Polynesian., 1854-09-09


The following is copy of the Japan treaty,
communicated to the Senate, July 18th:
TREATY
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN, DONE AT KANAGAWA
LORD JESUS CHRIST 1854, AND OF KAYEI THE SEW
ENTH YEAR, THIRD MONTH AND THIRD DAY.
The United States of America and the Empire of
Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting and sim
cere friendship between the two nations, have re-
solved to fix, in a manner clear and positive, by
means of treaty or general convention of peace
and amity, the rules which shall in future be mu-
tually observed in the intercourse of their respect
i've countries for which most desirable object the
President of the United States has conferred full
powers on his Commissioner, Matthew Calbraith
Perry, special Ambassador of the United States to
Japan, and the august Sovereign of Japan has Civ
en- similar full powers to his Commissioners, Hay
ASH -dai- lido Prince of Tsus Sima
lava, Prince of Mima-Saki, and Adono, member
of the Board Of Revenue-and the said Commits
sioners, after having exchanged their full powers
and duly considered the premises, have agreed to
the following articles
ARTICLE l. There shall be perfect, permanent
and universal peace and sincere cordial amity be-
tween the United States of America on the one
part and the Empire of Japan on the other part,
and between their people respectively, without ex
ception of persons places.
ARTICLE H. The port Of Simoda, in the Princi-
pality of Idzu, and the port of HakOdade, in the
Principality of Matsmai, are granted by the Jap
anese as ports for the reception of American ships
where they can be supplied with wood, water, pro-
visions and COAL and other articles their necessi-
ties may require as far the japanese have them.
The time for opening the first named port is imme-
diately on signing this treaty the last named
port is to be opened Immediately after the same day
in the ensuing japanese year. NOTE.-A tariff of
prices shall be given by the japanese officers of
the things they can furnish, payment for which
shall be made in gold and silver coin.
ARTICLE III. Whenever ships of the United
States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Jap
an, the Japanese vessels will assist them and carry
their crews to SimOda or Hakodade, and hand
them over TO their countrymen, appointed to re-
ceive them and whatever articles the shipwrecked
may have preserved, shall likewise be restored,
and the expenses incurred in the and support
of Americans and japanese who may thus be
thrown upon the shores of either nation, are not
to be refunded.
ARTICLE " Those shipwrecked persons and
other citizens of the United States shall he free as
in other countries, and not be subjected to confne-
ment, but shall be amenable to just laws.
ARTICLE V. Shipwrecked mariners and other
citizens of the United States, temporarily living at
Simoda or Hakodade, shall not be subject to such
restrictions and confinement as the Dutch and Chi
nese at Nagasaki, but shall be free at Simoda to
go where they please within the limits of seven
Japanese miles (or ri) from small island in the
harbor of Simoda, marked on the accompanying
chart hereto appended, and shall in like manner be
free to go where they please at Hakodade, within
limits to be defined after the visit OF the United
States squadron to that place.
ARTICLE VI. If there be any sort of goods
wanted, or any business which shall require to be
arranged, there shall be careful deliberation be-
tween the parties, in order to settle such matters
ARTICLE VII. 1t is agreed that ships of the
United States resorting to the ports open to them
shall be permitted to exchange gold and silver coin
and article of goods for other articles of goods, un
der such regulations as shall be temporarily estab
lished by the japanese government tor that pur-
pose 1t is stipulated, however, that the ships of
the United States shall be permitted to carry away
whatever articles they are unwilling to exchange
ARTICLE VIII. Wood, water, provisions, Goa,
and goods required shall only be procured through
the agency of japanese officers appointed for that
purpose, and in no other manner
ARTICLE IX 1t is agreed that if at any future
day the government of Japan shall grant to any
other nation or nations privileges and advantages
which are not herein guaranteed to the United
States and the citizens thereof, that these same
privileges and advantages shall be granted likewise
to the United States and persons thereof, without
any consultation or delay.
ARTICLE Y. Ships of the United States shall
be permitted TO resort to no other ports OF Japan
but Simoda and Hakodade, unless in distress or
forced by stress of weather.
ARTICLE XI. There shall be appointed by the
government of the United States consuls or agents
to reside in Smoda, at any time after the exPira-
ton of eighteen months from the date of The sign
ing of this treaty. provided that either OF the two
governments deem such arrangement necessary.
ARTICLE XII The present convention having
been concluded and duly signed, shall be obligatory
and faithfully observed By the United States Of
America and Japan, and by the citizens and sub
iects Of each respective Power and it is to DO rat
fled and approved by the President Of the United
States, by and with the advice and consent Of the