His Excellency,
Lou Tseng-tsiang,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.

EXCHANGE OF NOTES RESPECTING THE FUKIEN QUESTION

--Note--

Peking, the 25th day of the 5th month of the 4th year of the Republic of
China.

Excellency,

A report has reached me to the effect that the Chinese Government has
the intention of permitting foreign nations to establish, on the coast
of Fukien Province, dock-yards, coaling stations for military use, naval
bases, or to set up other military establishments; and also of borrowing
foreign capital for the purpose of setting up the above-mentioned
establishments.

I have the honour to request that Your Excellency will be good enough to
give me reply stating whether or not the Chinese Government really
entertains such an intention.

I avail, etc.,

(Signed) HIOKI EKI.

His Excellency,
Lou Tseng-tsiang,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.

--Reply--

Peking, the 25th day of the 5th month of the 4th year of the Republic of
China.

Monsieur le Ministre,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note
of this day's date which I have noted.

In reply I beg to inform you that the Chinese Government hereby declares
that it has given no permission to foreign nations to construct, on the
coast of Fukien Province, dock-yards, coaling stations for military use,
naval bases, or to set up other military establishments; nor does it
entertain an intention of borrowing foreign capital for the purpose of
setting up the above-mentioned establishments.

I avail, etc.,

(Signed) LOU TSENG-TSIANG.

His Excellency,
Hioki Eki,
Japanese Minister.

APPENDIX

DOCUMENTS IN GROUP IV

(1) The Draft of the Permanent Constitution completed in May, 1917.

(2) The proposed Provincial System, _i.e._, the local government law.

(3) Memorandum by the Ministry of Commerce on Tariff Revision,
illustrating the anomalies of present trade taxation.

(4) The leading outstanding cases between China and the Foreign Powers.

DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION OF CHINA

(As it stood on May 28th, 1917, in its second reading at the
Constitutional Conference.)

The Constitutional Conference of the Republic of China, in order to
enhance the national dignity, to unite the national dominion, to advance
the interest of society and to uphold the sacredness of humanity, hereby
adopt the following constitution which shall be promulgated to the whole
country, to be universally observed, and