The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-17
JAPANS GREAT STRIDE.
Recognized as an Equal by All the
Great Lations.
THE NEW TREATIES OPERATIVE.


Vogue For Halra Conturys
by Entirely New Methods OF Proceed
uro IN Dcnlinrwith Friendly Nations
Washington. July 1.-THE new
treaty between the United States and
Japan goes into effect today, as does
also new treaties between Japan and
nearly all Of the countries of Europe
and some of the South American re-
publics. II is an event of far reach
ing Importance in the relations be-
tween Japan and the United States, as
il does away with the treaty methods
which have been in vogue for nearly
so years and substitutes an entirely
new method of procedure. The same
is true In the relations Of japan with
other countries. Taken as a whole the
many new treaties which 90 into ef-
feet today place Japan on an entirely
new footing with the world at large,
as she is recognized TOR the first time
as an equal in every respect.
Mr.. Jutaro Komura, the present Jap
anese minister In Washington, was
seen at the japanese legation and gave
an interesting outline of the more i'm
portant features of this arrangement
He said
"The 18th of July marks the turning
point in the diplomatic history, not
ony of Japan, but of the Oriental
countries in general. II will be the
first instance In which the western
powers have recognized the full sover-
eighty of an Oriental state. This ac-
ton of the enlightened nations of Eu-
rope and America shows that If any
country is ready to assume a full
share In the responsibility and affairs
of the world at large these old and en-
| lightened powers are ready to admit
| such a country to full comfy among
| nations. So we regard the advent of
| this treaty as very important step,
not only for Japan. but for all the ma
| tions of the east
1.-THE countries with which Japan
| has made new treaties are the United
| States, Great Britain, Germany, Rus
sia, France, Austria, Italy, Spain, Por-
| tugal, Belgium, Holland, Denmark,
! Sweden and Norway, Switzerland and
| Peru. All of these go into effect to-
| day, except those with France and
| Austria, which are deferred until Aug,
4. With most of these countries Japan
! had treaty re-ations before, but they
| we're crude and unsatisfactory.
ITO understand the change It Is
necessary to look at the system under
the old treaties. This was essentially
based on two principles. First, that
| foreign residents in Japan shall en-.
Joy the privileges of extra territorial.
ity, that Is, they should be amenable
to the laws and jurisdiction of the
consul of their own country, and moi
to Japanese Jurisdiction, and, second
that foreign residents in Japan shall
be confined to certain open ports, out.
side of which foreigners could not re-
side, own property, or engage In trade
The result was in effect about Is or II
systems of courts in Japan, for thu
purpose of trying foreigners who com
nit offenses in Japan. Furthermore
most of the powers claimed that Jap
anese laws we're not binding upon for
eigners. For instance, take our quar-
antine law. While it protected us a
against our own people, yet there wa
no protection in the case of an in
fected foreign ship. The only excep
Jion to this refusal to recognize Jap
anese law was the United States, whicI
recognized from the first the binding
force of the Japanese law.
Zone of the bad effects of this sys
tenn was that foreign residents hat
entire immunity from taxation. Th
Japanese paid all the taxes. All thi
has now disappeared, and foreigner
have the same privileges as we'll as tn
same obligations as the Japanese citi
zens, no more and no less The frs
step In the new system is to put an ent
to the old fiction of extra territorialty
by which foreign citizens were judget
by different standards from japanese
''The second essential thing is tn
opening of the entire interior of Japal
to foreign residents and trade. Unit
now there have been only FIVE treat,
ports, Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe
Hakodate and Nigatt. In these place
foreigners had been able to live, Il
purchase property and to trade, bu
outside of there they could not evel
travel without special permit Thes
five places are an insignificant par
of Japan. Henceforth the entire in
terror of the empire, with its popu
lous cities and inviting fields of in
dustry, are thrown open to foreigners
They may live anywhere, engage Il
any kind of business, and will be as
sured the same protection to life an
property that is given to the Jap
anese."