Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 635

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TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN.

Art. V.-All foreign coin shall be current in Japan, and pass for its corresponding weight of Japanese coin of the same description. Americans and Japanese may freely use foreign or Japanese coin in making payment to each other. As some time will elapse before the Japanese will be acquainted with the value of foreign coin, the Japanese government will, for the period of one year after the opening of each harbour, furnish the Americans with Japanese coin in exchange for theirs, equal weights being given and no discount taken for recoinage. Coins of all descriptions (with the exception of Japanese copper coin) may be exported from Japan, and foreign gold and silver uncoined.

Art. VI.-Americans committing offences against Japanese shall be tried in American consular courts, and when found guilty shall be punished according to American law. Japanese committing offences against Americans shall be tried by the Japanese authorities, and punished according to Japanese law. The consular courts shall be open to Japanese creditors, to enable them to recover their just claims against American citizens, and the Japanese court shall in like manner be open to American citizens for the recovery of their just claims against Japanese.

All claims for forfeiture or penalties for violations of this treaty, or of the articles regulating trade, which are appended hereunto, shall be sued for in the consular courts, and all recoveries shall be delivered to the Japanese authorities. Neither the American nor Japanese government are to be held responsible for the payment of any debts contracted by their respective citizens or subjects.

Art. VII.-In the opened harbours of Japan, Americans shall be free to go where they please, within the following limits :-At Kanagawa, the river Logo (which empties into the bay of Yedo between Kawasaki and Sinagawa), and (10) ten ri in any other direction. At Hakodadi, (10) ten ri in any direction. At Hiogo, (10) ten ri in any direction, that of Kioto excepted, which city shall not be approached nearer than (10) ten ri. The crews of vessels resorting to Hiogo shall not cross the river Enagawa, which empties into the bay between Hiogo and Osaka. The distance shall be measured from the goyoso or town-hall of each of the foregoing harbours, the ri being equal to (4,275) four thousand two hundred and seventy-five yards American measure. At Nagasaki, Americans may go into any part of the imperial domain in its vicinity. The boundaries of Nee-e-gata, or the place that may be substituted for it, shall be settled by the American diplomatic agent and the government of Japan.

Americans who may have been convicted of felony, or twice convicted of misdemeanour, shall not go more than (1) one Japanese ri inland, from the places of their respective residences, and all persons so convicted shall lose their right of permanent residence in Japan, and the Japanese authorities may require them to leave the country. A reasonable time shall be allowed to all such persons to settle their affairs, and the American consular authority shall, after an examination into the circumstances of each case, determine the time to be allowed, but such time shall not in any case exceed one year, to be calculated from the time the person shall be free to attend to his affairs.

Art. VIII.-Americans in Japan shall be allowed free exercise of their religion, and for this purpose shall have the right to erect suitable places of worship. No injury shall be done to such buildings, or any insult be offered to the religious worship of the Americans. American citizens shall not injure any Japanese temple or mia, or offer any insult or injury to Japanese religious ceremonies, or to the objects of their worship. The Americans and Japanese shall not do anything that may be calculated to excite religious animosity. The government of Japan has already abolished the practice of trampling on religious emblems.

Art. IX.-When requested by the American Consul, the Japanese authorities will cause the arrest of all deserters and fugitives from justice, receive in jail all persons held as prisoners by the Consul, and give to the Consul such assistance as may be required to enable him to enforce the observance of the laws by the Americans, who are on land, and to maintain order among the shipping. For all such services, and for the support of prisoners kept in confinement, the Consul shall in all cases pay a just compensation.