The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-10-11
FULL TEXT OF THE MYSTERIOUS
DOCUMENT.
The Convention Between Russia and
China Which has Changed the En-
tire Course of Oriental Politics.

The text of the concession made by
China to Russia in Port Arthur and
Talienwan, which was ratified last
March, but has just become known to
the other powers, is published for
the first time in the Japanese papers
which arrived by the Doric. 1t is as
follows:
His Majesty the Emperor of Russia
being desirous to obtain naval sta
ton in the Far East specially requests
His Majesty the Emperor of China to
lease to the Russian government the
two places Port Arthur and Talien-
wan and their vicinities. The Russian
government win not interfere with
the administration of the places leas-
ed in order not to impair the sover-
eign rights of China. China may levy
tax (charge renD on the places leas-
ed. but after the leasehold is made all
matters relating to army and navy
movement, and all affairs within the
territories handed over to the Russian
government shall be administered by
a high Russian officer. No officer hol-
ding the rank of governor general or
governor shall be invested with au-
thority in the leased territories, and
only one official is to be appointed by
Russia for the territories. 4 tract of
land of Talienwan shall be marked off
as a buffer in order to separate the
forces of the two countries stationed
there. The buffer shall be placed un-
der the control of the Chinese author
tiles, but no Chinese soldiers shall be
permitted to pass beyond it into Rus
sian ground without first obtaining
permission from the Russian authori-
ties. Only Russian vessels are to be
allowed to enter the inner ,.farbor of
Talienwan, but the rest of the place
is to be thrown open as treaty port,
and merchants of all nationalities
shall be permitted to trade there. This
rule does not apply to Port Arthur,
where only Russian and Chinese war
ships shall enjoy the privilege of ent-
ering. All government buildings
which are to be handed over for the
use of the Russian authorities shall
bsapaid for by Russia, but the dock
yards shall be used in common by the
two contracting parties. All matters
pertaining to defense works such as
forts, lighthouses. land and harbor
marks within the stipulated leased
territory shall be erected and their
expenses be betrayed by the Russian
government, in order to defend the
two countries mutual interests
against the aggression of foreign pow
ers. Endeavors shall be made to has
ten the rapid construction and con-
nection of the Russian and Chinese
railways. The leasehold shall hold
good for twenty-five wears. At the ex-
piration of that period the two gov
ernments may make further agree
ments regarding the cessation or ex-
tension of this lease. Within one
month after the signing of this docu-
ment (conventionl Minister Hsu in
St Petersburg shall draw up a detail.
ed agreement setting forth all that
is stated in this document. This shall
be done in Chinese and Russian. each
in duplicate. Tn the event of any
question arising as to the true intent
and meaning of the agreement it shall
he determined bv the Russian text
Done in Peking 18th and 27th March
1898.