Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 20.djvu/823

 798 CONY’ENTlON—JAPAN. JULY 25, 1878. customs tariff and taxes and to establish regulations appertaining to foreign commerce in the open ports of Japan. Anrronn II. Import duties. It is, however, further agreed that no other or higher duties shall be imposed on the importation into Japan of all articles of merchandise irom the United States, than are or may be imposed upon the like articles of any other foreign country; and if the Japanese government should prohibit the exportation from, or importation into, its dominions of any particular article or articles, such prohibition shall not be discriminatory against the products, vessels or citizens of the United States. Anrronn III. Export duties. It is further agreed, that, as the United States charge no export duties on merchandise shipped to Japan, no export duties on merchandise shipped in the latter country for the United States shall be charged after this treaty shall go into effect. Awricnn l.V. Forfcitures and It is further stipulated and agreed, that, so long as the first three senl‘°“¤“*°¤· tenccs which are comprised in the iirst paragraph of article VI. of the treaty of 1858, or the fifth year of Ansei, shall bein force, all claims by the Japanese government for forfeitures or penalties for violations of such existing treaty, as well as for violations of the customs, bondedwarehouse and harbor regulations, which may, under this convention, from time to time, be established by that government, shall be sued for in the consular courts of the United States, whose duty it shall be to try each and every case fairly and render judgment in accordance with the provisions of such treaty and of such regulations; and the amount of all forfeitures and iines shall be delivered to the Japanese authorities. ARTICLE V. Coming trade. It is understood and declared by the high contracting parties, that the right of controlling the coasting trade of Japan belongs solely, and shall be strictly reserved, to the government of that Empire. Auricnic Vl. Coasting trade. It is, however, agreed, that vessels of the United States arriving at ` any port of Japan open to foreign commerce, may unload, in conformity with the customs laws of that country, such portions of their cargoes as may be desired, and that they may depart with the remainder, without paying any duties, imposts or charges whatsoever, except for that part which shall have been landed, and which shall be so noted on the manifest. The said vessels may continue their voyage to one or more other open ports of Japan, there to land the part or residue of their cargoes, 1>m·te1mrges. desired to be landed at such port or ports. lt is understood, however, that all duties, imposts or charges whatsoever, which are or may become chargeable upon the vessels themselves, are to be paid only at the first port where they shall break bulk or unload part of their cargo; and that at any subsequent port used in the same voyage only the local port charges shall he exacted for the use of such port. Anrrcma Vll. zhlditicnal open In view of the concessions made by the United States in regard to the l"" ls- customs tariff, and the customs and other regulations of Japan, as above stipulated in Article I., the government of Japan will, on the principle