The Germans have broken out of the European combination under
which all semi-civilised Powers, Turkey included, are compelled to allow Europeans to be tried in Consular Courts. They have agreed that this privilege shall in Japan be limited to the Consular Ports for five years, and at the end of that time shall absolutely cease. In return for this concession, the Japanese Government give the Germans perfect freedom of trade with the interior of the Empire, and a tariff treaty, the details of which are not published, but are believed to be most favourable. As regards Japan, this treaty may not matter much, though we have still to hear the opinion of foreigners residing there upon that subject ; but if it is to be taken as a precedent, and Germans are to sell the rights of Europe in China and Turkey for special privileges of trade, it may prove of the last importance. Even if the native Courts are unjustly suspected, which no European believes, the total absence of confidence in them must hamper all transactions, and prevent the residence of traders in any places outside the immediate supervision of European Consuls. It will be argued that what Germans can bear, Englishmen and Frenchmen can also bear; but then, unless the Germans trust Chinese and Mussulman Judges, they have no right to bear it.
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