Directory_and_Chronicle_1864 — Page 367

XL

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

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 officers in such purchase or sale, or in mak- ing or receiving payment for the same, and all classes of Japanese may 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.-British merchants who may have imported merchandise into any open port in Japan, and paid duty thereon, 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 payment of any additional duty whatever.

Art. XVIII.—The Japanese authorities at each port will adopt the means that they may judge 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 Japan.

Art. XX.-The 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 on both the Contracting Parties to this Treaty, and on their subjects. The Diploma- tic Agent of Great Britain in Japan, in conjunction with such person or persons as may be appointed for that purpose by the Japanese Government, shall have power to make such rules as may be required to carry into full and complete effect the pro- visions of this treaty, and the provision of the Articles regulating trade appended

thereto.

Art. XXI.—This Treaty being written in the English, Japanese, and Dutch languages, and all the versions having the same meaning and intention, the Dutch version shall be considered the original; but it is understood that all official com. munications addressed by the Diplomatic and Consular Agents of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britian to the Japanese authorities, shall henceforward be written in English. In order, however, to facilitate the transaction of business, they will, for a period of five years from the signature of this Treaty, be accompanied by a Dutch or Japanese version.

Art. XXII.—It is agreed that either of the High Contracting Parties to this Treaty, on giving one year's previous notice to the other, may demand a revision thereof, on or after the first of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, with a view to the insertion therein of such amendments as experience shall be desirable.

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Art. XXIII.—It is hereby expressly stipulated that the British Government and its subjects, will be allowed free and equal participation in all privileges, immunities, and advantages, that may have been, or may be hereafter, granted by His Majesty the Tycoon of Japan to the Government or subjects of any other nation.

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Art XXIV.-The ratification of this Treaty, under the hand of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the name and seal of His Majesty the Tycoon of Japan, respectively, shall be exchanged at Yedo, within a year from this day of signature. In token whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed and sealed this Treaty.