Page:The Truth about China and Japan - Weale - 1919.djvu/53

 1871-94 extraterritorial rights in Japan precisely as Japan possessed extraterritorial rights in China—and it was this question just as much as the question of Korea which ultimately made an attack on China necessary to Japan.

Article VIII declares:—

Each country shall, in each of the ports of the other country which are open to trade, station a Consul who will exercise control over the merchants of his nationality. All matters relating to property of all kinds, to business or professions, and to judicial suits, shall be referred for settlement to the Consul, who shall decide them according to the laws of his country. Suits arising between merchants of the two countries shall be brought in the form of petitions; the Consul shall endeavour to settle such cases, and shall do his utmost to prevent them being made the subject of litigation. When a settlement cannot be effected in this manner, the Consul shall act in accordance with justice. In cases of robbery and absconding (where the aggrieved party is an alien), it will be sufficient for the local authorities of each country to arrest the offenders and take back the stolen property; the Government concerned shall in no case be required to make compensation.

Article IX declares:—

Should in any open port of either country no Consul be appointed, the local authorities of the country in