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MAKING OF THE NORTH-EAST FRONTIER.

and because "on account of its unhealthy character, it had no great attractions for Great Britain."

By Article IV. of the same instrument, it was agreed that "all commercial and other privileges and advantages conceded in the two Chinese provinces of Yün-nan and Ssŭch'uan, either to Great Britain or France, in virtue of their respective conventions with China, of March 1st, 1894, and June 20th, 1895, and all privileges and advantages of any nature which may in the future be conceded in these two Chinese provinces, either to Great Britain or to France, shall, as far as rests with them, be extended and rendered common to both Powers and to their nationals and dependents, and they engage to use their influence and good offices with the Chinese Government for this purpose."

With the conclusion of this Agreement was closed a chapter of bitter diplomatic warfare in the history of Anglo-French relations. Hereafter the feelings of the two nations towards one another steadily improved, until in 1904 Lord Lansdowne was able to place