i Eki,
Japanese Minister.

--Reply--

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

Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note
of this day's date in which you stated "that the places which ought to
be opened as Commercial Ports by China herself, as provided in Article 6
of the Treaty respecting South Manchuria and Eastern Inner Mongolia
signed this day, will be selected, and the regulations therefor, will be
drawn up, by the Chinese Government itself, a decision concerning which
will be made after consulting the Minister of Japan."

In reply, I beg to state that I have taken note of the same.

I avail, etc.,

(Signed) HIOKO EKI.

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

SOUTH MANCHURIA

--Note--

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 state that Japanese subjects shall, as soon as
possible, investigate and select mines in the mining areas in South
Manchuria specified hereinunder, except those being prospected for or
worked, and the Chinese Government will then permit them to prospect or
work the same; but before the Mining regulations are definitely settled,
the practice at present in force shall be followed. Provinces
Fengtien:--

|Locality |District |Mineral
| | |
|Niu Hsin T'ai |Pen-hsi |Coal
|Tien Shih Fu Kou |Pen-hsi |Coal
|Sha Sung Kang |Hai-lung |Coal
|T'ieh Ch'ang |Tung-hua |Coal
|Nuan Ti T'ang |Chin |Coal
|An Shan Chan region |From Liaoyang to Pen-hsi |Iron

KIRIN (_Southern portion_)

|Locality |District |Mineral
| | |
|Sha Sung Kang |Ho-lung |C. & I.
|Kang Yao Chia |Chi-lin (Kirin) |Coal
|P'i Kou |Hua-tien |Gold

I avail, etc.,

(Signed) LOU TSENG-TSIANG.

His Excellency,
Hioki Eki,
Japanese Minister.

--Reply--

Peking, the 25th day of the 5th month of the 4th year of Taisho.
Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's note
of this day respecting the opening of mines in South Manchuria, stating;
"Japanese subjects shall, as soon