The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-22
POWERS RECOGNIZE
JAPAN As AN EQUAl
Kingdom Of the Mikado Formally
Enters the Family Of Civilized
Nations.
NEW TREATIES IN EFFECT TODAY
The First Time Western Nations
Have Recognized the Full Sow
ereignty of An Oriental
Country.

Washington, July ia New treaty
between the United States and Japan
goes into effect today, ut which time
ais new treaties between Japan and
nearly all the countries of Europe and
some of the South American republics
go into effect. 1t is an effect of far
reaching Importance in the relations
between Japan and the United States,
as it does away with the treaty meth
DDS which have beer in vogue for near
ly fifty years and substitutes an en-
tirely new method Of procedure. The
same is true in the relations of Japan
with other countries. Taken as a
whole, the many t%renties which go into
effect today place Japan on an entirely
new footing with the world at large,
as she is recognized for the first time
as an equal in every respect.
The treaty with this country was
made November %, 1894, in Washing
ton, between Secretly Gresham and
Minister Kureno, who then represent
ed Japan here. The changes it made
We're SO far-reaching hat it was de-
termined the treaty should not go into
operation until July II, 1899.
Features Of h Compact.
Jutaro Komura, the present Japan
est minister in Washington, was seen
at the Japanese legation and gave an
interesting outline of the more impor-
tant features of this arrangement. He
said:
''The 18th of July marks the turning
point in the diplomatic history. not
only of Japan, but of the oriental coun-
tries in general. 1t will be the first
instance in which the western powers
have recognized the full sovereignty
of an oriental state. This action of the
enlightened nations of Europe and
America shows hat if any country is
ready to assume a full share in the re-
sponsibility and affairs of the world at
large these old and enlightened powers
are ready to admit such u country to
full comfy among nations. So we re-
gard the advent of this treaty as a very
important step not only for Japan, but
for all the nations of the east.
THE countries with which Japan
has made new treaties are the United
States, England, Germany, France,
Russia, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden
and Norway, Switzerland and Peru.
All of these go into effect today except
| those with France and Austria, which
are deferred until August 4. With most
of these countries Japan had treaty re
lations before, but they We're crude
and unsatisfactory.
"To understand the change it is nee
essary to look at the system under the
old treaties. This was essentially
based on two principles: First, that
foreign residents in Japan shall enjoy
the provisions of eNtra-territor;aiity,
that-is. they should be amenable to the
laws and jurisdiction of the consul of
their own country and not to japanese
jurisdiction. and, second. that foreign
residents in Japan shall be confined to
certain open ports. outside of which
foreigners could not reside, own prop
crty or engage in trade. The result
was in effect about fifteen or sixteen
systems of courts in Japan for the pur-
pose of trying foreigners who commit
otfenses in Japan. Furthermore, most
of the powers claimed that japanese
laws were not binding upon foreign
ers. For instance, take our quarantine
law. While it protected us as against
out W people. yet there was no pro-
eign ship. The only exception to this
refusal to recognize Japanese law was
the United States. which recognized
from the first the binding force of the
japanese law.
Enrr;0ncrS Nyuot Pow U,axos Novv
"Onc of the bad effects of this sys-
TEN was that foreign residents had en-
tire immunity from taxation. The
Japanese paid all the taxes. All of
this has now disappeared and foreign
crs are under the same provisions as
well as the same obligations as the
Japanese citizens, no more and no less.
The first step in the new system is to
put an end to the old fiction of extra
territoriality. by which foreign citi-
zens We're judged by different stand
ards from Japanese.
The second and essential thing is
the opening Of the entire interior of
Japan to foreign residents and trade.
Until now there nave been only five
treaty ports, Yokohama. Nagasaki,
Kobe, H%akodato and Nigata. In those
places foreigners had been able to live,
to purchase property and to trade, but
outside of these they could not even
travel without a special permit. These
five places are an insignificant part Of
Japan. Hc%nceforth the entire interior
of the empire, with its populous cities
and inviting fields of industry, is
thrown open to foreigners. They may
live anywhere, engage in any kind of
business and will be assured of the
same protection to life and property
that is given to the Japanese.
In bringing about the new system
of treaties Japan naturally feels most
friendly toward the United States be-
cause She always has shown a most
sympathetic interest in Japan's desire
to adopt modern methods and to deal
on even terms With the rest of the
world. The messages of several of the
presidents have spoken in most friend
~ terms Of the matter. And so, as the
government and people of the United
States have taken such a friendly in
terest under the old system, I hope and
believe that the United States govern
ment and people will take u most
friendly interest in the carrying out
OF the new treaty.
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