Instrument recording the several
Propositions considered by the two Contracting Parties, and the action which both agree
shall be taken
WHEREAS the subjects of
every Government are entitled to its protection against injury, an obligation rests upon
every Government to adopt measures by which their safety shall be provided for, and should
any trouble have come upon [the subjects of] of any particular Government, it is incumbent
upon that Government to institute inquiry and to take action.
Certain Japanese subjects having been
wantonly murdered by the unreclaimed savages of Formosa, the Government of Japan regarding
these savages as responsible, dispatched a force against them to exact satisfaction. An
understanding has now been come to with the Government of China that this force shall be
withdrawn and certain further steps taken, all which is set forth in the three articles
following:—
Article 1
The present proceedings having been
undertaken by the Government of Japan for the humane object of affording security to its
own subjects, the Government of China will not therefore impute blame to it.
Article 2
The Government of China will give a
certain sum to compensate the families of the shipwrecked Japanese who were murdered [on
Formosa]. The roads made and buildings erected by the Japanese on the ground the
Government of China is prepared to retain for its own use, and it agrees to make a further
payment on this account. The details of the engagements on these points will be elsewhere
stated.
Article 3
All correspondence that this question
has occasioned between the two Governments shall be cancelled, and the discussion dropped
for evermore. It will be the duty of the Chinese Government to take such steps for the due
control of the savage tribes in the regions referred to as will for ever secure the
navigation [along their coasts] against any further atrocities on their part.
Guarantee or Engagement referred to
in the foregoing Instrument
PAPER attesting an
engagement entered into.
In the matter of the savages of
Formosa, reference being had to an understanding arrived at with the two Governments [of
China and Japan] by the British Minister, Mr. Wade, and to the instrument this day signed,
recording the action to be taken respectively by the two parties thereto, the Chinese
Government will at once give the sum of 100,000 taels to compensate the families of the
shipwrecked Japanese who were killed. In addition to this, the Chinese Government will not
fail to pay a further sum of 400,000 taels on account of the expenses occasioned by the
construction of roads and erection of buildings which, when the Japanese troops are
withdrawn, the Chinese Government will retain for its own use. It is further agreed that
on (or by) the 20th day of the 12th month of the 7th year of the reign MEIJI
(Japanese style), and on the 12th day of the 11th moon of the reign T'UNG CHIH
(Chinese style)*, the Government of Japan shall withdraw the whole of its troops, and the
Government of China shall pay the whole of the money, neither party being behind the time
now fixed. The payment of the sum guaranteed will not be completed by the Chinese
Government so long as any part of the troops of the Government of Japan be not withdrawn.
This instrument is drawn up in
guarantee of the Agreement. [It is in two parts whereof] each party to it retains one.
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