(_Official translation._)
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Emperor of China,
desiring to restore the blessings of peace to their countries and
subjects and to remove all cause for future complications, have named
as their plenipotentiaries for the purpose of concluding a treaty of
peace, that is to say:
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Count Ito Hirobumi, Junii, grand
cross of the imperial order of the Paullownia, minister president of
state, and Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu, Junii, first class of the imperial
order of the Sacred Treasure, minister of state for foreign affairs;
and His Majesty the Emperor of China, Li Hung-chang, senior tutor
to the heir apparent, senior grand secretary of state, minister
superintendent of trade for the northern ports of China, viceroy of
the province of Chihli and earl of the first rank, and Li Ching-Fong,
ex-minister of the diplomatic service, of the second official rank;
who, after having exchanged their full powers, which were found to be
in good and proper form, have agreed to the following articles:
Art. 1. China recognises definitively the full and complete
independence and autonomy of Korea, and in consequence the payment of
tribute and the performance of ceremonies and formalities by Korea to
China in derogation of such independence and autonomy shall wholly
cease for the future.
Art. 2. China cedes to Japan in perpetuity and sovereignty the
following territories together with all fortifications, arsenals and
public property therein:
(_a_) The southern portion of the province of Fêng-Tien within the
following boundaries:
The line of demarcation begins at the mouth of the River Yalu and
ascends that stream to the mouth of the River Anping; from thence
the line runs to Funghwang; from thence to Haiching, from thence to
Yingkow, forming a line which describes the southern portion of the
territory. The places above named are included in the ceded territory.
When the line reaches the River Liao at Yingkow it follows the course
of that stream to its mouth, where it terminates. The mid-channel of
the River Liao shall be taken as the line of demarcation.
The cession also includes all islands appertaining or belonging to the
province of Fêng-Tien situated in the eastern portion of the bay of
Liaotung and in the northern part of the Yellow Sea.
(_b_) The Island of Formosa, together with all islands appertaining or
belonging to the said Island of Formosa.
(_c_) The Pescadores Group, that is to say, all islands lying between
the 119th and 120th degrees of longitude east of Greenwich and the 23rd
and 24th degrees of north latitude.
Art. 3. The alignments of the frontiers described in the preceding
article shall be subject to verification and demarcation on the
spot, by a joint commission of delimitation consisting of two or
more Japanese and two or more Chinese delegates to be appointed
immediately after the exchange of the ratifications of this act. In
case the boundaries laid down in this act are found to be defective
at any point, either on account of topography or in consideration of
good administration, it shall also be the duty of the delimitation
commission to rectify the same.
The delimitation commission will enter upon its duties as soon as
possible, and will bring its labours to a conclusion within the period
of one year after appointment.
The alignments laid down in this act shall, however, be maintained
until the rectifications of the delimitation commission, if any are
made, shall have received the approval of the governments of Japan and
China.
Art. 4. China agrees to pay to Japan as a war indemnity the sum of
200,000,000 Kuping Taels. The said sum to be paid in eight instalments.
The first instalment of 50,000,000 taels to be paid within six months,
and the second instalment of 50,000,000 taels to be paid within twelve
months, after the exchange of the ratifications of this act. The
remaining sum to be paid in six equal annual instalments, as follows:
The first of such equal annual instalments to be paid within two
years; the second within three years; the third within four years; the
fourth within five years; the fifth within six years, and the sixth
within seven years, after the exchange of the ratification of this
act. Interest at the rate of 5 per centum per annum shall begin to run
on all unpaid portions of the said indemnity from the date the first
instalment falls due.
China shall, however, have the right to pay by anticipation at any
time any or all of the said instalments. In case the whole amount of
the indemnity is paid within three years after the exchange of the
ratification of the present act, all interest shall be waived and
the interest for two years and a half or for any less period if then
already paid shall be included as a part of the principal amount of the
indemnity.
Art. 5. The inhabitants of the territories ceded to Japan, who wish
to take up their residence outside the ceded districts, shall be at
liberty to sell their real property and retire. For this purpose a
period of two years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications
of the present act shall be granted. At the expiration of that period
those of the inhabitants who shall not have left such territories
shall, at the option of Japan, be deemed to be Japanese subjects.
Each of the two governments shall, immediately upon the exchange of
the ratifications of the present act, send one or more commissioners
to Formosa to effect a final transfer of that province; and within the
space of two months after the exchange of the ratifications of this act
such transfer shall be completed.
Art. 6. All treaties between Japan and China having come to an end in
consequence of the war, China engages, immediately upon the exchange
of the ratifications of this act, to appoint plenipotentiaries to
conclude, with the Japanese plenipotentiaries, a treaty of commerce and
navigation and a convention to regulate frontier intercourse and trade.
The treaties, conventions and regulations now subsisting between China
and European powers shall serve as a basis for the said treaty and
convention between Japan and China. From the date of the exchange of
the ratifications of this act until the said treaty and convention are
brought into actual operation, the Japanese government; its officials;
commerce; navigation; frontier intercourse and trade; industries; ships
and subjects, shall, in every respect, be accorded by China the most
favoured nation treatment.
China makes in addition the following concession, to take effect six
months after the date of the present act:
1st.—The following cities, towns and ports, in addition to those
already opened, shall be opened to the trade, residence, industries and
manufactures of Japanese subjects, under the same conditions and with
the same privileges and facilities as exist at the present in cities,
towns, and ports of China:
1.—Shashih in the Province of Hupeh.
2.—Chungking in the Province of Szechüan.
3.—Soochow in the Province of Kianghsu.
4.—Hangchow in the Province of Chekiang.
The Japanese government shall have the right to station consuls at any
or all of the above-named places.
2nd.—Steam navigation for vessels under the Japanese flag for the
conveyance of passengers and cargo shall be extended to the following
places:
1.—On the Upper Yangtsze River, from Ichang
to Chungking.
2.—On the Woosung River and the Canal, from
Shang-hai to Soochow and Hangchow.
The rules and regulations which now govern the navigation of the inland
waters of China by foreign vessels shall, so far as applicable, be
enforced in respect of the above-named routes, until new rules and
regulations are conjointly agreed to.
3rd.—Japanese subjects purchasing goods or produce in the interior of
China shall have the right temporarily to rent or hire warehouses for
the storage of the articles so purchased or transported, without the
payment of any taxes or exactions whatever.
4th.—Japanese subjects shall be free to engage in all kinds of
manufacturing industries in all the open cities, towns and ports of
China, and shall be at liberty to import into China all kinds of
machinery, paying only the stipulated import duties thereon.
All articles manufactured by Japanese subjects in
China, shall, in respect of inland transit and internal
taxes, duties, charges and exactions of all kinds, and
also in respect of warehousing and storing facilities
in the interior of China, stand upon the same footing
and enjoy the same privileges and exemptions as
merchandise imported by Japanese subjects into China.
In the event of additional rules and regulations
being necessary in connection with these concessions,
they shall be embodied in the treaty of commerce and
navigation provided for by this article.
Art. 7. Subject to the provisions of the next succeeding article, the
evacuation of China by the armies of Japan shall be completely effected
within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the
present act.
Art. 8. As a guarantee of the faithful performance of the stipulations
of this act, China consents to the temporary occupation of the military
forces of Japan of Wei-hai-wei in the Province of Shan-tung.
Upon the payment of the first two instalments of the war indemnity,
herein stipulated, this place shall be evacuated by the Japanese
forces, provided the Chinese government consents to pledge, under
suitable and sufficient arrangements, the customs revenue of China as
security for the payment of the principal and interest of the remaining
instalments of the said indemnity. In the event no such arrangements
are concluded, such evacuation shall only take place upon the payment
of the final instalment of the said indemnity.
It is, however, expressly understood that no such evacuation shall take
place until after the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty of
commerce and navigation.
Art. 9. Immediately upon the exchange of the ratifications of this act
all prisoners of war then held shall be restored, and China undertakes
not to ill-treat or punish prisoners of war so restored to her by
Japan. China also engages to at once release all Japanese subjects
accused of being military spies or charged with any other military
offences. China further engages not to punish in any manner, nor to
allow to be punished, those Chinese subjects who have in any manner
been compromised in their relations with the Japanese army during the
war.
Art. 10. All offensive military operations shall cease upon the
exchange of the ratifications of this act.
Art. 11. The present act shall be ratified by Their Majesties the
Emperor of Japan and the Emperor of China, and ratifications shall be
exchanged at Chefoo, on the 8th day of the 5th month of the 28th year
of Meiji, corresponding to 14th day of the 4th month of the 21st year
of Kuang-Hsü (May 8th, 1895).
In witness whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the
same and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.
Done at Shimonoseki, in duplicate, this 17th day of the 4th month of
the 28th year of Meiji, corresponding to the 23rd day of the 3rd month
of 21st year of Kuang-Hsü.
COUNT ITO HIROBUMI [L.L.],
_Junii; grand cross of the imperial order of the
Paullownia; minister president of state; plenipotentiary
of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan._
VISCOUNT MUTSU MUNEMITSU [L.L.],
_Junii; first class of the imperial order of the Sacred
Treasure; minister of state for foreign affairs;
plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan._
LI HUNG-CHANG [L.L.],
_plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of China,
senior tutor to the heir apparent; senior grand
secretary of state; minister superintendent of trade for
the northern ports of China; viceroy of the province
of Chihli and earl of the first rank._
LI CHING-FONG,
_plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of China,
ex-minister of the diplomatic service of the
second official rank._