The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-17
Rights Of Foreigners Now Protected
lous Interior Cities.
VAST FIELD FOR NEW TRADE
WITH THE NATIVES FAVORING Thu
ABOVE OTHER COUNTRIES.
Minister Yomura, at Washington, Ex-
plains the Benefits to Follow
the New Relations.

WASHINGTON, July ia new treaty
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 and some OF
the South American republics also go
into effect. 1t is an event of far-reach6g
Importance in the relations between Japan
and the United States, as 1t does away with
the treaty methods which have been in
vogue for nearly fifty years and substf-
tutes 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 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
Nov. %, 1894, in Washington. between Sec
rotary Gresham and Minister Kureno, who
then represented Japan here. The changes
it made were so far-reaching that IL was
determined the treaty should not go into OPP
Grafton until July II. 1893. Mr.. Jutaro Yo-
mura, the present japanese minister in
Washington, was seen at the Japanese le-
cation to-day and gave an interesting out
line Of the more important features Of this
arrangement. He said:
9TH 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 IL which the West
ern powers have recognized the full sover-
eighty Of an Oriental state. The action of
the enlightened nations OF Europe and
America shows that If any country is really
to assume a full share In the responsibility
and affairs of the world at large, these old
and enlightened powers are ready to admit
such a country to full comfy among ma
tons. So We regard 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,
Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia,
Austria. Italy, Spain, Portugal. Belgium,
Holland, Denmark. Sweden and Norway,
Switzerland and Peru. All Of these go into
effect tomorrow except those with France
and Austria, which are deferred until Aug.
4. With most Of these countries Japan had
treaty relations before, but they were crude
and unsatisfactory.
ITO understand the change it is necessary
to look at the system under the old treaties.
This was essentially based on the principles:
First, that foreign residents in Japan shall
ENJOY lie pTlNSlcSeS U
that is, they should be amenable to the laws
and jurisdiction of the consul of their own
country. and not to Japanese jurisdiction;
second, that foreign residents In Japan shall
be confined to certain open ports, outside
of which foreigners could not reside, own
property. or engage in trade. The result
was, in effect, about fifteen or sixteen sys-
TENS of courts in Japan. for the purpose
of irving foraignprS whn conpnftfad nfrepoac
in japan. Furthermore. most of the powers
claimed that Japanese laws were not bind
ing on foreigners. For instance, take our
quarantine law: While it protected US as
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 japanese 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 i'm
munity from taxation. The Japanese paid
all the taxes. All this has now disappeared,
and foreigners have the same privileges as
well as the same obligations as the Japa-
nese citizens. no more and no less. The first
step in the new system is to put an end 10
the old fiction of extraordinarily, by
which foreign citizens were judged by diff
ferent standards from japanese.
"The second essential thing is the OPEN
ing Of the entire interior of Japan to for
eign residents and trade. Until now there
have been only five treaty ports, Yokohama,
Nagasaki, Kobe. Hakodate and Nigata. In
these 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. hence
forth the entire interior of the empire, with
its 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.
I'm bringing about the new system of
treaties, japan naturally feels most friendly
towards the United States. because she al
ways has shown a most sympathetic inter-
est in Japan's desire TO adopt modern meth
DDS and TO deal on even terms with the rest
of the world. The messages of several of
the Presidents have spoken In most friendly
terms of this matter. And so. as the gov
eminent and people OF the United States
have taken such a friendly interest under
the old system, i hope and believe that the
United States government and people Will
take a most friendly interest in the carrying
out of the new treaty"