Anglo-German Agreement on China's Open Ports and Territory
OCTOBER 16 there was published to the world the terms of alliance between Britain and Germany in the matter of the China tangle, as follows:— The German government and her British majesty’s government, being desirous to maintain their interests in China and their rights under existing treaties, have agreed to observe the following principles regarding a mutual policy in China:— 1. It is a matter of joint permanent international interest that the ports on the rivers and littoral of China should remain free and open to trade and to every other legitimate form of economic activity for the peoples of all countries without distinction; and the two governments agree on their part to uphold the same for all Chinese territory as far as they can exercise influence. 2. Both governments agree that they will not on their part make use of the present complication to obtain for themselves any territorial advantage in Chinese dominion, and will direct their policy toward maintaining undiminished the territorial condition of the Chinese Empire. 3. In case of another Power making use of the complications in China in order to obtain under any form whatever such territorial advantages, the two contracting parties reserve to themselves the right to come to a preliminary understanding regarding the eventual step to be taken for the protection of their own interests in China. 4. The two governments will communicate this agreement to the other Powers interested, especially Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States, and invite them to accept the principles recorded in it.