Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty

The Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty (日英和親条約, Nichi-Ei Washin Jōyaku) between Britain and Japan was signed October 14, 1854 in Nagasaki. The United Kingdom was represented by Admiral Sir James Stirling, with the governors of Nagasaki (Nagasaki bugyō) representing the Tokugawa shogunate (Bakufu). The “treaty is also known as The Anglo Japanese Convention of 1854. This “treaty “ between Britain and Japan initially began when “Admiral Stirling entered the port of Nagasaki September 7, 1854 … and began his negotiations with the Japanese authorities” (Fox, 1941). Stirling explained in a letter the reason of his visit which “enclosed a copy of the Queen’s proclamation declaring war on Russia”, and also explained how this would “ultimately affect Japan” (Fox, 1941). After the Governor received the request he forwarded it to Yedo for the government’s reply. This journey would be 400 miles and would take a month for reply (Fox, 1941). Stirling continually tried to request for “most favored-nation treatment for the British” to Put them on the same level of treatment with China and the Dutch with no avail the Governor explained that “Japan’s longstanding intercourse with the Dutch and the Chinese must” put them above “newcomers” (Fox, 1941). By October 4 the Governor “reported that he had been empowered by Yedo to settle with Stirling and requested a definite proposal and Stirling sent a draft of a convention the next day”(Fox, 1941). The “Treaty” was finally agreed on and signed on October 14, 1854 in Nagasaki. Only Admiral Stirling signed the English Version of the Convention. The document was written in Japanese, English and Dutch “to benefit both parties” (Fox, 1941). Below is the English version-

Convention For Regulating the Admission Of British Ships Into The Ports of Japan
It is agreed between Sir James Stirling, Knight, Rear-Admiral, and Commander-in-chief of the ships and vessels of Her Britannic Majesty in the east Indies and seas adjacent, and Mezio-no Chekfu-no Kami, Obunyo of Nagasaki, and Nagai Evan Ocho, Omedski of Nagasaki, ordered by His Imperial highness the Emperor of Japan to act herein, that:-
1st The Ports of Nagasaki [Hizen] and Hakodadi [Matsumai] shall be open to British ships for the purposes of effecting repairs, and obtaining fresh water, provisions, and other supplies of any sort they may absolutely want for the use of the ships.
2nd Nagasaki shall be open for the purposes aforesaid from and after the present date, and Hakodadi from and after the end of fifty days from the Admiral’s departure from this port. The rules and regulations of each of these ports are to be complied with.
3rd Only ships in distress from weather, or unmanageable, will be permitted to enter other ports than those specified in the foregoing Articles, without permission from the Imperial Government.
4th British ships in Japanese ports shall conform to the laws of Japan. If high officers or commanders of ships shall break any such laws, it will lead to the ports being closed. Should inferior persons break them, they are to be delivered over to the commanders of their ships for punishment.
5th In the ports of Japan, either now open, or which may hereafter be opened, to the ships or subjects of any foreign nation, British ships and subjects shall be entitled to admission, and to the enjoyment of an equality of advantages accruing to the Dutch and Chinese from their existing relations with Japan.
6th This Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Nagasaki on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and on behalf of His Highness the Emperor of Japan, within twelve months from the present date.
7th When this Convention shall be ratified, no high officer coming to Japan shall alter it. In witness whereof we have signed the same, and have affixed our seals thereunto, at Nagasaki, this fourteenth day of October 1854. (L.S.) James Stirling (Fox, 1941)

The written Japanese translations of one of Admiral Sir James Stirling’s letters to Nagasaki ぶぎょう(bugyoo) on September 7, 1854 negotiating the convention or “treaty”. Also the speech given by Stirling on October 4, 1854 just ten days before the signing of the “treaty” (Beasley, 1950).

It would be followed by the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1858.

References

Auslin, Michael R. (2004). Negotiating with Imperialism: The Unequal Treaties and the Culture of Japanese Diplomacy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 10-ISBN 0-674-01521-5; 13-ISBN 978-0-674-01521-0; OCLC 56493769
Great Britain and the Opening of Japan, 1834-1858 by W.G. Beasley (Japan Library paperback, 1995, first published by Luzac & Co., 1951) ISBN 1-873410-43-3
Beasley, W. G. (1950). The Language Problem in the Anglo-Japanese Negotiations of 1854. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 13 (3), 746-758.Retrieved from :
Fox, G. (1941). The Anglo-Japanese Convention of 1854. Pacific Historical Review, 10 (4), 411-434.Retrieved from:

Treaties of Japan

Bakumatsu period (1854-1868)	Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity (1854) Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty (1854) Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Russia (1855) Dutch-Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity (1856) Japan-US Additional Treaty (1857) Japan-Netherlands Additional Treaty (1857) Japan-Russia Additional Treaty (1857) Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States – Japan) (1858) Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the Netherlands and Japan (1858) Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Russia and Japan (1858) Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1858) Treaty of Amity and Commerce between France and Japan (1858) Agreement of Paris (1864)

Meiji period (1868-1912)	Sino-Japanese Friendship and Trade Treaty (1871) Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Hawaii and Japan (1871) Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1875) Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1882 Japan-Hawaii Labor Immigration Treaty (1884) Japan–Korea Treaty of 1885 Convention of Tientsin Declaration of Amity and Commerce between Thailand and Japan (1887) Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation (1894) Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and the USA (1894) Japan-China Peace Treaty (1895) Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between Brazil and Japan (1895) Treaty for returning Fengtian Peninsula (1895) Komura-Weber Memorandum (1896) Yamagata–Lobanov Agreement (1896) Japan-China Treaty of Commerce and Navigation (1896) Nishi–Rosen Agreement (1898) Japan-Thailand Friendship, Commerce and Navigation Treaty (1898) Boxer Protocol (1901) Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902) Japan-China Additional Treaty of Commerce and Navigation (1903) Japan–Korea Treaty of 1904 Japan–Korea Agreement of August 1904 Japan-Russia Treaty of Peace (1905) Taft–Katsura Agreement (1905) Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 Additional Agreement of the Japan-China Treaty relating to Manchuria (1905) Franco-Japanese Treaty of 1907 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 Russo-Japanese Agreement of 1907 Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 Root–Takahira Agreement (1908) Japan-China Agreement relating to Manchuria and Jiandao (1909) Russo-Japanese Agreement of 1910 Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910 North Pacific Fur Seal Convention of 1911 Russo-Japanese Agreement of 1912

From World War I to World War II (1912-1945)	Japan-China Treaty of 1915 Russo-Japanese Agreement of 1916 Lansing–Ishii Agreement (1917) Japan-China Co-defense Military Pact (1918) Treaty of Versailles (1919) Gongota Agreement of 1920 Four-Power Treaty (1921) Nine-Power Treaty (1922) Treaty concerning solution of Shandong issues (1922) Washington Naval Treaty (1922) Soviet–Japanese Basic Convention (1925) Japan-China Customs Agreement (1930) Cease Fire Agreement in Shanghai (1932) Japan-Manchukuo Protocol (1932) Tanggu Truce (1933) India-Japan Agreement of 1934 Japan-Manchukuo-Soviet Protocol for Cession of North Manchuria Railway (1935) He–Umezu Agreement (1935) Chin–Doihara Agreement (1935) Canada-Japan New Trade Agreement (1935) Japan-Netherlands Shipping Agreement (1936) Anti-Comintern Pact (1936) Hart-Ishizawa Agreement (1937) India-Japan Agreement of 1937 Van Mook-Kotani Agreement (1938) Tripartite Pact (1940) Japan-China Basic Relations Treaty (1940) Japan-Manchukuo-China Joint Declaration (1940) Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact (1941) Japan-Thailand Attack/Defence Alliance Treaty (1941) Japanese Instrument of Surrender (1945)

During Cold War (1945-1989)	Security Treaty Between the United States and Japan (1951) Treaty of San Francisco (1951) Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty (1951) Japan-US Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security (1960) Japan–South Korea Treaty (1965) Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty (1978)

Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty

References

See also