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 first 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.
Article 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 Custom-house, the landing and shipping of cargoes, and the hiring of boats, coolies, servants &c the Contracting parties have agreed that the Governor at each open port shall at once enter into negociations 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 the transactions of individuals.
It is hereby stipulated that in order to protect merchandize from exposure to 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.
Article 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 three Boos per ton for Steamers, and one 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.
Article 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 sixth of October of the same year, all the restrictions on trade and intercourse between foreigners and Japanese alluded to in the said notes have been entirely removed, and proclamations to this effect have already been published by the Government of Japan. The latter, however, do not hesitate to declare that
