III. La présente Déclaration entrera en vigueur deux mois après

sa signature.

En foi de quoi les Soussignés ont signé la présente Déclaration et l'ont munie du sceau de leurs armes.

Fait en double à Saint-Pétersbourg, le 13 Juin, 1896.

(L.S.) LOBANOW.

(L.S.) REUTERSKIOLD.

CONVENTION between Egypt and Persia, prolonging the Convention of April 14, 1887, relative to the Importation of Tombac.-Signed at Alexandria, July 9, 1894.

LES Soussignés, son Excellence Boutros Pacha, Ministre des Affaires Étrangères du Gouvernement de Son Altesse le Khédive d'Égypte, et son Excellence Mirza Isaac Khan, Agent Diplomatique et Consul-Général de Sa Majesté le Shah de Perse, dûment autorisés par leurs Gouvernements respectifs, sont convenus de ce qui suit:

ART. I. La Convention intervenue à la date du 14 Avril, 1887,* entre la Perse et l'Égypte, pour l'importation des tombacs Persans, est prorogée pour une nouvelle période de vingt-deux ans, commençant le 1er Mai, 1897, et finissant le 1er Mai, 1919.

II. A partir du 1er Mai, 1919, le Gouvernement de son Altesse le Khédive reprendra, sans aucune restriction ni réserve, sa liberté absolue de réglementation pour tout ce qui concerne le régime des tombacs Persans en Égypte, sans que le Gouvernement Persan puisse en aucun cas se prévaloir d'arrangements antérieurs quelconques.

En foi de quoi les Soussignés ont signé la présente Convention en double expédition.

Fait à Alexandrie, le 9 Juillet, 1894.

(L.S.) BOUTROS GHALI. (L.S.) M. ISAAC KHAN.

* Vol. LXXVIII, page 962.

DESPATCH from the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, K.P., G.C.B., &c., Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at Paris, relative to Affairs of Siam, &c.—London, Januáry 15, 1896.*

MY LORD,

Foreign Office, January 15, 1896.

I HAVE to-day signed, together with the French Ambassador, an Agreement chiefly concerning the affairs of Siam, which I inclose. I had hoped to have sent it to you before Christmas; but the signature of it was accidentally delayed. The most important provision which it contains is that which marks out for special treatment, as between the two Powers, that portion of Siam which is comprised within the drainage basin of the Menam, and of the coast streams of a corresponding longitude. Within this area the two Powers undertake that they will not operate by their military or naval forces, except so far as they may do it in concert for any purpose which may be required for maintaining the independence of Siam. They also undertake not to acquire within that area any privileges or commercial facilities which are not extended to both of them.

In transmitting this Agreement to your Excellency, I am auxious to say a few words in explanation of it, in order to avoid a misinterpretation to which it might be exposed at the hands of those who are not familar with recent negotiations.

It might be thought that because we have engaged ourselves, and have received the engagement of France, not under any circumstances to invade this territory, that therefore we are throwing doubt upon the complete title and rights of the Siamese to the remainder of their kingdom, or at all events, treating those rights with disregard. Any such interpretation would entirely misrepresent the intention with which this Arrangement has been signed.

We fully recognize the rights of Siam to the full and undisturbed enjoyment, in accordance with long usage, or with existing Treaties, of the entire territory comprised within her dominions; and nothing in our present action would detract any degree from the validity of the rights of the King of Siam to those portions of his territory which are not affected by this Treaty. We have selected a particular area for the application of the stipulations of this Treaty, not because the title of the King of Siam to other portions of his dominions is less valid, but because it is the area which affects our interests as a commercial nation.

Published in the "London Gazette" of January 21, 1896.

The valley of the Menam is eminently fitted to receive a high industrial development. Possibly, in course of time, it may be the site of lines of communication which will be of considerable importance to neighbouring portions of the British Empire. There seems every prospect that capital will flow into this region if reasonable security is offered for its investment, and great advantage would result to the commerce and industry of the world, and especially of Great Britain, if capitalists could be induced to make such an application of the force which they command. But the history of the region in which Siam is situated has not in recent years been favourable to the extension of industrial enterprise, or to the growth of that confidence which is the first condition of material improvement.

A large territory to the north has passed from the hands of the Burmese Government to those of Great Britain. A large territory to the east has passed from the hands of its former possessors to those of France. The events of this recent history certainly have a tendency to encourage doubts of the stability of the Siamese dominion; and without in any degree sharing in those doubts, or admitting the possibility, within any future with which we have to deal, of the Siamese independence being compromised, Her Majesty's Government could not but feel that there would be an advantage in giving some security to the commercial world that, in regard to the region where the most active development is likely to take place, no further disturbances of territorial ownership are to be apprehended.

I must add that we already have a very considerable trade with Siam which passes almost entirely through this region, and that any alteration of ownership which should carry with it tariffs of a highly restrictive order would be a heavy blow to our commerce in that part of the world.

Her Majesty's Government hope that the signature of this Agreement will tend to foster the industrial growth of all these extensive districts; and they have been sufficiently impressed with this belief to be willing to attest it by admitting the French claims to the ownership of the Mong Hsing district of Keng Cheng, a triangular portion of territory on the eastern side of the Upper Mekong. Its extent and intrinsic value are not large, and, on account of its unhealthy character, it has no great attractions for Great Britian, though her title to it as formerly tributary to Burmah appears to us evidently sound; but its retention by her might prove a serious embarrassment to the cheap and effective administration by France of her possessions in that neighbourhood.

The Marquess of Dufferin.

I am, &c.,

SALISBURY.

(Inclosure 1.)-Declaration.

[See page 13.]

(Inclosure 2.)-Baron de Courcel to the Marquess of Salisbury.January 15, 1896.

[See page 16.]

(Inclosure 3.)--The Marquess of Salisbury to Baron de CourcelJanuary 15, 1896.

[See page 17.]

PROTOCOL extending the Term for the Ratification of the Claims Convention between Great Britain and Nicaragua of November 1, 1895.*- Signed at London, January 29, 1896.

[See Vol. LXXXVII, page 58.]

EXCHANGE OF NOTES between Great Britain and Nicaragua, further extending the Term for the Ratification of the Claims Convention of November 1, 1895.*-London, April 17, 18, 1896.

[See Vel. LXXXVII, page 58.]

BRITISH NOTE to the Egyptian Government, relative to the Exclusion of the Town of Suez from the Operation of Article III of the Slavery Convention between Great Britain and Egypt of November 21, 1895.†—Cairo, January 2, 1896. [See Vol. LXXXVII, page 47.]

* Vol. LXXXVII, page 55.

+ Vol. LXXXVII, page

37.

DECREE of the Khedive of Egypt, for the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade.-Cairo, January 21, 1896

| See Vol. LXXXVII, page 48.]

DECREE of the Khedive of Egypt, relative to the Procedure, &c., in the Special Court and Court Martial for the Trial of Offences against the Slavery and Slave Trade Decree of January 21, 1896.-Palace of Koubbeh, January 21, 1896.

[See Vol. LXXXVII, page 50.]

CONVENTION between the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration, the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen, and Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company.—Signed at Shanghae, July 11, 1896.

THE Imperial Chinese Telegraph Administration, hereinafter called the Administration, on the one part, and the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Copenhagen, and the Eastern Extension, Australasia, and China Telegraph Company (Limited), hereinafter called the Companies, on the other part, being desirous of facilitating international telegraphic communication, have decided to conclude a Convention, with a view to regulate the relations between the Administration and the Companies. Consequently, the following stipulations have been agreed on, and, under date below given, signed by the Administration represented by its Director-General Sheng Hsuen Huai, and by the Companies represented by their respective Managers in China, viz., Mr. J. Henningsen and Mr. W. Judd, all three duly furnished with full and special powers for this pur

pose.

ART. I.-1. The total charge per word fixed in francs in the annexed Table stipulated in Article XI of the present Convention for telegrams exchanged terminally between China, on the one side, and Europe (Russia excepted), America, and when transiting Europe all other countries beyond Europe on the other side, is to be the same by the routes of the Companies viâ India (Madras), and viâ Russia in Asia, as by the routes of the Administration viâ Russia in Asia.

2. This equalization of total charges shall be effected by the necessary regulation of the Administration's terminal charge viâ