TREATY OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION
MADE AT PEKING, JULY 21st, 1896
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Emperor of China having resolved, in pursuance of the provisions of Article VI. of the Treaty signed at Shimonoseki on the 17th day of the 4th month of the 28th year of Meiji, corresponding to the 23rd day of the 3rd month of the 21st year of Kwang-Hsu, to conclude a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, have for that purpose, named as their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say:-
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Baron Hayashi Tadasu, Shoshii, Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Officer of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary; and His Majesty the Emperor of China, Chang Yin-hoon, Minister of the Tsung-li Yamên, holding the rank of the President of a Board and Senior Vice-President of the Board of Revenue.
Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following Articles.
Art. I.-There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the Emperor of China, and between their respective subjects who shall enjoy equally in the respective countries of the High Contracting Parties full and entire protection for their persons and property.
Art. II. It is agreed by the High Contracting Parties that His Majesty the Emperor of Japan may, if he see fit, accredit a Diplomatic Agent to the Court of Peking and His Majesty the Emperor of China may, if he see fit, accredit a Diplomatic Agent to the Court of Tokyo.
The Diplomatic Agents thus accredited shall respectively enjoy all the pre- rogatives, privileges and immunities accorded by international law to such Agents and they shall also in all respects be entitled to the treatment extended to similar Agents of the most favoured nation.
Their persons, families, suites, establishments, residences and correspondence shall be held inviolable. They shall be at liberty to select and appoint their own officers, couriers, interpreters, servants, and attendants without any kind of molestation.
Art. III. His Majesty the Emperor of Japan may appoint Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents to reside at such of the ports, cities, and towns of China which are now or may hereafter be opened to foreign residence and trade, as the interests of the Empire of Japan may require.
These officers shall be treated with due respect by the Chinese Authorities, and they shall enjoy all the attributes, authority, jurisdiction, privileges and immunities which are or may hereafter be extended to similar officers of the nation most favoured in these respects.
His Majesty the Emperor of China may likewise appoint Consuls-General, Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents to reside at any or all of those places in Japan where Consular Officers of other nations are now or may hereafter be admitted, and, saving in the matter of jurisdiction in respect of Chinese subjects and property in Japan which is reserved to the Japanese Judicial Courts, they shall enjoy the rights and privileges that are usually accorded to such officers.
Art. IV.—Japanese subjects may, with their families, employés and servants, frequent, reside and carry on trade, industries and manufactures or pursue any other lawful avocations, in all the ports, cities and towns of China, which are now or may
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