RATIFICATIONS of the International Convention revising the General Act of Berlin, February 26, 1885,* and the General Act and Declaration of Brussels, July 2, 1890.† -Signed at 1919.1 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, September 10, THE ratifications have been deposited of: Japan ... April 6, 1922. ACCESSIONS to the International Convention and Protocol relating to the Liquor Traffic in Africa.-Signed at SaintGermain-en-Laye, September 10, 1919.|| THE accessions have been notified of :— Japan April 6, 1922. July 17, 1922. RATIFICATION, &c., of the International Convention for the Regulation of Air Navigation.-Signed at Paris, October 13, 1919.¶ RATIFICATION of the Additional Protocol of May 1, 1920,** to the International Convention of October 13, 1919, relative to Air Navigation. THE ratification of the additional protocol has been deposited by: Portugal October 7, 1922. Vol. LXXVI, page 4. + Vol. LXXXII, pages 55 and 80. With reservations. Vol. CXII, page 931. ** Vol. CXIII, page 783. CHINESE DECLARATION regarding the Non-Alienation of Chinese Territory made before the Committee on Pacific and Far Eastern Questions of the Conference on Limitation of Armament. (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America).-Washington, November 22, 1921.* China, upon her part, is prepared to give an undertaking not to alienate or lease any portion of her territory or littoral to any Power." RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding Extra-Territoriality in China. Washington, December 10, 1921.* THE representatives of the Powers hereinafter named, participating in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions in the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, to wit, the United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Portugal; Having taken note of the fact that in the Treaty between Great Britain and China dated the 5th September, 1902, + in the Treaty between the United States of America and China dated the 8th October, 1903, and in the Treaty between Japan and China dated the 8th October, 1903, § these several Powers have agreed to give every assistance towards the attainment by the Chinese Government of its expressed desire to reform its judicial system and to bring it into accord with that of Western nations, and have declared that they are also "prepared to relinquish extraterritorial rights when satisfied that the state of the Chinese laws, the arrangements for their administration, and other considerations warrant them in so doing; Being sympathetically disposed towards furthering in this regard the aspiration to which the Chinese delegation gave expression on the 16th November, 1921, to the effect immediately, or as soon as circumstances will permit, that * Parliamentary Paper, "Miscellaneous. No. 1 (1922).” + Vol. XCV, page 39. § Vol. XCVI, page 578. existing limitations upon China's political, jurisdictional and administrative freedom of action are to be removed"; Considering that any determination in regard to such action as might be appropriate to this end must depend upon the ascertainment and appreciation of complicated states of fact in regard to the laws and the judicial system and the methods of judicial administration of China, which this Conference is not in a position to determine; Have resolved: That the Governments of the Powers above named shall establish a Commission (to which each of such Governments shall appoint one member) to enquire into the present practice of extra-territorial jurisdiction in China, and into the laws and the judicial system and the methods of judicial administration of China, with a view to reporting to the Governments of the several Powers above named their findings of fact in regard to these matters, and their recommendations as to such means as they may find suitable to improve the existing conditions of the administration of justice in China, and to assist and further the efforts of the Chinese Government to effect such legislative and judicial reforms as would warrant the several Powers in relinquishing, either progressively or otherwise, their respective rights of extra-territoriality. That the Commission herein contemplated shall be constituted within three months after the adjournment of the Conference in accordance with detailed arrangements to be hereafter agreed upon by the Governments of the Powers above named, and shall be instructed to submit its report and recommendations within one year after the first meeting of the Commission. That each of the Powers above named shall be deemed free to accept or to reject all or any portion of the recommendations of the Commission herein contemplated, but that in no case shall any of the said Powers make its acceptance of all or any portion of such recommendations either directly or indirectly dependent on the granting by China of any special concession, favour, benefit or immunity, whether political or economic. Additional Resolution. That the non-Signatory Powers, having by treaty extraterritorial rights in China, may accede to the resolution affecting extra-territoriality and the administration of justice in China by depositing within three months after the adjournment of the Conference a written notice of accession with the Government of the United States for communication by it to each of the Signatory Powers. Additional Resolution. That China, having taken note of the resolutions affecting the establishment of a Commission to investigate and report upon extra-territoriality and the administration of justice. in China, expresses it satisfaction with the sympathetic disposition of the Powers hereinbefore named in regard to the aspiration of the Chinese Government to secure the abolition of extra-territoriality in China, and declares its intention to appoint a representative who shall have the right to sit as a member of the said Commission, it being understood that China shall be deemed free to accept or to reject any or all of the recommendations of the Commission. Furthermore, China is prepared to co-operate in the work of this Commission and to afford to it every possible facility for the successful accomplishment of its tasks. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fourth Plenary Session, the 10th December, 1921. RESOLUTION regarding Aircraft, adopted by the Committee on the Limitation of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America). -Washingon, January 9, 1922. THE Committee is of the opinion that it is not at present practicable to impose any effective limitations upon the numbers or characteristics of aircraft, either commercial or military.* RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding Foreign Postal Agencies in China.-Washington, February 1, 1922.! (A.) RECOGNISING the justice of the desire expressed by the Chinese Government to secure the abolition of foreign postal agencies in China, save or except in leased territories or as otherwise specifically provided by treaty, it is resolved: * For Report of the Committee, see Parliamentary Paper, “Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922)." + Parliamentary Paper, “Miscellaneous. No. 1 (1922)." 1. The four Powers having such postal agencies agree to their abandonment subject to the following conditions: (a.) That an efficient Chinese postal service is maintained. (b.) That an assurance is given by the Chinese Government that they contemplate no change in the present postal administration so far as the status of the foreign co-DirectorGeneral is concerned. 2. To enable China and the Powers concerned to make the necessary dispositions, this arrangement shall come into force and effect not later than the 1st January, 1923. (B.) Pending the complete withdrawal of foreign postal agencies, the four Powers concerned severally undertake to afford full facilities to the Chinese Customs authorities to examine in those agencies all postal matter (excepting ordinary letters, whether registered or not, which upon external examination appear plainly to contain only written matter) passing through them, with a view to ascertaining whether they contain articles which are dutiable or contraband or which otherwise contravene the Customs regulations or laws of China. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session, the 1st February, 1922. RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding Armed Forces in China. Washington, February 1, 1922.* WHEREAS the Powers have from time to time stationed armed forces, including police and railway guards, in China. to protect the lives and property of foreigners lawfully in China; And whereas it appears that certain of these armed forces are maintained in China without the authority of any treaty or agreement; And whereas the Powers have declared their intention to withdraw their armed forces now on duty in China without the authority of any treaty or agreement, whenever China shall assure the protection of the lives and property of foreigners in China; And whereas China has declared her intention and capacity to assure the protection of the lives and property of foreigners in China; Now to the end that there may be clear understanding of * Parliamentary Paper, "Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922)." |