At the present motmenty there being much fashion lar algetnyls gf amen and great con-of Chia and the French Republic, wishing ther io nations t0 live in ity, and dev siring to secure perpetual peace, now proceed to conclude a Preliminary Treaty, which shall serve as the basis of an elaborate Treaty hereafter to be agreed upon.
The Chinese Plenipo tertiary Li and the French Plenipotentiary Fournier, having communicated to each other their respective full powers and found them'to'be in good and due form,-have agreed upon and concluded the following article 1.—Whatevor contingencies may, arise, Halse in the case of attempts at encroachment, by other nations, Franco agrees to secure and protect the Southern frontier of China which is contiguous to Northern Annam.
2.—There being no fear, after the convincing proofs given by France, of that country's making encroachments or consi disturbances, China agrees at once to recal within her own frontier all her troops now stationed in Northern Annani; also, not. to concern herself with any existing or future treaties between France and Annam.
3.—In gratitude for China's wish to arrange matters, and out of respect for the earnest desire shown by Li for the general welfare, France is willing not to demand any indemnity from China. At the same time China promises that, on her frontier which touches Northern Annam, she will allow French and Annamite and likewise Chinese goods to come and go and be disposed of freely. She also agrees that when she sends an envoy to conclude the detailed Treaty, he shall also arrange a tariff, which shall be exceedingly liberal, and which will thus be of great advantage to French and Annamite trade.
4.—France agrees that, in future, in making or altering any treaty with Annam, she will in no euge insert expressions dero-Sad she will akmul all her existing treaties tory to the prestige or dignity of China, with Annam which injuriously affect Ton-qui 5,—This Treaty having been signed by both parties, the two nations will appoint Plenipotentiaries, who after three months will meet and conclude a Treaty comprising in detail all the points now agreed upon.
The above Preliminary Treaty shall written in duplicate in Chinese and French, and be signed and sealed at Tientain ench party retaining as evidence a copy of each version, According to international custom, the French version will be held corrects
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.