The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-17
UNITED STATES
And JAPAN.
The New Treaty Between the Two
Countries in Effect To-Day.
An Event Of Far Reaching Importance to
Both the Powers Interested.

An Event Of Far Reaching Importance to
Both the Powers Interested.
Does Away With Treaty Methods
Which Have Been in Vogue For
the Past Half Century, and Sub
stitutes an Entirely New School
Of Procedure.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-A 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 Amer
lean republic also go into effect. 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 aub-
stitutes an entirely new school of pro-
cedure The same is true in the rela-
lions of Japan with other countries.
Taken as a whole, the many new trea-
ties which go into effect Tomorrow will
place Japan on an entirely different
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 November y,
1894, in Washington, between Secretary
Gresham and Minister Kureno, who
then represented Japan here. The
changes it made were so far-reaching
that it was determined the treaty
should not go into operation until July
II, 1899.
Jutardo Komura, the present Japan
csc Minister in Washington, was seen
at the Japanese Legation to-day, and
gave an interesting outline of the more
important features of this arrangement.
He said: THE 18th of July marks the
turning point in diplomatic history, not
only of Japan, but of the Oriental coun-
tries in general. 1t will be the first in
stance in which the Western Powers
have recognized the full sovereignty of
an Oriental State This action of the
enlightened nations of Europe and
ready to assume full share in the
responsibility and affairs of the world
at large, these old and enlightened
Powers are ready to admit such
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
xx,s& 4. vxyI@y o1, tt. I,o
made new treaties are the United
States, Russia. Great Britain, Germany,
France, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden
and Norway, Switzerland and Peru. Ali
these go into effect tomorrow, except
those with France and Austria, which
are deferred until August 4th. 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 un
der the old treaties. This was essen
TALLY based on two principles:
First, that foreign residents in Japan
shall enjoy the privileges of extractor
ritoriality; that is, they should be
amenable to the laws and jurisdiction
of the Consul Of their country, and not
to Japanese jurisdictions; ands 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 that about fif-
teen or sixteen systems of courts in
Japan, for the purpose of trying foreig
ers who committed offenses in Japan.
Furthermore, most Of the Powers
claimed that Japanese laws We're not
binding upon foreigners. For instance.
take our quarantine law While it pro-
tected us against our own people yet
there was no protection in the case of
an infected foreign ship. The only TX
ception to this refusal to recognizes
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 system
was that foreign residents had entire
Immunity from taxation. The Japan
csc paid all the taxes. al this has
disappeared, and foreigners have the
same privileges as 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 to the
old fiction of extra-territortality by
which foreign citizens were judged by
different standards from Japanese.
1.-The second essential thing is the
opening of the entire interior Of Japan
to foreign residents and trade. Until
now there have been only five treaty
ts-Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe,
Hakodate and Nigata. In those places
foreigners had been able to live, to
purchase property and to trade, tut
outside of this they could not even
travel without a special permit These
five places are an insignificant part of
Japan. Hencefore the entire interior
of the empire, with its populous cities
and inviting fields of industry, is
thrown open to foreigners. They may
live anywhere, engage in any kind of
business, and will be assured of this
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 toward the United States, be-
cause she always has shown a most
sympathetic interest in Japan's desire
to adopt modern methods 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
Government and people of the United
States have taken such friendly in
terest under the old system, hope and
believe the United States Government
and people will take most friendly
interest in the carrying out of the new
treaty"