Japan has been promoted. The great sign that Europe regards
a Power as only semi-civilised is the demand that all who visit it, or trade in it, should be exempted from the jurisdiction of the local Courts, the Consuls acting when necessary as Judges. This rule is, maintained even when the Powers thus stigmatised send Ambassadors, and is, no doubt, very keenly resented. It seems specially offen- sive to the Japanese, who have a high opinion of their own merits, and they have for seventeen years demanded the treatment accorded to fully civilised States. As the affiance of Japan is now earnestly sought by all Europe this has been conceded, and on Monday, July 17th, the Consular jurisdic- tions ceased. [Owing to some blunder, the powers of the French and Austrian Consuls last a fortnight longer, but the difference is only formal.] The Japanese are highly de- lighted, and the European traders are not displeased, as with the Consular jurisdictions all restrictions on trading with the interior disappear. The concession was almost unavoidable, Japan being now the first maritime Power of Asia, and the experiment will be most interesting, but we are not quite certain of its success. Paganism as yet has never produced pure Courts, and the precedent will render the maintenance of foreign jurisdictions in other States very difficult indeed. China, Siam, Turkey, and Persia will all have claims to be treated like Japan, and will all feel that "capitulations" involve a, directly insulting distrust which would not be expressed if they possessed great fleets.
Previous page
