Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation

The first equal treaty (Mutsu Treaty) was signed by Aoki Shuzo, the Japanese envoy to the UK, and British Foreign Secretary Kimberley on July 16, 1894 (Meiji 27) to replace the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which was concluded as one of the Ansei Five-Power Treaties. It went into effect on July 17, 1899. Following this treaty, Japan concluded new treaties with other European and American countries to restore Japan's legal rights, which went into effect at the same time. Japan succeeded in negotiating treaty revisions, which had been pending since the first year of the Meiji era, and gained an international position on an equal footing with the great powers. Foreign Minister Kimberley congratulated Japan, saying that the success of this treaty had raised Japan's status more than if China's large army had been defeated, and Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu decided to go to war, expecting British support in the Sino-Japanese War. This treaty restored consular jurisdiction, but the restoration of tariff autonomy was incomplete, so a new treaty (Komura Treaty) was signed on April 3, 1911 (Meiji 44), restoring tax rights. It was abolished on July 26, 1941 (Showa 16).

[Michio Fujimura]

"Outline of Treaty Revision Process" compiled by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (1950, United Nations Association of Japan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

安政(あんせい)五か国条約の一つとして結んだ日英修好通商条約にかわり、1894年（明治27）7月16日、駐英公使青木周蔵(しゅうぞう)がイギリス外相キンバリーと調印し、99年7月17日発効した最初の対等条約（陸奥(むつ)条約）。日本はこの条約に準じて、他の欧米諸国とも法権回復の新条約を締結し、同時に発効させて、明治初年以来懸案の条約改正交渉に成功し、列強と対等の国際的地位にたった。キンバリー外相は、この条約の成功は清(しん)国の大兵を敗走させるよりも日本の地位を高めたと祝辞を述べ、陸奥宗光(むねみつ)外相は日清戦争にイギリスの援助を期待できるとして開戦を決意した。この条約で領事裁判権は回収したが、関税自主権の回復は不完全だったので、1911年（明治44）4月3日新条約（小村(こむら)条約）に調印、税権を回収した。41年（昭和16）7月26日廃棄。

［藤村道生］

『日本学術振興会編『条約改正経過概要』（1950・日本国際連合協会）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例