Perpetual Leases for Foreign Secured for Britain:
Land-Owners: Public Buildings Return by October 1
The agreement for the rendition of We has been sent to ne by the Chinese Mi istry of Foreign Aal AN the Territory is restored to China and practically all British Goverment property, reluding the cable tw Chefo presented to China free, A larve sumper of alain 08 d sites, however, rixed by foreigners official and private are leased tu the British Govern-iment free, for 30 years with option of renewal, wu less China decides (o close the port fo a naval hi Foreign title deeds a be axel perpetuity. If the port ix closed for to be bought ut.
Use of the island by the British Navy ix secured.
The agreement ix to be ratified by October 1 next, at which date rendition will (ake place. jus rawson it wat desi. able that one should say who} piwmoted, or signed, the document, tadidressed to HI It. the Commission: and put. forward Une householders ins "100 ages inside our boundary Briefly summarized, the petition, stand, enumerates the great benefits the istrict has derived draws attention to the disdiate neighbourhood government te postpone re Lill better times come. Copies of the petition will presumably be sent the Colonial Oftiee, London, and Mi, M. Minister, Peking, tv he consigned, no doubt, to the' proper receptneles for futile expressions of public opinion. Nevertheless the ple enjeaggel the treaty: must now he awa did not know it before, that the retrocession of Weihaiwei at the petent time would be against th Wwill-of the inhabitants: that in the went state of the country—of nung, i particular—the results be distatrous: that a_xreat might be done to Ihave done nothing to deserve 1 that, feats on the officials consequence, A gray concerned—British and Chinese—Which may not be lightly ignored.
Jat not the anti-British indist in Russian pay: the m ary from Moscow with his fof Hate": the half-baked student who greedily absorbs hateful doc ines: the vociferous schoolboy, who by his much shouting has acquired unimportant place political life: the smug. 5 st, who cannot see tw question: the journalist, paid to misrepresent facts, to" prophesy mooth things." to ery "peace, peace: when there is no peace": Tet! no one describe these people as "running dogs of imperialism." or lonk for a motive far removed from the truth, Foreigners who have lived long this country will agree that there fre many fine traits in the average 'Chinaman's character, but none will excuse him of being' over-buelened with moral courage. A recent occurrence here may be taken illustration, The village bully haul been making himself a nuisance and a small deputation invaded the writer's house furtively..after dark. Could they have a private talk with the foreigner? Was he sure serv-
Imprisonment "They would then] Convention for the Rendition of before the xeat of justice and bes before the scat of Jusice and bes] iis gxcelioney, the President o! He would seem to listen to their th? National Government of the prayer and impose the severest' epeblie Gti Cel penalty permitted by British law. This notion on their part should help to make things easier for them Tater on when their bully emerged from confinement.
They seem distinctly disappointed on learning that their suggestion sould mot be entertained: that British justice is not admi in this fashion: and that the only alternative was to come forward boldly and furnish the court with Wwuthrul evidence. third inter is considered necessary—this ti broad day light. They wished to thank the foreigner fur advice given, on which they hut acted with satisfactory His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, Desiring that the territory of Weihaiwei leased by China to His Britannic Majesty under the Convention of July 1, 1808, should he restored in full' sovereignty China, have resolved to conclude a Convention for that purrore and 19 wat end have appointed as their Plenipotentiar the President of Government of the republic of China: eng ting T. Wanye, Minister ism Affairs of the Republic results: their tormentor had gone nto compulsory retirement for five yours: would their kind friend cept a couple of vases, ete.
People who act in thix way, who splay such childish timidity—the result, most observers will agree, of ion—ilo not some power instance the: motive is not far to seek.
Mis Majesty the King of Ireland und the Bri Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of Indi Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
Miles Wedderburn Lampson, MYA, His Mayests"s Extraordinary and Minister tertiary to the Pepublic of Thoueh of sturdier stock pays ally, the peasant of this district of afticted with the mental agility of the southerner. But he, too, has exes to see and ears to hear. Unless he is an imbecile, he cannot help contrasting conditions under the British flag with conditions a few miles away, as different Tight is from darkness. Further, a year ago civil war was brought almost to his door. He has witnessed Who, having communicated thei full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:
weihai limited by the Arties territory of lorrdary stones fixed by the boundary Commission of 1899-1901, comprising a belt of land 10 English miles wide along the entire coast Me of the Bay of Weihaiwei and including Liukungtao and all other groups of refugees crossing our Doundary, fleeing from the wrath to come, spreading tales of desolation and woe. He has heard terrible tales of the after-math of war: of rows of trees, each with its ghastly burden: of wells filled to the" brim with dead und dying: of men, who, having lost all, decide that life not worth living: of women, who eck safety in suicide rather than face the bestial brutality of men in uniform: of fleeing soldiers, who murder and pillage as they run: of pursuers, who complete the ruin.
Under these circumstances, though he lives ina country where political persecution has been reduced to a fine art, where freedom of the press, freedom of speech, free expression of opinion have yet to be hereby returned by His Britannic Majesty to the Republic of China.
Article H—The Convention for lease of Weihaiwei, concluded fon the July 1, 1898, is hereby Article I1l—The British garrison row stationed in. the territory of Weihaiwei, including Liukungtao, shell be withdrawn within one mwenth from the date of the coming into force of the present Convention.
Articte IV—The Government of the Untted Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will hand over to the National Govern-vent of the Republic of China sock archives, registers, title deeds and other documents in the possession Weihaiwei ax may he useful for the transfer of the administration, 99 wall as those that may be useful for the subsequent sdiministration territory by the National Government.
Article V—The Government of the United Kingdom will present to the National "Government of the Republic of China all lands and beiidines the territory Waibaiwel belonging tu the Beate named government.
Article VI—The Government of the United Kingdom will hand over the National Government of the Republic of China, without com pensation, all works and purchase Including the steam-launch "Gallia, made under the special levy in respect of the Victory Pier and the Fekew Improvement Schen Aide VH—The "Government of the United Kingdom will present to the National Government of the Republic of Chinn the Chefoo Weihaiwei cable and the ingot stares, including those dete Annex J.
Article VII—The Government of the United Kingdom will hand over to the National Government of the Republic of China free of charge the Civil Hospitals at Port Edward and Wenchuantang. including land ings and. present caip=
Artie IX-—The Government of the United Kingdom will return to. the National Government of the Kepublic of China all land previous-Ly owned by the Chinese Govern ment on Likungtao, together with the buildings thereon, and will farther hand over all the land subsequently acquired by purchase and all Crown leases in respect of Sites on that island with the rever~ sionary interest in the buildings on the land so leased, Article X—~The transfer of the Administration of - Weihaiwei and the tranter of public properties in Ne said territory. as well as of other matters under the present Convention, shall take place on the day of the coming into force of said Convention.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.