Directory_and_Chronicle_1868 — Page 461

Page 461 Page 461

Page 461 Page 461

178

TREATY BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN.

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 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 correspond- ing 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 purchasers 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 he 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 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 present Treaty, and 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 officers in such purchase or sale, or in receiving payment for the same, and all classes of Japanese may purchase, sell, keep, or use any articles sold to them by British subject.

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 merchandize 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.

Page 461 Page 461

Page 461 Page 461

Digitized by

Google