Consuls. Consuls or Agents to reside in Simoda, at any time after the expiration of eighteen months from the date of the signing of this treaty; provided that either of the two Governments deem such arrangement necessary. Ratifications. ARTICLE XII. The present convention having been concluded and duly signed, shall be obligatory and faithfully observed by the United States of America and Japan, and by the citizens and subjects of each respective Power; and it is to be ratified and approved by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by the August Sovereign of Japan, and the ratification shall be exchanged within eighteen months from the date of the signature thereof, or sooner if practicable. In faith whereof we, the respective Plenipotentiaries of the United States of America and the Empire of Japan aforesaid, have signed and sealed these presents. Done at Kanagawa, this thirty first day of March, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and of Kayei the seventh year, third month, and third day. M. C. PERRY. JAPAN, 1857. TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN. CONCLUDED AT SIMODA JUNE 17, 1857; PROCLAIMED JUNE 30, 1858. For the purpose of further regulating the intercourse of American citizens within the Empire of Japan, and, after due deliberaNegotiators. tion, His Excellency Townsend Harris, Consul General of the United States of America for the Empire of Japan, and their Excellencies Inowouye, Prince of Sinano, and Nakamoera, Prince of Dewa, Governors of Simoda, all having full powers from their respective Governments, have agreed on the following articles, to wit: Port of Nangasaki ARTICLE I. The port of Nangasaki, in the principality of Hizen, shall be open to American vessels, where they may repair damages, procure water, fuel, provisions, and other necessary articles, even coals, where they are obtainable. to be open to Ameri can vessels. American citizens ARTICLE II. It being known that American ships coming to the ports of Simoda and Hakodade cannot have their wants supplied by the may reside at Simoda Japanese, it is agreed that American citizens may permanently reside at Simoda and Hakodade, and the Government of the United States may appoint a Vice-Consul to reside at Hakodade. and Hakodade, This article to go into effect on the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred fifty-eight. ARTICLE III. panese coin. In settlement of accounts the value of the money brought by the Americans shall be ascertained by weighing it with Japan- American and Jaese coin, (gold and silver itsebues,) that is, gold with gold, and silver with silver, or weights representing Japanese coin may be used, after such weights have been carefully examined and found to be correct. The value of the money of the Americans having been thus ascertained, the sum of six per cent. shall be allowed to the Japanese for the expense of recoinage. ARTICLE IV. Americans committing offences in Japan shall be tried by the American Consul General or Consul, and shall be punished accord- Jurisdiction of of ing to American laws. fences. Japanese committing offences against Americans shall be tried by the Japanese authorities, and punished according to Japanese laws. ARTICLE V. Medium of ex American ships which may resort to the ports of Simoda, Hakodade, of Nangasaki, for the purpose of obtaining necessary supplies, or to repair damages, shall pay for them in gold or silver cf unge, &c. coin; and if they have no money, goods shall be taken in exchange. ARTICLE VI. Rights of Consul The Government of Japan admits the right of His Excellency the Consul General of the United States to go beyond the limits of Seven Ri, but has asked him to delay the use of that right, General, &c. except in cases of emergency, shipwreck, &c., to which he has assented. ARTICLE VII. Purchases for His Excellency the Consul General, or his family, may be made by him only, or by some member of his family, and Purchases for Conpayment made to the seller for the same, without the inter- sul General. vention of any Japanese official; and for this purpose Japanese silver and copper coin shall be supplied to His Excellency the Consul General. ARTICLE VIII. Dutch version. As His Excellency the Consul General of the United States of America has no knowledge of the Japanese language, nor their Excellencies the Governors of Simoda a knowledge of the English language, it is agreed that the true meaning shall be found in the Dutch version of the articles. ARTICLE IX. All the foregoing articles shall go into effect from the date hereof, except article two, which shall go into effect on the date indicated in it. Done in quintuplicate, (each copy being in English, Japanese, and Dutch,) at the Goyosso of Simoda, on the seventeenth day of June, in the year of the Christian era eighteen hundred fifty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-first, corresponding to the fourth Japanese year of Ansei, Mi, the fifth month, the twenty-sixth day, the English version being signed by His Excellency the Consul General of the United States of America, and the Japanese version by their Excellencies the Governors of Simoda. TOWNSEND HARRIS. [L. S.] JAPAN, 1858. TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN. CONCLUDED AT THE CITY OF YEDO JULY 29, 1858. RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED AT WASHINGTON MAY 22, 1860. PROCLAIMED MAY 23, 1860. The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the Ty-coon of Japan, desiring to establish on firm and lastContracting parties, ing foundations the relations of peace and friendship now happily existing between the two countries, and to secure the best interest of their respective citizens and subjects by encouraging, facilitating, and regulating their industry and trade, have resolved to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce for this purpose, and have therefore named as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say: The President of the United States, His Excellency Townsend Harris, Consul General of the United States of America for the Empire of Japan, and His Majesty the Ty-coon of Japan, their Excellencies Inoooye, Prince of Sinano, and Iwasay, Prince of Hego; Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, and found them to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: ARTICLE I. There shall henceforward be perpetual peace and friendship between the United States of America and His Majesty the Ty-coon of Japan and his successors. Amity, &c. The President of the United States may appoint a Diplomatic Agent to reside at the city of Yedo, and Consuls or Consular Agents Diplomatic agents. to reside at any or all of the ports in Japan which are opened for American commerce by this treaty. The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General of the United States shall have the right to travel freely in any part of the Empire of Japan from the time they enter on the discharge of their official duties. The Government of Japan may appoint a Diplomatic Agent to reside at Washington, and Consuls or Consular Agents for any or all of the ports of the United States. The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General of Japan may travel freely in any part of the United States from the time they arrive in the country. ARTICLE II. The President of the United States, at the request of the Japanese Government, will act as a friendly mediator in such matters of difference as may arise between the Government of Japan Mediator. and any European power. The ships of war of the United States shall render friendly aid and assistance to such Japanese vessels as they may meet on the Ships of war of high seas, so far as can be done without a breach of neutral- United States. ity; and all American Consuls residing at ports visited by Japanese vessels shall also give them such friendly aid as may be permitted by the laws of the respective countries in which they reside. ARTICLE III. Ports opened. In addition to the ports of Simoda and Hakodade, the following ports and towns shall be opened on the dates respectively appended to them, that is to say: Kanagawa, on the (4th of July, 1859) fourth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fiftynine; Nagasaki, on the (4th of July, 1859) fourth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine; Nee-e-gata, on the (1st of January, 1860) first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty; Hiogo, on the (1st of January, 1863) first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three. Americans in Japan. If Nee-e-gata is found to be unsuitable as a harbour, another port on the west coast of Nipon shall be selected by the two Gov- Regulations regardernments in lieu thereof. Six months after the opening of ing residence of Kanagawa the port of Simoda shall be closed as a place of residence and trade for American citizens. In all the foregoing ports and towns American citizens may permanently reside; they shall have the right to lease ground, and purchase the buildings thereon, and may erect dwellings and warehouses. But no fortification or place of military strength shall be erected under pretence of building dwelling or warehouses; and to see that this article is observed, the Japanese authorities shall have the right to inspect, from time to time, any buildings which are being erected, altered, or repaired. The place which the Americans shall occupy for their buildings, and the harbour regulations, shall be arranged by the American Consul and the authorities of each place; and if they cannot agree, the matter shall be referred to and settled by the American Diplomatic Agent and the Japanese Government. No wall, fence, or gate shall be erected by the Japanese around the place of residence of the Americans, or anything done which may prevent a free egress and ingress to the same. From the (1st of January, 1862) first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, Americans shall be allowed to reside in the city of Yedo; and from the (1st of January, 1863,) first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the city of Osaca, for the purposes of trade only. In each of these two cities a suitable place within which they may hire houses, and the distance they may go, shall be arranged by the American Diplomatic Agent and the Government of Japan. Americans may freely buy from Japanese and sell to them any articles that either may have for sale, without the intervention of any Japanese officers in such purchase or sale, or in making or receiving payment for the same; and all classes of Japanese may purchase, sell, keep, or use any articles sold to them by the Americans. The Japanese Government will cause this clause to be made public in every part of the Empire as soon as the ratifications of this treaty shall be exchanged. Munitions of war shall only be sold to the Japanese Government and foreigners. No rice or wheat shall be exported from Japan as cargo, but all Amer icans resident in Japan, and ships, for their crews and passengers, shall be furnished with sufficient supplies of the same. The Japanese Government will sell, from time to time at public auction, any surplus quantity of copper that may be produced. Americans residing in Japan shall have the right to employ Japanese as servants or in any other capacity. Duties shall be paid to the Government of Japan on all goods landed in the country, and on all articles of Japanese production that are exported as cargo, according to the tariff hereunto Duties. appended. If the Japanese custom-house officers are dissatisfied with the value placed on any goods by the owner, they may place a value thereon, and offer to take the goods at that valuation. If the owner refuses to accept the offer, he shall pay duty on such valuation. If the offer be accepted by the owner, the purchase-money shall be paid to him without delay, and without any abatement or discount. Supplies. Supplies for the use of the United States navy may be landed at Kanagawa, Hakodade, and Nagasaki, and stored in warehouses, in the custody of an officer of the American Government, without the payment of any duty. But, if any such supplies are sold in Japau, the purchaser shall pay the proper duty to the Japanese authorities. Opium. The importation of opium is prohibited, and any American vessel coming to Japan for the purposes of trade, having more than (3) three catties' (four pounds avoirdupois) weight of opium on board, such surplus quantity shall be seized and destroyed by the Japanese authorities. All goods imported into Japan, and which have paid the duty fixed by this treaty, may be transported by the Japanese into any part of the Empire without the payment of any tax, excise, or transit duty whatever. No higher duties shall be paid by Americans on goods imported into Japan than are fixed by this treaty, nor shall any higher duties be paid by Americans than are levied on the same description of goods if imported in Japanese vessels, or the vessels of any other nation. Foreign coin. ARTICLE V. All foreign coin shall be current in Japan and pass for its corresponding weight of Japanese coin of the same description. Americans and Japanese may freely use foreign or Japanese coin, in making payments to each other. As some time will elapse before the Japanese will be acquainted with the value of foreign coin, the Japanese Government will, for the period of one year after the opening of each harbour, furnish the Americans with Japanese coin, in exchange for theirs, equal weights being given and no discount taken for recoinage. Coins of all description (with the exception of Japanese copper coin) may be exported from Japan, and foreign gold and silver uncoined. ARTICLE VI. Americans committing offences against Japanese shall be tried in Jurisdiction American consular courts, and when guilty shall be punished according to American law. Japanese committing finees over |