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186

NEW CONVENTION BETWEEN THE TREATY POWERS AND JAPAN.

per ton for sailing vessels. The tonnage of each vessel shall be proved by the Foreign Register of the hip, which shall be exhibited through the Consul of the party inter- ested on the demand of the Japanese authorities, and shall be certified by the Consul as authentic.

Art. IX-In conformity with the Treaties concluded between Japan and the aforesaid Powers, and with the special arrangements made by the Envoys of the Japanese Government in their note to the British Government of the sixth of June, 1862, and in their note to the French Government of the sixth of October of the same year, all the restrictions on trade and intercourse between foreigners and Japanese, alluded to in the said notes, have been entirely removed, and proclamations to this effect have already been published by the Government of Japan.

The latter, however, do not hesitate to declare that Japanese merchants and traders of all classes are at liberty to trade directly, and without the interference of government officers, with foreign merchants, not only at the open ports of Japan, but also in all Foreign countries, on being authorized to leave their country in the manner provided for in Article X. of the present convention, without being subject to higher taxation by the Japanese Government than that levied on the native trading classes of Japan in their ordinary transactions with each other.

And they further declare that all Daimios or persons in the employ of Daimios, are free to visit on the same condition, any foreign country, as well as all the open Ports of Japan, and to trade there with foreigners as they please, without the inter- ference of any Japanese officer, provided always, they submit to the existing Police regulations and to the payment of the established duties.

Art. X.-All Japanese subjects may ship goods to or from any open Port in Japan, or to and from the Ports of any Foreign Power, either in vessels owned by Japanese or in the vessels of any nation having a Treaty with Japan. Furthermore, on being provided with Passports through the proper Department of the Government, in the manner specified in the Proclamation of the Japanese Government, dated the twenty-third day of May, 1866, all Japanese subjects may travel to any foreign country for purposes of study or trade. They may also accept employment in any capacity on board the vessels of any nation having a Treaty with Japan.

Japanese in the employ of foreigners, may obtain Government Passports to go abroad on application to the Governor of any open Port.

Art. XI.-The Government of Japan will provide all the Forts open to Foreign trade with such lights, buoys, or beacons, as may be necessary to render secure the navigation of the approaches to the said Ports.

Art. XII.-The undersigned being of opinion that it is unnecessary that this Convention should be submitted to their respective Governments for Ratification, before it comes into operation, it will take effect on and from the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

Each of the Contracting Parties having obtained the approval of his Government to this Convention shall make known the same to the others, and the communication in writing of this approval shall take the place of a formal exchange of Ratifications. In witness whereof the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention, and have affixed thereto their seals.

Done at Yeddo, in the English, French, Dutch, and Japanese languages, this twenty-fifth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

[L.S.] HARRY S. PARKES,

Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, in Japan. [L.S.] LEON ROCHES,

Ministre Plenipotentiare de S. M. L'Empereur des Francais, au Japon.

1.8.] A. L. C. PORTMAN,

Chargé d'Affairs a. i. of the United States, in Japan.

[1..8.] D. DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK,

Politik Agent en Consul General der Nederlanden, in Japan,

[L..S.]

MIDZUNO IDZUMI NO KAMI.

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