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BRITAIN - CHINA CONVENTION, 17.03.1890

Whereas HER MAJESTY the QUEEN of the UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN
and IRELAND, EMPRESS of INDIA, and HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR of CHINA, are
sincerely desirous to maintain and perpetuate the relations of friendship and good
understanding which now exists between their respective Empires, and whereas
recent occurrences have tended towards a disturbance of the said relations, and it
is desirable to clearly define and permanently settle certain matters connected with
the boundary between SIKKIM and TIBET, HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY and HIS MAJESTY
the EMPEROR of CHINA have resolved to conclude a Convention on this subject and
have, for this purpose, named plenipotentiaries that is to say;

HER MAJESTY the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, HIS EXCELLENCY the
MOST HON’BLE HENRY CHARLES KEITH PETTY FITZMAURICE, G.M.S.l., G.C.M.G., C.M.I.E.,
Marques of Lansdowne, Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

And His Majesty the Emperor of China, HIS EXCELLENCY SHENG TAJ, Imperial
Associate Resident in Tibet, Military Deputy Lieutenant-Governor.
Who having met and communicated to each other their full powers, and
finding these to be in proper form, having agreed upon the following Convention in
eight Articles.

I. The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range
separating the waters following into Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters
flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and northwards into other rivers of Tibet. The line
commences at Mount Gimpmochi on the Bhootan frontier and follows the above
mentioned water parting to the point where it meets Nepaul Territory.

II. It is admitted that the British Government, whose protectorate over the
Sikkim State is hereby recognised, has direct and exclusive control over the internal
administration and foreign relations of that state, and except through and with the
permission of the British Government, neither the Ruler of the State nor any of its
officers shall have official relations of any kind, formal or informal with any other
country.

III. The Government of Great Britain and Ireland and the Government of
China engage reciprocally to respect the boundary as define in Article I, and to
prevent acts of aggression from their respective sides of the frontier.

IV. The question of providing increased facilities for trade across the Sikkim-
Tibet frontier will hereafter be discussed with a view to a mutually satisfactory
arrangement by High Contracting powers.

V. The question of pasturage on the Sikkim side of the frontier is reserved for
further examination and future adjustment.

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