Tue Treaty concluded between Japan and Corea must be considered in every respect a satisfactory document. It contains the chief requirements of a treaty with an oriental people, expressed in language plain, yet without assumption of undue superiority. In fuet, the nominal suzerainty claimed by Japan is in clear language given up, and in its stead the two Governments treat on terms of friendly equality. Nhroughout the whole of the negociations, the Japanese Government has acted in a way to gain respect, both for its moderation and its clear-sightedness, and is fairly entitled to the congratulations of European powers for having removed one of the stumbling-blocks and possible causes of contention existing in the Far Bast. So long as Corea remained in the impractical attitude adopted within the last ten years, there was a continual danger of an opening being left to interfere. Russia was steadily creeping down the coast, and was openly desirous of obtaining territory in some position where she would be in possession of a port open all the year through. It seemed not unlikely that' the war party in Japan would push matters to extremes, in the hope of regaining the suzerainty over the country, while France and America had both unsettled disputes with the Govern. ment, It is, therefore, fortunate that wiser councils prevailed in Japan, and that the Government, while prepared if occasion required, to make use of force to cause the settlement of its claims, preferred to treat on terms perfectly consistent with the dignity of both countries. The Corean Govern ment has gained so much, that in the future it may claim to be recognised as a perfectly independent state; and this it owes to the Jepanese, who first having obtained from China the withdrawal of all possible duims to control the independent action of Corea, supplemented this by their own volun. tary relinquishment of any claims to suzerainty. The former relations of Japan to Coren gave them this vantage pointing their negociations, and they may be complimented on the skilful use they shave made of it. Of course, much of the benefit to be derived from the Treaty depends on the negociations next year, when the Japanese will send their envoy to Corea to mako final arrangements. The foundation, however, is so far laid, that little beyond details will remain for adjustment, and the present treaties of European nations with Japan having been taken for a basis so far, it is to be presumed that they will still remain the models for the final adjustment. It can scarcely happen that Japan alone will continue to enjoy the privileges granted, nor does the Treaty seem to hint at any desire to do so. It will probably be found expedient to allow Japan to complete the work already so well begun; but we may expect that the year 1877 will see negociations entered into between Corea and Europe. In this matter. we see many advantages likely to accrue to Corea itself. A frank admission that it is prepared to act with the rest of the world in a friendly international manner, will remove temptations to interfere in its domestic concerns, and afford no pretext for encroaching powers, Japan will naturally be most interested in the opened trade of Corea, but doubtless a general foreign trade will spring up. The inhabitants have so long lived in isolation, and the country is apparently 80 little productive, that its direct trade will be found for many years to be of an unimportant nature. It will, bow-ever, complete the opening to the world of the entire Eastern coast of Asia; and this, if it does not at once lead to a development of commerce, will at least improve our political relations. If China, on her side, were to set herself to free her Western frontiers, and would frankly accept the inevitable with regard to her sea-board, she would not only increase her revenue, but would remove many of the most pressing dangers which her present unfriendly attitude is bringing down on her.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.