ing which happily exist between them, by extending and increasing the intercourse between their respective states, and being convinced that this object cannot better be accomplished than by revising the treaties hitherto existing between the two countries, have resolved to complete such a revision, based upon principles of equity and mutual benefit, and, for that purpose, have named as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say:

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Viscount Aoki Siuzo, Junii, First Class of the Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure, His Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of St. James;

And Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, the Right Honourable John, Earl of Kimberly, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, &c., Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;

Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles:

ARTICLE I.

The subjects of each of the two high contracting parties shall have full liberty to enter, travel or reside in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other contracting party, and shall enjoy full and perfect protection for their persons and property.

They shall have free and easy access to the courts of justice in pursuit and defence of their rights; they shall be at liberty equally with native subjects to choose and employ lawyers, advocates and representatives to pursue and defend their rights before such courts, and in all other matters connected with the administration of justice they shall enjoy all the rights and privileges enjoyed by native subjects.

In whatever relates to rights of residence and travel; to the possession of goods and effects of any kind; to the succession to personal estate by will or otherwise, and the disposal of property of any sort in any manner whatsoever, which they may lawfully acquire, the subjects of each contracting party shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other the same privileges, liberties and rights, and shall be subject to no higher imposts or charges in these respects than native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation. The subjects of each of the contracting parties shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other entire liberty of conscience, and, subject to the laws, ordinances and regulations, shall enjoy the right of private or public exercise of their worship, and also the right of burying their respective countrymen

according to their religious customs, in such suitable and convenient places as may be established and maintained for that purpose.

They shall not be compelled, under any pretext whatsoever, to pay any charges or taxes other or higher than those that are, or may be, paid by native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation.

ARTICLE II.

The subjects of either of the contracting parties residing in the dominions and possessions of the other shall be exempted from all compulsory military service whatsoever, whether in the army, navy, national guard or militia; from all contributions imposed in lieu of personal service, and from all forced loans or military exactions or contributions.

ARTICLE III.

There shall be reciprocal freedom of commerce and navigation between the dominions and possessions of the two high contracting parties.

The subjects of each of the high contracting parties may trade in any part of the dominions and possessions of the other by wholesale or retail in all kinds of produce, manufactures and merchandise of lawful commerce, either in person or by agents, singly or in partnerships with foreigners or native subjects; and they may there own or hire and occupy the houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises which may be necessary for them, and lease land for residential and commercial purposes, conforming themselves to the laws, police and customs regulations of the country like native subjects.

They shall have liberty to come with their ships and cargoes to all places, ports and rivers in the dominions and possessions of the other, which are, or may be, opened to foreign commerce, and shall enjoy, respectively, the same treatment in matters of commerce and navigation as native subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation, without having to pay taxes, imposts or duties, of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name or for the profit of the government, public functionaries, private individuals, corporations. or establishments of any kind, other or greater than those paid by native. subjects, or subjects or citizens of the most favoured nation, subject always to the laws, ordinances and regulations of each country.

ARTICLE IV.

The dwellings, manufactories, warehouses and shops of the subjects of each of the contracting parties in the dominions and possessions of

the other, and all premises appertaining thereto destined for purposes of residence or commerce, shall be respected.

It shall not be allowable to proceed to make a search of, or a domiciliary visit to, such dwellings and premises, or to examine or inspect books, papers or accounts, except under the conditions and with the forms prescribed by the laws, ordinances and regulations for subjects of the country.

ARTICLE V.

No other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, from whatever place arriving; and no other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, from whatever place arriving, than on the like article produced or manufactured in any other foreign country; nor shall any prohibition be maintained or imposed on the importation of any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of either of the high contracting parties into the dominions and possessions of the other, from whatever place arriving, which shall not equally extend to the importation of the like article being the produce or manufacture of any other country. This last provision is not applicable to the sanitary and other prohibitions occasioned by the necessity of protecting the safety of persons or of cattle or of plants useful to agriculture.

ARTICLE VI.

No other or higher duties or charges shall be imposed in the dominions. and possessions of either of the high contracting parties on the exportation of any article to the dominions and possessions of the other than such as are, or may be, payable on the exportation of the like article to any other foreign country; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the exportation of any article from the dominions and possessions of either of the two contracting parties to the dominions and possessions of the other, which shall not equally extend to the exportation of the like article to any other country.

ARTICLE VII.

The subjects of cach of the high contracting parties shall enjoy in the dominions and possessions of the other exemption from all transit duties, and a perfect equality of treatment with native subjects in all that relates to warehousing, bounties, facilities and drawbacks.

ARTICLE VIII.

All articles which are, or may be, legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in Japanese vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in British vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in Japanese vessels; and, reciprocally, all articles, which are, or may be, legally imported into the ports of the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty in British vessels may likewise be imported into those ports in Japanese vessels, without being liable to any other or higher duties or charges of whatever denomination than if such articles were imported in British vessels. Such reciprocal equality of treatment shall take effect without distinction, whether such articles come directly from the place of origin or from any other place.

In the same manner there shall be perfect equality of treatment in regard to exportation, so that the same export duties shall be paid and the same bounties and drawbacks allowed in the dominions and possessions of either of the high contracting parties on the exportation of any article which is, or may be, legally exported therefrom, whether such exportation shall take place in Japanese or in British vessels, and whatever may be the place of destination, whether a port of either of the contracting parties or of any third Power.

ARTICLE IX.

No duties of tonnage, harbour, pilotage, lighthouse, quarantine or other similar or corresponding duties of whatever nature or under whatever denomination, levied in the name, or for the profit, of the government, public functionaries, private individuals, corporations or establishments of any kind, shall be imposed in the ports of the dominions and possessions of either country upon the vessels of the other country, which shall not equally and under the same conditions be imposed in the like cases on national vessels in general or vessels of the most favoured nation. Such equality of treatment shall apply reciprocally to the respective

vessels, from whatever port or place they may arrive, and whatever may be their place of destination.

ARTICLE X.

In all that regards the stationing, loading and unloading of vessels in the ports, basins, docks, roadsteads, harbours or rivers of the dominions. and possessions of the two countries, no privilege shall be granted to national vessels, which shall not be equally granted to vessels of the other country; the intention of the high contracting parties being that in this respect also the respective vessels shall be treated on the footing of perfect equality.

ARTICLE XI.

The coasting trade of both the high contracting parties is excepted from the provisions of the present treaty, and shall be regulated according to the laws, ordinances and regulations of Japan and of Great Britain, respectively. It is, however, understood that Japanese subjects in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty and British subjects in the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, shall enjoy in this respect the rights which are, or may be, granted under such laws, ordinances and regulations to the subjects or citizens of any other country.

A Japanese vessel laden in a foreign country with cargo destined for two or more ports in the dominions and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, and a British vessel laden in a foreign country with cargo destined for two or more ports in the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, may discharge a portion of her cargo at one port, and continue her voyage to the other port or ports of destination where foreign trade is permitted, for the purpose of landing the remainder of her original cargo there, subject always to the laws and custom-house regulations of the two countries.

The Japanese Government, however, agrees to allow British vessels to continue, as heretofore, for the period of the duration of the present treaty, to carry cargo between the existing open ports of the empire, excepting to or from the ports of Osaka, Niigata and Ebisuminato.

ARTICLE XII.

Any ship of war or merchant-vessel of either of the high contracting parties which may be compelled by stress of weather, or by reason of