21 



that the vital interests of both require the safeguarding of China 

 against the political domination by any third Power entertaining 

 hostile designs towards Eussia or Japan, and therefore mutually 

 pledge themselves, each time when circumstances demand it, to 

 enter into frank relations based on complete mutual trust with 

 one another with a view to taking joint measures for the preven- 



SIBERIA 



ANCHURIA 

 -V MONGOLIA . " > * > 



tion of the possibility of the advent of such a state of affairs (in 

 China). 



ARTICLE 2. If as the result of the measures taken by mutual 

 agreement by Kussia and Japan, in virtue of the preceding article, 

 war should be declared by the third' Power referred to in Article 

 1 of the present Convention on either of the contracting parties, 

 the other party shall on the first demand of its ally come to its 

 assistance, and each of the high contracting parties pledges itself 

 hereby, in case such a situation should arise, not to conclude 

 peace with the common enemy without the previous consent of 

 its ally. 



ARTICLE 3. The terms on which each high contracting party 

 is to render armed assistance to the other in accordance with the 

 preceding Article, as well as the form in which this assistance is 



