TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN.
XXXIX
British subjects who may commit any crime against Japanese subjects, or the subjects or citizens of any other country, shall be tried and punished by the Consul, or other public functionary authorized thereto, according to the laws of Great Britain.
Justice shall be equitably and impartially administered on both sides.
Art. VI.-A British subject having reason to complain of a Japanese must pro- ceed to the Consulate and state his grievance.
The Consul will inquire into the merits of the case, and do his utmost to arrange it amicably. In like manner, if a Japanese have reason to complain of a British sub- ject, the Consul shall no less listen to its complaint, and endeavour to settle it in a friendly manner. If disputes take place of such a nature that the Consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of the Japanese authori- ties, that they may together examine into the merits of the case, and decide it equitably. Art. VII.—Should any Japanese subject fail to discharge debts incurred to a British subject, or should he fraudulently abscond, the Japanese authorities will do their utmost to bring him to justice, and to force recovery of the debts; and should any British subject fraudulently abscond or fail to discharge debts incurred by him to a Japanese subject, the British authorities will, in like manner, do their utmost to bring him to justice, and to enforce recovery of the debts.
Neither the British or Japanese Governments are to be held responsible for the payment of any debts, contracted by British or Japanese subjects.
Art. VIII.—The Japanese Government will place no restrictions whatever upon
the employment, by British subjects, of Japanese in any lawful capacity.
Art. IX.-British subjects in Japan shall be allowed the free exercise of their religion, and for this purpose shall have the right to erect suitable places of worship.
Art. X.-All foreign coin shall be current in Japan, and shall pass for its cor- responding weight in Japanese coin of the same description.
British and Japanese subjects may freely use foreign or Japanese coin, in making payments to each other.
As some time will elapse before the Japanese will become acquainted with the value of foreign coin, the Japanese Government will, for the period of one year after the opening of each port, furnish British subjects with Japanese coin in exchange for theirs, equal weights being given, and no discount taken for recoinage.
Coins of all description (with the exception of Japanese copper coin), as well as foreign gold and silver uncoined, may be exported from Japan.
Art. XI.-Supplies for the use of the British navy may be landed at Kanagawa, Hakodadi, and Nagasaki, and stored in warehouses, in the custody of an officer of the British Government, without the payment of any duty; if any such supplies are sold in Japan, the purchaser shall pay the proper duty to the Japanese authorities.
Art. XII-If any British vessel be at any time wrecked or stranded on the coast of Japan, or be compelled to take refuge in any port within the dominions of the Tycoon of Japan, the Japanese authorities, on being apprised of the fact, shall im- mediately render all the assistance in their power; the person on board shall receive friendly treatment, and be furnished, if necessary, with the means of conveyance to the nearest Consular station.
Art. XIII. -Any British merchant vessel arriving off one of the open ports of Japan shall be at liberty to hire a pilot to take her into port. In like manner, after she has discharged all legal dues and duties, and is ready to take her departure, she shall be allowed to hire a pilot to conduct her out of port.
Art. XIV.—At each of the ports open to trade British subjects shall be at full liberty to import from their own or any other ports, and sell there, and purchase therein, and export to their own or any other ports, all manner of merchandize, not contraband, paying the duties thereon, as laid down in the Tariff annexed to the pre- sent Treaty, and no other charges whatsoever. With the exception of munitions of