“La présente Convention aura force légale à dater du jour de la signature de ses exemplaires par les Plénipotentiaires, de l’un et de l’autre Empire.
“L’échange des ratifications aura lieu à Saint-Pétersbourg dans le délai de trois mois à compter du jour de la signature de la Convention.
“En foi de quoi les Plénipotentiaires respectifs des deux Hautes Parties Contractantes ont signé et scellé de leurs sceaux deux exemplaires de la présente Convention, en langues Russe, Chinoise, et Française. Des trois textes, dûment confrontés et trouvés concordants, le texte Français fera foi pour l’interprétation de la présente convention.
“Faite en double expédition à Pékin, le ..., correspondant au....”
[414]. China, No. 2 (1904), No. 51, inclosure.
[415]. Glance over the comparative terms, shown in parallel columns, of the Russian demands of February, the amendments of March, 1901, and the present Agreement. Ibid., No. 42, inclosure.
[416]. See China, No. 2 (1904), No. 55.
[417]. Mr. Eitarō Tsurouka, who has personally visited several of the chiefs of the banditti, gives an extremely interesting account of their origin, their relations to the Chinese authorities and Russian officers, and the history of their affairs down to the end of 1903.—The Tō-A Dōbun-kwai Hōkoku, No. 53 (April, 1904), pp. 1–14. Cf. China, No. 2 (1904), No. 130, inclosure.
[418]. About August, 1901, the British Consul at Niu-chwang, Mr. A. Hosie, reported that the force then at the disposal of the Tartar General of the Sheng-king Province was limited by the Russian authorities to 6500 men, which meant that over 10,000 men possessing firearms had been let loose. The Chinese police force was insufficient to back the authority of the Governor-General, and constant military expeditions by the Russians were consequently rendered necessary.—China, No. 2 (1904), p. 33. Also see the British Consular Report on Niu-chwang for 1901, pp. 3–4.
[419]. Early in March, 1903, Prince Ching negotiated with M. Lessar about the number of Chinese troops that should occupy the country after the withdrawal of the Russians. “The Chinese Government were proposing to send 18,000 men, whilst the Russian Legation considered that 12,000 men would be sufficient.”—China, No. 2 (1904), No. 84 (Townley to Lansdowne).