The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-24
JAPANESE CIVILIZATION.
Now Treaty of Amity Signed with tho
United St ates.

NOW Treaty of Amity Signed With the
United st ates.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Secretary OF
State Gresham, in behalf of the United
States, and Minister Kurino of Japan,
in behalf of his country, have aft xed
their signatures to o new treaty of smity
and commerce between this country and
Jspsn. Final ormslities in the execu-
ton OF the instrument occurred at the
state department yesterday after the
close OF Office hours, and the fact that it
now awaited only the ratification of the
two governments was exclusively an
nounced by the Associated Press yester.
day. Secretary Gresham will transmit
the new treaty to the United States
senate as soon ss it convenes, and Mr..
Kurino will forward it to the Japanese
foreign Office to be approved BY the EN-.
peror OF Japan and privy council
Coming at the present time, tbs signing
OF the treaty is considered OF much sig
nitiance as it establishes cordial rela>
tions between the countries when the
foreign powers are endesvoring to show
that the Japanese rejection of peace
mediation was snub to the United
States.
The signing OF the treaty concludes q
labor which has been in progress for Is
years, and it was with the special view
OF closing the long negotiation that
Kurino was taken from an important
post in the Japanese foreign Office and
sent to Washington.
The event will also cause much com.
ment in Great Britain, France, Switzer-
land and other foreign countries, as the
action OF the United States affects SINH
lar treaties abroad. That with Great
Britain is closed, and the ones with
France and Switzerland are largely de.
pendent upon the close of the American
negotiations.
The chief feature of the new treaty is
in its recognition OF japan as a civilized
country. Previous treaties have as.
sumed that the native courts were go
primitive and the pnnishments 30 brutal
that it would not be safe to trust Amer
lean, British and other foreign citizens
to their jurisdiction. The new treaty
recognizes the Japanese courts and does
away with the offensive foreign consular
courts. But in order that time NAV be
given for the Japanese judicial system
to be further perfected, the date when
they assume their new functions is post
poned until January. 1899. The same
provision ia in the treaty with Great
Britain and in those about to be con.
Guided with France. Switzerland and
other countries. 80 the full recognition
OF Japan's civilization will be ushered in
with the twentieth century.
The restriction OF Japanese immigra-
ton to this country ia also an imports
ant feature of the new treaty. Japan
has readily acceded to this, because as
she claims her citizens are not desirous
OF immigrating in large numbers to
America, and also because Japanese
law prohibits them from emigrsting
contrary to the American contract labor
law. The trade features OF the treaty
are said to be framed with view to de-
veloping the commerce OF both coun.
tries. Within previous treaties Japan
has been restricted to per cent ad val.
orem on American imports, and the
actual collections at the customs house
has been about per cent ad valorem.
The exact terms OF the new arrange
ment are not known. The treaty also
gives Americans greater property rights
in Japan. allowing them the privilege
not heretofore granted, of leasing lands
in the interior OF Japan, as we'll az at
the treaty ports, and allowing all prop.
erty rights except the right to own land
in fee simple.