By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas a Convention between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan, providing for legal protection in both countries in regard to copyright, was concluded and signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries at [Page 984] Tokio on the tenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and five, the original of which Convention being in the English and Japanese languages is word for word as follows:
The President of the United States of America and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan being equally desirous to extend to their subjects and citizens the benefit of legal protection in both countries in regard to copyright, have, to this end, decided to conclude a Convention, and have appointed as their respective Plenipotentiaries:
- The President of the United States of America, Lloyd C. Griscom, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan; and
- His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, General Count Taro Katsura, Junii, First Class of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, Third Class of the Imperial Order of the Golden Kite, His Imperial Majesty’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs;
Who, having reciprocally communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:
Article I.
The subjects or citizens of each of the two High Contracting Parties shall enjoy in the dominions of the other, the protection of copyright for their works of literature and art as well as photographs, against illegal reproduction, on the same basis on which protection is granted to the subjects or citizens of the other, subject however to the provisions of Article II of the present Convention.
Article II.
The subjects or citizens of each of the two High Contracting Parties may without authorization translate books, pamphlets or any other writings, dramatic works, and musical compositions, published in the dominions of the other by the subjects or citizens of the latter, and print and publish such translations.
Article III.
The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at Tokio as soon as possible. It shall come into operation from the date of the exchange of ratifications, and shall be applicable to such works only as shall be published after it shall have come into operation. Either of the Contracting Parties shall have the right at any time, to give notice to the other of its intention to terminate the present Convention, and at the expiration of three months after such notice is given this Convention shall wholly cease and determine.
In witness whereof the above mentioned Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done in duplicate at Tokio, in the English and Japanese languages, this 10th day of November, of year one thousand nine hundred and five, corresponding to the 10th day of the 11th month of the 38th year of Meiji.
| [seal.] | Lloyd C. Griscom. |
| [seal.] | Taro Katsura. |
And whereas the said Convention has been duly ratified on both parts, and the ratifications of the two governments were exchanged in the City of Tokio on the tenth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and six;
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, have caused the said Convention to be made public, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
[seal.]
By the President:
Elihu Root,
Secretary of State.
(Japanese text not printed.)