence of Russian officials. || 5. Newchwang and other places now occupied by the Russians shall be restored to the Chinese civil adminstration when the Russian Government is satisfied that the pacification of the province is complete. || 6. The Chinese shall maintain law and order by local police under the Tartar General. 7. A Russian Political Resident, with general powers of control, shall be stationed at Mukden, to whom the Tartar General must give all information respecting any important measure. || 8. Should the local police be insufficient in any emergency, the Tartar General will communicate with the Russian Resident at Mukden and invite Russia to dispatch reinforcements. | 9. The Russian text shall be the standard. || The functions given to the Russian Resident are similar to those of the Russian Resident at Bokhara, or of the British Residents in the native States in India. || The Agreement will necessarily be followed by similar Agreements with reference to the other two provinces, and then Manchuria will be a de facto Russian Protectorate, Russia by a pre-existing Agreement having already the right to maintain all necessary troops for the protection of the railway.

Nr. 13033. GROSSBRITANNIEN.

Der Botschafter in Peters

burg an den Minister des Ausw. Das Abkommen. scheint nur lokale Eisenbahnfragen zu enthalten. St. Petersburgh, January 5, 1901. (January 5.)*) (Telegraphic.) || With reference to your telegram of the 3rd instant, it is impossible to ascertain facts with accurancy as yet, but it seems to be generally believed here that some provisional Agreement, such as that indicated, has been concluded by Russia with the local authorities in Manchuria, and that she may eventually acquire by Treaty the right to finish building the railway line through Manchuria to Port Arthur, and

Die eingeklammerten Daten geben das Datum des Empfangs an. Red.

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.

Sir,

Foreign Office, January 12, 1901.

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 Government.

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 Vorstellungen 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 Chinese 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 „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. || 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.