Minister Griscom to the Secretary of State.

No. 223.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith inclosed, a copy, in duplicate, taken from the “Japan Daily Mail” of March 17, of a convention touching the commercial relations between Japan and India, which received the approval of the Japanese Emperor on the 14th ultimo.

I have, etc.,

Lloyd Griscom.
[Page 611]

[Inclosure.]

[The Japan Daily Mail, Yokohama, Friday, March 17, 1905.]

convention regarding the commercial relations between japan and india.

The following convention was published in the Official Gazette of the 16th instant. It received the imperial approval on the 14th.

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, being equally desirous of facilitating the commercial relations between Japan and India, have resolved to conclude a convention to that effect and have named as their respective plenipotentiaries—

  • His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Baron Jutaro Komura, jusammi, first class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, His Imperial Majesty’s minister of state for foreign affairs; and
  • His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, Sir Claude Maxwell MacDonald, knight, Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, knight commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, His Britannic Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary;

Who, having reciprocally communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:

Article I.

Any article, the produce or manufacture of the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan shall enjoy, upon importation into India, the lowest customs duties applicable to similar products of any other foreign origin.

Article II.

Reciprocally any article, the produce or manufacture of India, shall enjoy, upon importation into the dominions and possessions of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan the lowest customs duties applicable to similar products of any other foreign origin.

Article III.

The privileges and engagements of the present convention shall extend to native states of India which by treaty with His Britannic Majesty or otherwise may be entitled to be placed with regard to the stipulations of the convention on the same footing as British India.

His Britannic Majesty’s Government shall communicate from time to time to the Imperial Government of Japan a list of these states.

Article IV.

The present convention shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Tokyo as soon as possible. It shall come into effect immediately after the exchange of ratifications, and shall remain in force until the expiration of six months from the day on which one of the high contracting parties shall have announced the intention of terminating it.

In witness whereof the above-mentioned plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention and have affixed thereto their seals.


[l. s.]
Baron Jutaro Komura,
His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

[l. s.]
Claude M. MacDonald,
His Britanic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.