The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-08
SISTER NATION.
Wide Provisions in Japan's
New Treaty.
Complete Autonomy Granted In For
eign as Well as Domestic Affairs.

w AsnIN0ToS, Dec. s.--Tho convention
between the United States and japan, re-
vising certain portions OF existing COM
s,meroial intercourse which was signed by
Secretary Gresham and Minister Kurino
as bieaipotentinrios on behalf OF their re-
spectiye governments some few days ago.
represents the contamination Of n con-
tinuous effort extending over many years,
TO give 10 Japan the rights which are no.
corded to other civilized nations.
Great Britain signed on July 10 last,
treaty by which extra territoriality was
abolished In Japan; but the fact seems
that Great Britain has always been
the chief opponent of treaty revision with
Japan, aud that nothing was con tained In
the July treaty With Great Britain which
had noe bocn previously agreed upon by
tho United States
The Unitsd State. Alone
among tho treaty powers has insisted
upon Japan's complete autonomy in
foreign as well as domestic affairs, In
taxes and tariff duties as well as In ju-
diclal jurisdiction.
Tho new convention supplants the
United States treaty Of 1858, in which
Japan was dealt with as n barbarous ma
tion. and that Of 1855, by which the United
States, Great Britain, Franco and the
Netherlands established Japan's customs
tariff for her
It's conspicuous feature Is the exact pro-
vision Of article I OF the United States
treaty OF 1879. which stipulated that from
the time when this present convention
shall take effect the United States will
recognize the exclusive power and right OF
the Japanese government TO adj ust the GUS
tom tariff and taxes, and 20 establish regu-
lations sppsrtaiuing to foreign commerce
IA the open ports OF Japan"
In this connection IL Is to be noted that
Jnpan's latest treaty with Great Britain.
in protocol, rigidiy flxod Japen's custom
tariff FOR her for a term OF years. The
United states leaves japan 40 free to pass
Mckinley or Wilson OF German tariff
bills as we ars ourselves.
Old Treaty Provisions.
The United states commercial treaty
with Japan OF 1873 was proclaimed by
President Hayes, April s, 1879. It placed
Japan upon p sctssly the same plane as
Germany, Franco. Spain, or any other
country In their relations with this gov
ernment, except that the consular conrts
were continued, with ON assurance, how
ever, that these would be eventually abol-
ished.
The final clause of the 1873 treaty pro-
vided that 80 should take effect when
Japan should conclude similar treaties
with the other powers which wcro parties
Go the 1855 treaties, and this Japan has
never succeeded in doing, and the benefits
desired by We United States were never
available.
Since 1868. when the despotic Shotgun
was relegated TO private station, and with
the enpercr's assumption OF power, one Of
his first edicts abolished laws against
foreign religions. The japanese have
been indofatigable in efforts to erase the
brand Of barbarlsm placed upon them by
the treaty OF 1885.
japanese progress In Western civiliza-
tlon dates from the restoration Of 1863
Systematization and codihcation of the
laws began at once. and the improvement
i'm every diractinn- WAS marvellous. Nine
tcnths OF 1t was directly attributable to
American influence, and in 1873, as already
shown, the United STATES by treaty recog-
nized Japan as an independent nation