TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN.
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Art. VIII.—The Japanese Government will place no restrictions whatever upon employment of Japanese, by British subjects, in any lawful capacity.
Art. IX.-British subjects in Japan shall be allowed frce 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 corresponding weight in Japan se 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 efore 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 subjc.s with Japanese coin in exchange for theirs, equal weight being given, and no disc unt taken for recoinage.
Coins of all descriptions (with the exception of Japanese copper coin), as well as foreign gold and silver uncoind, may be exported from Japan.
Art. XI.-Supplies for the use of the British navy may be landed at Kanagawa, Hakodate, and Nagasaki, and a ored in warehouses, in the custoly 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 immediately render all the assistance in their power; the persons on board shall receive friendly treatment, and be furnished, if necessary, with the means of convey. ance to the nearest Consular station.
Art. XIII.-Any British merchant vess 1 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 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 merchandise not contraband, paying the duties thereon as laid down in the Tariff annexed to the present Treaty, and to other charges whatsoever. With the exception of munitions of war, which shall only be sold to the Japanese Government and foreigners, they may freely buy from Japanese and sell to them any articles that either may have for sale, without the intervention of any Japanese officer in such purchase or sale, or in receiving payment or the same, and all classes of Japanese inay purchase, sell, keep, or use any articles sold to them by British subjects.
Art. XV.-If the Japanese Custom-house officers are dissatisfied with the value placed on any goods by the owner, they may place a value thereon, and offer to take the goods at that valuation. If the owner refuses to accept the offer, he shall pay duty on such valuation. If the offer be accepted by the owner, the purchase money shall be paid to him without delay, and without any abatement or discount.
Art. XVI.-All goods imported into Japan by British subjects, and which have paid the duty fixed by this Treaty, may be transported by the Japanese into any part of the Empire, without the payment of any tax, excise, or transit duty whatever.
Art. XVII.—Brit sh merchants who may have imported merchandise into any open port in Japan, aud paid duty ther on, shall be entitled, on obtaining from the Japanese Custom-house authorities a certificate stating that such payment has been made, to re export the same, and land it in any other of the open ports, without the payinent of any additi nal duty whatever.
Art. XVIII.—The Japanese authorities at each port will adopt the means that they may julge most proper for the prevention of fraud or smuggling.
Art. XIX.-All penalties enforced, or confiscations made under this Treaty, shall belong to and be appropriated by, the Government of His Majesty the Tycoon of lapan.
Art. XX.--Tue Articles for the regulation of trade, which are appended to this Treaty, shall be considered as forming part of the same, and shall be equally binding