APPENDIX "B.” Present Treaty of Commerce and Navigation BETWEEN Japan and the United States of America. Signed at Washington, 22nd day of the 11th month, 27th year of Meiji. GOING INTO EFFECT JULY 17, 1899. His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, and the President of the United States of America, being equally desirous of maintaining the relations of good understanding 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, Jushii Shinichiro Kurino, of the Order of the Sacred Treasure and of the Fourth Class, and the President of the United States of America, Walter Q. Gresham, Secretary of State of the United States; 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 or citizens of each of the two high contracting parties shall have full liberty to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the territories of the other contracting party, and shall enjoy full and perfect protection for their persons and property. They shall have free access to the courts of justice in pursuit and defense of their rights; they shall be at liberty equally with native subjects or citizens 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 or citizens. 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, and in any manner whatsoever which they may lawfully acquire, the subjects or citizens of each contracting party shall enjoy in the territories 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 citizens, or subjects or citizens of the most favored nation. The subjects or citizens of each contracting party shall enjoy in the territories 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 citizens of the most favored nation. The subjects or citizens of either of the contracting parties residing in the territories 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 II. There shall be reciprocal freedom of commerce and navigation between the territories of the two high contracting parties. The subjects or citizens of each of the contracting parties may trade in any part of the territories of the other by wholesale or retail in all kinds of produce, manufactures, and merchandise of lawful commerce, either in person or by agents, |