The new tariff shali come into effect in the port of Kanagawa (Yokohama) on the 1st day of July next, and in the ports of Nagasaki and Hakodate on the 1st day of the following month. ART. II. The tariff attached to this convention being incorporated from the date of its signature in the treaties concluded between Japan and the abovenamed four powers is subject to revision on the 1st day of July, 1872. Two years, however, after the signing of the present convention any of the contracting parties, on giving six months' notice to the others, may claim a readjustment of the duties on tea and silk on the basis of 5 per cent on the average value of those articles during the three years last preceding. On the demand also of any of the contracting parties the duty on timber may be changed from an ad valorem to a specific rate six months after the signature of this convention. ART. III. The permit fee, hitherto levied under the 7th regulation attached to the above-named treaties, is hereby abolished. Permits for the landing or shipment of cargo will be required as formerly, but will hereafter be issued free of charge. ART. IV. On and from the 1st day of July next, at the port of Kanagawa (Yokohama), and on and from the 1st day of October next at the ports of Nagasaki and Hakodate, the Japanese Government will be prepared to warehouse imported goods, on the application of the importer or owner, without payment of duty. The Japanese Government will be responsible for the safe custody of the goods, so long as they remain in their charge, and will adopt all the precautions necessary to render them insurable against fire. When the importer or the owner wishes to remove the goods from the warehouse he must pay the duties fixed by the tariff; but if he should wish to reexport them he may do so without payment of duty. Storage charges will in either case be paid on delivery of the goods. The amount of these charges, together with the regulations necessary for the management of the said warehouses, will be established by the common consent of the contracting parties. ART. V. All articles of Japanese production may be conveyed from any place in Japan to any of the ports open to foreign trade, free of any tax or transit duty other than the usual tolls, levied equally on all traffic, for the maintenance of roads or navigation. ART. VI. In conformity with those articles of the treaties concluded between Japan and foreign powers, which stipulate for the circulation of foreign coin at its corresponding weight in native coin of the same description, dollars have hitherto been received at the Japanese custom-house in payment of duties at their weight in boos (commonly called itchiboos)-that is to say, at the rate of 311 boos per hundred dollars. The Japanese Government, being, however, desirous to alter this practice and to abstain from all interference in the exchange of native for foreign coin, and being also anxious to meet the wants both of native and foreign commerce by securing an adequate issue of native coin, have already determined to enlarge the Japanese mint so as to admit of the Japanese Government exchanging into native coin of the same intrinsic value, less only the cost of coinage, at the places named for this purpose, all foreign coin or bullion in gold or silver that may at any time be tendered to them by foreigners or Japanese. It being essential, however, to the execution of this measure that the various powers with whom Japan has concluded treaties should first consent to modify the stipulations in those treaties which relate to the currency, the Japanese Government will at once propose to those powers the adoption of the necessary modification in the said stipulations, and on receiving their concurrence will be prepared from the 1st of January, 1868, to carry the above measure into effect. The rates to be charged as the cost of coinage shall be determined hereafter by the common consent of the contracting parties. ART. VII. In order to put a stop to certain abuses and inconveniences complained of at the open ports relative to the transaction of business at the customhouse, the landing and shipping of cargoes, and the hiring of boats, coolies, servants, etc., the contracting parties have agreed that the governor at each open port shall at once enter into negotiations with the foreign consuls with a view to the establishment by mutual consent of such regulations as shall effectually put an end to those abuses and inconveniences and afford all possible facility and security both to the operations of trade and to transactions of individuals. It is hereby stipulated that in order to protect merchandise from exposure to 79A- 34 weather, these regulations shall include the covering in at each port of one or more of the landing places used by foreigners for landing or shipping cargo. ART. VIII. Any Japanese subject shall be free to purchase, either in the open ports of Japan or abroad, every description of sailing or steam vessel intended to carry either passengers or cargo; but ships of war may only be obtained under the authorization of the Japanese Government. All foreign vessels purchased by Japanese subjects shall be registered as Japanese vessels on payment of a fixed duty of 3 boos per ton for steamers and 1 boo per ton for sailing vessels. The tonnage of each vessel shall be proved by the foreign register of the ship, which shall be exhibited through the consul of the party interested on the demand of the Japanese authorities, and shall be certified by the consul as authentic. ART. IX. In conformity with the treaties concluded between Japan and the aforesaid powers and with the special arrangements made by the envoys of the Japanese Government, in their note to the British Government of the 6th of June, 1862, and in their note to the French Government of the 6th of October of the same year, all the restrictions on trade and intercourse with foreigners and Japanese alluded to in the said notes have been entirely removed, and proclamations to this effect have been published by the Government of Japan. The latter, however, do not hesitate to declare that Japanese merchants and traders of all classes are at liberty to trade directly and without the interference of Government officers with foreign merchants, not only at the open ports of Japan, but also in all foreign countries, on being authorized to leave their country in the manner provided for in Article X of the present convention without being subject to higher taxation by the Japanese Government than that levied on the native trading classes of Japan in their ordinary transactions with each other. And they further declare that all daimios or persons in the employ of daimios are free to visit, on the same conditions, any foreign country, as well as all the open ports of Japan, and to trade there with foreigners as they please, without the interference of any Japanese officer, provided always they submit to the existing police regulations and to the payment of the established duties. ART. X. All Japanese subjects may ship goods to or from any open port in Japan, or to and from the ports of any foreign power, either in vessels owned by Japanese, or in the vessels of any nation having a treaty with Japan. Furthermore, on being provided with passports through the proper department of the Government, in the manner specified in the proclamation of the Japanese Government, dated the 23d day of May, 1866, all Japanese subjects may travel to any foreign country for purposes of study or trade. They may also accept employment in any capacity on board the vessels of any nation having a treaty with Japan. Japanese in the employ of foreigners may obtain government passports to go abroad on application to the governor of any open port. ART. XI. The Government of Japan will provide all the ports open to foreign trade with such lights, buoys, or beacons as may be necessary to render secure the navigation of the approaches to the said ports. ART. XII. The undersigned being of opinion that it is unnecessary that this convention should be submitted to their respective governments for ratification before it comes into operation, it will take effect on and from the 1st day of July, 1866. Each of the contracting parties having obtained the approval of his government to this convention, shall make known the same to the others, and the communication in writing of this approval shall take the place of a formal exchange of ratifications. In witness whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention and have affixed thereto their seals. Done at Yedo in the English, French, Dutch, and Japanese languages, this 25th day of June, 1866. [L. S.] [L. S.] [L. S.] [L. S.] [L. S.] HARRY S. PARKES, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, in Japan. LEON ROCHES, Ministre Plenipotentiare de S. M. L'Emperen des Francais, au Japan. A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d'Affaires a. i. of the United States, in Japan. Politiek Agent en Consul-General der Nederlanden in Japan, 11 Cotton manufactures. Shirtings, gray, white, and twilled; white, spotted or fig- A. Not exceeding 34 inches wide... B. Not exceeding 40 inches wide. C. Not exceeding 46 inches wide. 12 Taffachelass: Not exceeding 31 inches Exceeding 31 inches and not exceeding 43 inches. 13 Fustians, as cotton velvets, velveteens, satins, satinets, and ....do. cotton damask, not exceeding 40 inches. Gum: Benjamin and oil of Benjamin.. Gypsum 30 Hides, buffalo and cow Horns: Buffalo and deer. Rhinoceros 33 Hoofs Indigo: 36 Ivory, Elephants' teeth, all qualities. Paint, as red, white, and yellow lead (minium, ceruse, and massicot), and paint oils. Leather. Linen, all qualities Langrove bark. Matting, floor.. Metals. 42 Copper and brass, in slabs, sheets, rods, nails. Yellow metal, Muntz's metal, sheathing, and nails. Iron, manufactured: As in rods, bars, nails, etc 49 Sheet do 1.00 Spelter and zinc ...do .60 51 Steel. 52 Tin.... do. 3.00 The boo equals 32.15 cents, according to Japanese customs estimate, and 100 Japanese cents equals 1 boo. |