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Liaotung Convention
This treaty is interesting because in just 3 months and 3 days after the 'Treaty of Shimonoseki' was signed, portions of it concerning the province of Fêngtien, were reversed. It has been surmised that the whole purpose of the Shimonoseki articles concerning the province of Fêngtien, were designed to embarrass China and force the Qing government into the position of compensating for yet another unequal treaty with one more foreign power.
Signed at Peking, 8 November 1895
His Majesty the Emperor of China and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, desiring to conclude a Convention for the retrocession by Japan of all of the southern portion of the province of Fêngtien to the sovereignty of China, have for that purpose named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:
His Majesty the Emperor of China, LI HUNG-CHANG, Minister Plenipotentiary, Senior Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Senior Grand Secretary of State and Earl of the First Rank, and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Baron HAYASHI TADASU, Shoshii, Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Officer of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary, who, after having communicated to each other their full powers, which were found to be in good and proper form, have agreed upon the following Articles:—
Japan retro cedes to China in perpetuity and full sovereignty the southern portion of the province of Fêngtien, which was ceded to Japan under Article 2 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki on the 23rd day of the 3rd month of the 21st year of KUANG HSÜ, corresponding to the 17th day of the 4th month of the 28th year of MEIJI, together with all fortifications, arsenals, and public property thereon at the time the retro ceded territory is completely evacuated by the Japanese forces in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of this Convention, that is to say, the southern portion of the province of Fêngtien from the mouth of the River Yalu to the mouth of the River An-ping, thence to Feng-huang-ch'ên, thence to Hai-ch'êng and thence to Ying-kow; also all cities and towns to the south of this boundary and ail islands appertaining or belonging to the province of Fêngtien situated in the eastern portion of the Bay of Liaotung and in the northern part of the Yellow Sea. Article 3 of the Treaty of Shimonoseki is in consequence suppressed, as are also the provisions in the same Treaty with reference to the conclusion of a Convention to regulate frontier intercourse and trade.
Article 2
As compensation for the southern portion of the province of Fêngtien, the Chinese Government engage to pay to the Japanese Government 30,000,000 Kuping taels on or before the 30th day of the 9th month of the 21st year of KUANG HSÜ, corresponding to the 16th day of the 11th month of the 28th year of MEIJI.
Article 3
Within three months from the day on which China shall have paid to Japan the compensatory indemnity of 30,000,000 Kuping taels provided for in Article 2 of this Convention, the retro ceded territory shall be completely evacuated by the Japanese forces.
Article 4
China engages not to punish in any manner, nor to allow to be punished, those Chinese subjects who have in any manner been compromised in connection with the occupation by the Japanese forces of the retro ceded territory.
Article 5
The present Convention is signed in duplicate in the Chinese, Japanese, and English languages. All these texts have the same meaning and intention, but in case of any differences of interpretation between the Chinese and Japanese texts, such differences shall be decided by reference to the English text.
Article 6
The present Convention shall be ratified by His Majesty the Emperor of China and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at Peking within 21 days from the present date.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same and affixed thereto the seal of their arms.
DONE in Peking this 22nd day of the 9th month of the 21st year of KUANG HSÜ, corresponding to the 8th day of the 11th month of the 28th year of MEIJI.
LI HUNG-CHANG, [L.S.]
Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of China
Senior Tutor to the Heir Apparent
Senior Grand Secretary of State
Earl of the First Rank
Baron HAYASHI TADASU, [L.S.]
Shoshii, Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure
Grand Officer of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun
Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
