The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-17
THE SEATTLE Posr-NTEILIGENCER MONDAY, JULY II
/ GREAT DAT FOR JAPAN.


WASHINGTON, July i6-The new trea-
ty between the United States and Japan
goes into effect tomorrow. at which time
also new treaties between Japan and
nearly all Of the countries Of Europe ana
some OF the South American repuoiics
also 60 into effect. 1t Is an event OF TAR
reaching importance In the relations De-
tween Japan and the United States. as II
does away with the treaty methods which
have been In vogue for nearly fffy 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 go into effect tomorrow Will place
Japan on an entirely different footing
with the world Mt large, as she Is recog-
nixed for the first time as an equal In
every respect. The treaty with this coun-
try was made Nov. =, 1884, in Washing-
ton, between Secretary Gresham ana
Minister Kureno. who then represented
Japan here. The changes II made were
SO far-reachinE that II was determines
the treaty should not go into operation
until July II. 1889.
Mr. Jutaro Komura, the present Japan.
csc minister in Washington. was seen at
the Japanese legation today and gave an
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, bat OF the Oriental countries In
general. II will be the first instance III
which the Western powers have reeoS-
mixed the fun sovereignty of an oriental
state. This action Of the enlightened ma
tions of Europe and America shows tnat
II any country Is ready 10 assume ass MR. = ia ~
the world at large. these old and eniignt-
ened powers are ready to admit such n
country to full comfy among nations So
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,
Austria, Italy. Spain, Portugal. Belgian,
Holland. Denmark. Sweden and Norway.
Switzerland and Peru All OF these so
into effect tomorrow except those with
until Aug. Z. With most Of these coun-
tries, Japan had treaty relations before.
but they were crude and unsatisfactory.
To understand the change. 1t is nee
es9ary 10 look at the sss.-m under the
old treaties. This was essentially ba.ed
on two prfncfpies--first, that foreign res
dents in Japan shall enjoy the privileges
of extraordinarily, that is. they should
OF the consul OF their own country. and
not to Japanese jurisdiction; and second,
that foreign residents in Japan shall bc
confined to certain open ports, outside Of
property or engage in trade. The result
WAS In effect about fifteen or sixteen sys-
TENS of courts in Japan. for the purpose
of trying foreigners who committed Of
lenses in Japan. Furthermore, most OF
the powers claimed that Japanese laws
were not binding upon foreigners. For n
stance, take our quarantine law. While
II protected us against our own people.
yet there was no protection in the case
of an infected foreign ship The only
exception to this refusal to recognize Jap.
anese law was the United States. which
recognized from the first the binding force
OF the Japanese law.
One of the bad effects OF this system was
that foreign residents had entire immu-
ali the taxes. All this has now disap-
peared, and foreigners have the same priv
ileges AZ 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 10 the old fiction Of ex-
Internationally. by which foreign citizens
were judged by different standards from
Japanese.
ing Of the interior of Japan to foreign res
idents and trade. Until now there have
been only Ave treaty. ports--Yokohama.
Nagasaki. Kobe, Hakndafe and Nigata. In
those places foreigners had been able 10
live. to purchase property and to trade.
but outside OF there they could not even
travel without a special permit. These I'VE
places are an insignificant part of japan.
Henceforth the entire interior of the em :
pire. with its populous cities and inviting
fields of Industry. Is open to foreigners.
They may live anywhere. engage m 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 friendly to-
ward the United States. because she al
ways has shown a most sympathetic In
terest in Japan's desire TO adopt modern
methods and TO deaf on even terms with
- =
several of the presidents have spoken IN
most friendly terms Of this matter. And
so. as the government and people of tho
United States have taken such friendly
interest under the old system. l hope AMI
believe the United States government and
people will take a most friendly Interest
in the carrying out Of the new treaty.
N,