The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-18
JAPAN TREATIES
Official Recognition OF the
Nation as Civilized
Regarded in Diplomatic Circles as Of
Prime importance.
BIZ The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S.-The new trea-
ties which japan is effecting with the
great powers, including the United States,
are regarded in diplomatic circles as al
event In international affairs quite as i'm
portant as the China Japan war, as the
fetal recognition TO Japan as one OF
the sisterhood of civilized nations. The
terms OF the treaty with Great Britain
have just been made public. similar
treaty is now being negotiated with this
country and it is expected to be second OF
the new treaties to be signed.
Then will come a like treaty with Ger
many and other powers. The significant
feature of this new series OF treaties is
that they for the first time deal with Ja-
pan as an enlightened nation entitled TO
the same party rights as the countries OF
Europe or the Western hemisphere. All
of the japanese treaties now ex-
isting treat her as haif bar
borous country, and are relics
of the days prior to her advance toward
civilized methods. The records of the
State department show that the United
States was the first to make a treaty of
any kind with Japan, and the first to
send minister there. This was within
the last 30 years, prior To which time
Japan was in such a benighted condition
that no diplomatic communication was
had with her. In 1853, Secretary of State
Lewis Cass sent Townsend Harris, of New
York., az consul general and afterward
minister TO Japan. He was the first official
OF the kind Japan had ever seen.
He took his life in his hands by pushing
inland, going to the seat OF government
at Yeddo, where he succeeded in making
an advantageous treaty.
This served as the basis for subsequent
treaties for Great Britain, France,
Prussia, Switzerland and other countries.
In 1866 our minister, Mr.. Portman, had
the treaty changed, making the tariff rate
five per cent. ad yalorem. Other countries
secured to same change.
These old treaties are still in force and
are to be superseded by the new series of
treaties.
The main feature OF the new treaties is
that recognizing Japan as full treaty max
ing power, and make commercial terms
and arrangements with her accordingly.
The old treaty gave the United
States a uniform tariff rate of
five per cent. ad valorem, for sending
gooas into japan. Although this course
was left free to impose such tariff rates as
she saw fit against Japan, the new treaty
will raise the japanese rates, on the prin-
ciple that the government is now able to
enact just and enlightened tarif law of
its own. The rate for imports from the
United States Is understood TO be from six
to eight percent. and 10 be specific instead
of an ad valorem duty. This is the rate
on the British treaty, and the purpose is
TO have them alike. An important
change is in opening up Japan to
Americans and other foreigners. The old
treaties restrict foreigners 10 certain des-
ignated treaty ports. Japan now pro-
poses to throw open her entire country
making only one reservation against the
alien ownership to land, similar to the
laws in some American states. With
this reservation, Americans and other
foreigners will be allowed to conduct
business, lease lands, etc, in any part of
Japan. On the other hand. Japan desires
by the new treaties to rid herself OF the
consular courts and other foreign tribunals
which sit at the treaty ports and have
jurisdiction over all cases, civil
and criminal, in which foreigner
was a party. These courts were estap-
lished on the theory that eastern coun-
tries were extremely cruel in their
punishments but as the japanese judicial
system is now patterned after that Of
eastern countries, it is felt that full justice
will be accorded foreigners in Japan
without the continuance of the foreign
courts.
With Great Britain, the United States
and Germany joining in the recognition
of Japan's advancement, the country
will, in effect, be- officially received as one
OF the fully civilized treaty-making
nations. ,