Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-07-24
JAPAN ADMITTED TO FULL
Comfy.

States and Japan went into effect July
II. at which time also new treaties
between Japan and nearly all the
countries of Europe and one South
American republic also went into ef-
feet. 1t is an event of far-reaching
Importance in the relations between
Japan and the United States, as it
does away with the treaty methods
which have been in vogue for nearly
fifty years, and substitutes an entirely
new method of procedure. The same
| is true in the relations of Japan with
other countries.
Taken as whole, the many new
treaties which went into effect place
Japan on an entirely new footing with
the world at large, as she is recog-
nized for the first time as an equal in
every respect.
The treaty with this country was
made on November %, 1894, in Wash
| ington, between Secretary Gresham
and Minister Kureno, who then rep
resented Japan here. The changes
made were so far -rea ching that it.was
| determined the treaty should not go
into operation until July II, 1899.
Jutaro Komura, the present Japan
csc Minister in Washington, was seen
at the Japanese Legation, and gave
an interesting outline of the more i'm
menu. He said:
''The 18th OF July marks the turn
ing 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 recognized the full SOW
ereignty of an Oriental state. This
action of the enlightened nations of
Europe and America shows that if any
country is ready to assume a full
share in the responsibility land affairs
of the world at large these old and
enlightened Powers are ready to ad-
NIT such a country to full comfy
among nations. So we regard the ad-
vent of this treaty as 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, Rus
STA, France, Austria, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Belgium, Holland, Denmark,
Sweden and Norway, Switzerland and
Peru. All Of these have gone into ef
feet, except those with France and
Austria: which are deferred until Au
gust i. With most Of these countries
Japan had treaty relations before, but
they were crude and unsatisfactory.
''To understand the change it is
necessary to look at the condition I'M
der the old treaties. This was essen
TALLY based on two principles: First,
that foreign residents in Japan shall
enjoy the privileges Of extra terrific
riaIity-that is, they should be amen
able to the laws and Jurisdiction of the
consul Of their own country, land 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 property or engage in
trade. The result was in effect about
fifteen or sixteen systems Of courts in
Japan for the purpose of trying for
eigners who commit offenses in Japan.
Furthermore, most Of the Powers as
serted that Japanese laws were not
binding upon foreigners.
'tFor instance, take our quarantine
laws. While it protected Us as against
our own people, there was no protec-
ton in the case Of an infected foreign
ship. The only exception to this re-
fusal to recognize Japanese law was
the United States, which recognized
from the first the binding force Of the
Japanese law.
zone Of the bad effects of this sys-
TEN was that foreign residents had
entire immunity from taxation, while
Japanese paid all the taxes. All this
has now disappeared and foreigners
have the same privileges as we'll 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 friction of extra
territoriality, by which foreign citi-
zens were judged by different stand
ards from Japanese.
''The second essential thing is the
opening Of the entire interior of Japan
to foreign residents and trade. Until
now there have been five treaty ports,
Yokohama, Nagasaki. Kobe, Haka-
dote and Nigata. In these places for
eigners had been able to live, to pur-