1927

THE CHEEOO CONVENTION, 1876
Ratifications exchanged at London, 6th May, 1886
Agreement negotiated between Sir Thomas Wade, k.c.b., Her Britannic
Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of China,
and Li, Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of China, Senior Grand
Secretary, Governor-General of the Province of Chihli, of the First Class of the
Third Order of Nobility.
The negotiation between the Ministers above named has its origin in a despatch
received by Sir Thomas Wade, in the Spring of the present year, from the Earl of
Derby, Principal Secretary ol State for Foreign Affairs, dated 1st January, 1876.
This contained instructions regarding the disposal of three questions: first, a satis¬
factory settlement of the Tiinnan affair; secondly, a faithful fulfilment of engagements
of last year respecting intercourse between the high officers of the two Governments
thirdly, the adoption of a uniform system in satisfaction of the understanding arrived
at in the month of September, 1875 (8th moon of the 1st year of the reign Kwang
Su), on the subject of rectification of conditions of trade. It is to this despatch that
Sir Thomas Wade has referred himself in discussions on these questions with the
Tsung-li Yamen, further reference to which is here omitted as superfluous. The
conditions now agreed to between Sir Thomas Wade and the Grand Secretary are as
follows :-j—
Section I.—Settlement of the Yiinnan Case
1. —A Memorial is to be presented to the Throne, whether by the Tsung-li
Yamen or by the Grand Secretary Li is immaterial, in the sense of the memorandum
prepared by Sir Thomas Wade. Before presentation the Chinese text of the Memorial
is to be shown to Sir Thomas Wade.
2. —The Memorial having been presented to the Throne, and the Imperial Decree
in reply received, the Tsung-li Yamen will communicate copies of the Memorial and
Imperial decree of Sir Thomas Wade, together with copy of a letter from the
Tsung-li Yamen to the Provincial Governments, instructing them to issue a proclama¬
tion that shall embody at length the above Memorial and Decree. Sir Thomas Wade
will thereon reply to the effect that for two years to come officers will be sent by the
British Minister to different places in the provinces to see that the proclamation is
posted. On application from the British Minister or the Consul of any port instructed
by him to make application, the high officers of the provinces will depute competent
officers to accompany those so sent to the places which they go to observe.
3. —In order to the framing of such regulations as will be needed for the conduct
of the frontier trade between Burmah and Yunnan, the Memorial submitting the
proposed settlement of the Yunnan affair will contain a request that an Imperial
Decree be issued directing the Governor-General and Governor, whenever the British
Government shall send officers to Yunnan, to select a competent officer of rank to
confer with them and to conclude a satisfactory arrangement.
4. —The British Government will be free for five years, from the 1st January
next, being the 17th day of the 11th moon of the 2nd year of the reign of Kwang Su,
to station officers at Ta-li Fu, or at some other suitable place in Yunnan, to observe