The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-07-20
NEW ERA FOR JAPAN
Today Marks a Turning Point
In Oriental History.
COUNTRY OPEN 70 FOREIGNERS.
New Treaties with United states aud
European Powers Place che jap
ancse Nation In II Greatly
Exalted Position.

WASHINGTON, July IA new
treaty between the United States and
Japan goes into effect today, at which
time also new treaties between Japan
and nearly all of the countries of Europe
and some South American republics also
go INTO effect, an event of farreachng
Importance in the relations between Ja-
pan and the United States. as it does
away with the treaty methods which
have been in vogue for nearly 30 years
and substitutes an entirely new method OF
procedure. The same is true in the rcla.
tions of Japan with other countries. TAX
On as whole, the many new treaties
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 re-
Spect.
Mr.. Jutaro Komurn the present Jap
auese minister at WashiL gton, gives the
following interesting outline of the more
important features Of this arrangement.
He said.
1.-The 18th of July marks the turning
point in the diplomatic history not only
of Japan, but of the oriental countries in
general. 1t will be the first instance in
which the western powers have rccog-
state. This action of the enlightened ma
tions of Europe and America shows that
If any country is ready to assume n full
share in the responsibility and affairs
Of the world at large these old and en-
lightened powers are ready to admit such
Il 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 nations of the east.
'"Thc countries with which Japan has
made new treaties are the United States,
Great Britain, Germany, France Russia,
Austria, Italy. Sp'iin, 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 Aug. 4. With most of these coun-
tries Japan had treaty relations before,
hat they were crude and unsatisfactory.
''To understand the change it Is ncccs-
SHry to look at the condition under the
old treaties. This was essentially based
on two principles-fi that foreign resi-
leuts in Japan should enjoy the privileges
of extra territoriality-that is, they
should be amenablc to the laws and ju
Iisdiction of the consul of their own coun-
try and not to Japanese jurisdictions: sec
ond. that foreign residents in Japan should
he confined to certain open ports, outside
of which foreigners could not reside, own
property or engage in trade
"Onc Of the bad effects of this system
was that foreign residents had entire inn
munity from taxation while the Japanese
paid all the taxes. All this has now dis
appeared, and foreigners have the same
privileges as well as the same obligations
as the japanese citizens, no more and no
less.
'''rhe second essential thing is the
opeuipg of the entire interior of Japan to
foreign residents and trade. Until now
there have been only five treaty ports,
Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe. Hakadote
md Nigata. In these places foreigners
had been able to live. to purchase proper
ty and to trade. but outside of these they
could not even travel without a special
permit. These five places are an insig-
nikcant part of Japan. Hcnccforth the
entire interior of the empire, with it's
populous cities and inviting fields of in
dustry, 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.
"fu bringing about the new system of
treaties Japan naturally feels most
friendly toward the United States be-
cause she always has shown a most sym
pathetic interest in .Iapan's desire to
adopt modern METHODS and to deal on
even terms with the rest of the world.