The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY, MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3227, 25 May 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY, MORNING. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911.

New Treaty with Japan.

Full details of the new Treaty of Commerce and Navigation whicli has been entered into between Great Britain and Japan have come to hand. It is in two parts, the first part consisting of twenty-seven articles, which apparently is to remain indefinitely ini force. The second part consists of a list of goods; imported into Japan on which the rates of duty levied by the new Japanese tariff are. modified, and of a list of Japanese goods which are to be imported into the United Kingdom free of duty. The articles imported into Japan from the United Kingdom which are affected by the treaty are about £3,500,000 in value, a, year. The articles imported into the United Kingdom from Japan .which are placed on the free list.—though none of them mre at present taxed—are ’ in value £2,150,000 a year. If either Power wishes to revise the tariff schedule it must give notice, after which negotiations are to be entered into. Should they prove unsuccessful - Within six months the party which gave notice of revision would then he free to give a further six months’ notice to terminate the tariff schedule. The effect of the treaty is stated thus: “In the case of cotton tissues of the classes which specially interest British trade the new ■ duties on grey tissues are reduced from one-third to one-fourth, with oonsequenttial reductions on other kinds; in the case of the more important classes

erf tissues of peer wool by proportions' | varying; from one-fourth to one-fifth; in that of tissues of wool and cotton mixed and of linen yarn by about onefifth; in that of certain classes of iron and steel plates by amounts varying from two-ninths to two-fifths; in that of i pig iron by about one-sixth; and in the case of paints by one-thirdi’ The Japanese articles which are toi be imported free into England are habutae of silk, handkerchiefs of silk, umvrought copper, straw and other plaiting, camphor, baskets of bamboo, mats of rush, lacquered ware, rape seed oil, and cloisonne wares. There are articles in the treaty stipulating that the subjects -of each Power shall he treated by the other as native subjects; that they shall be free to lease land; that they shall not he more highly taxed than natives; and that their products and manufactures when imported shall enjoy the lowest rates of Customs duties applicable to similar articles of any other foreign origin Their vessels, cargoes, and passenger's shall enjoy the same privileges and pay the same dues as native 1 vessels; though from- this stipulation the eoasta.l 1 trade of both Powers is excepted The treaty, which is to come, into force on July 18th, is not to apply to any of the Dominions or Colonics, unless notice of adhesion is given by the British Ambassador at Tokio before, tlie expiration of two years According to the ‘ ‘London Spectator,’’“the Foreign Office is to be congratulated on having achieved results which will be received in England with general satisfaction; and England must also acknowledge the goodwill of Japan. “It will be remembered,” it says, “that Jr pan drew up a new tariff last year, which imposed much higher duties than before on foreign imports. The details of this tariff were received with alarm by British manufacturers, and Sir Edward Grey was begged by the Chambers of Commerce to do what be could to get the duties reduced. During the consequent negotiations seme tariff reformers acted as a discouraging chorus, assuring us that 'reductions could not be secured by a free trade country which had no means of retaliation. The event proves that these predictions were quite unjustified. The existing Treaty dates back to 1894, and when it lapees next July Japan will be able for the first time ini her history to act as an absolutely free agent. In the 1894 Tieaty she had to give specially favorable terms to Great. Britain in return for the abandonment of the British rights of extra-territoriality. In July these symbols of her old inferior status will have disappeared.” Upon the same subject the “Daily Mail” says that Japan has done her utmost to prove by this treaty that she sets the highest value of the British alliance. “But,” it adds, “until the terms of the treaty are earelully scrutinised by experts in the various trades we shall not know now far British trade is likely to survive even this new and modified treatment. If, for example, we start with an absolutely prohibitive duty of To per cent, on the value of an imported article, and then lower that duty by a treaty to 50 per cent., it may still be prohibitive enough to affect British manufacturers disastrously. But at least by her action' in concluding the new treaty Japan has removed from her new tariff that appearance of unfriendliness ton aids B. «- tish trade, which aroused so much comment and criticism in this country.”