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codes, himself objected to the system of employing foreign judges in Japanese courts. The writings of these last two personages were secretly printed by a set of patriotic students and became freely circulated amongst the amateur politicians of Tokyo. Hence the creation of many new associations for opposing treaty revision in its present form, and the almost daily demonstrations in the city and the provinces.

A minor incident also added to the unpopularity of Count Inouye’s foreign policy. In October, 1886, an English steamer, the Normanton, was wrecked off the coast of Kisnin, and all on board were saved, except over forty Japanese cabin-passengers, every one of whom went down with the ship. Seeing that even a Chinese servant could be saved, the unfairness of the captain was apparent, and as public opinion loudly called for retribution, our Government indicted the captain before the British Consular Court, but after a protracted trial he did not receive the just punishment he deserved in the eyes of the Japanese people.

After twenty-nine sittings, on the 29th of July, 1887, Count Inouye was obliged to announce the adjournment of the conference sine die, on the ground that the codification of the civil and commercial laws had to be completed before proceeding to treaty revision. Count Inouye himself resigned his office, which he had held for eight years, and the fourth attempt at revision came to an end.

The Minister President, Marquis Ito, gave the portfolio of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Count Okuma on the 1st of February, 1888, and the latter at once devoted his whole energy to the work of treaty revision, leaving the routine of his department to the care of the Vice-Minister, Viscount Aoki. His policy was diametrically opposed to that of his predecessor, for he caused the existing treaties to be interpreted with great strictness and withdrew all such favours and benefits hitherto bestowed on foreigners in Japan as were not expressly stipulated therein, in order to make the foreign Governments themselves feel the necessity of revision. Among other things, he caused the most favoured nation clause to be interpreted conditionally, with the object of liberating Japan from the necessity of revising the treaties with all the Powers simultaneously.

First of all a treaty of amity and friendship was signed between Japan and Mexico on the 30th of November, 1888, and was the first treaty on the footing of perfect equality ever signed by the Japanese Government. The Japanese in Mexico and the Mexicans in Japan were allowed to travel, sojourn, or dwell in any part of the interior of the respective countries, with the sole incapacity that they were not allowed to own