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 condition, 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.
Article 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 twenty third 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 Government of any open port.
Article XI
The Government of Japan will provide all the Ports open to Foreign trade with such lights, buoys and beacons as may be necessary to render secure the navigation of the approaches to the said Ports.
Article 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 first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty six.
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.
