JAPAN.
TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN AND THE KINGDOM OF COREA (CHOSEN).
SIGNED AT Kokwa, 26th February, 1876.
The Governments of Japan and Chosen being desirous to resume the amicable relations that of yore exia ed between them, and to promote the friendly feelings of both nations to a still firmer basis, have, for this parpose, appointed their Pleni- potentiaries, that is to say:-The Government of Japan, Kuroda Kiyotaka, High Commissioner Extraordinary to Chosen, Li uten nt-General and Member of the Privy Council, M nister of the Colo..izat on Dpartment, and Inouyè Kaoru, Associate High Commissioner Extraordinary to Chose Member of the Genrô In; and the Government of Chos n, Shin Ken, Han Caoo-Su-Fu and In-Jishô, Fu-So-Fa, Fuku-so- Kwan, who, accord ng o the powers received from their respective Govern- ment, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles:-
Art. I.-Losen being an independent state enjoys the same sovereign rights as does Japan.
In order to prove the sincerity of the fri ndship existing between the two nations, their intercourse shall henceforward e carried on in terms of equality and courtesy, each avoiding the giving of offence by arrogance or mani estations of suspicion.
In the first instance, all rules and preceden s that are apt to obstruct friendly intercourse shall be totally abrogated, ani, in their stead, rules, liberal and in general usage fit to secure a firm and perpetual peace, shall be established.
Art. II.-The Government of Japan. at any time within fifteen months from the date of signature of ths Treaty, sh i have the right to send an Envoy to the capital of Chosen, when he shail b admitted to confer with the Rei-sohan-sho on matters of a diplomatic nature. He may either reside at the capital or return to his country on the completion of his mission.
The Government of Chosen in like manner shall have the right to send an Envoy to Tokyo, Japan, where he shall be admitted to confer with the Minister for Foreign, Affairs on matters of a diplomatic nature. He may either reside at Tokyo or return home on the completion of Lis mission.
Art. III.-All official communications addressed by the Government of Japan to that of Chosen shall be written in the Japanese language and for a period of ten years from the present date they shall be accompanied by a Chinese translation. The Government of Chosen will use the Chinese language.
Art. IV. Sorio in Fusan, Chosen, where an official establishment of Japan is situated, is a place originally opened for commercial intercourse with Japan, and trade shall henceforward be carried on at that place in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, whereby are abolished all former usages, such as the practice of Sai- ken-sen (junk annually sent to Chosen by the late Prince of Tsushima to exchange a certain quantity of articles between each other).
In addition to the above place, the Government of Chosen agrees to open twọ ports, as mentioned in Article V. of this Treaty, for commercial intercourse with Japanese subjects.
In the foregoing places Japanese subjects shall be free to lease land and to erect buildings thereon, and to rent buildings, the property of subjects of Chosen.
Art. V. On the coast of five provinces, viz.: Keikin, Chiusei, Jenra, Keisho, and Kankio, two ports, suitable for commercial purposes, shall be selected, and the time for opening these two ports shall be in the twentieth month from the second month of the ninth year of Meiji, corresponding with the date of Chosen, the first moon of the year Hei-shi.
Art. VI-Whenever Japanese vessels either by stress of weather or by want of fuel and provisions cannot reach one or the other of the open ports in Chosen, they may enter any port or harbour either to take refuge therein, or to get supplies of
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