Official notification., this fifth day of September, A. D. 1866
Official notification.
By virtue of the powers vested in the undersigned by the 95th section of the order of her Majesty in council, dated the 9th day of March, A. D. 1865, and with the view of avoiding acts of disturbance or violence which might endanger the maintenance of peaceful relations between the government of Great Britain and Japan, the undersigned has made, and hereby promulgates, for the information and guidance of her Majesty’s subjects in Japan, the following regulation relating to the navigation of the strait of Simonoseki by British ships :
Regulation.
The conveyance by British ships through or into the strait of Simonoseki of troops or armed Japanese, or of Japanese passengers, in any larger number than may be authorized in each instance under the hand and seal of one of her Majesty’s consuls in Japan, or of arms and munitions of war, is from this date, and until further notice, strictly prohibited.
Every British merchant vessel must display her colors while passing through the said strait, and must not enter or pass through the said strait at night, and must also follow such other directions as may be given with the view of preventing danger or disturbance by the officer in command of any of her Majesty’s ships.
The limits of the strait of Simonoseki are those described in the regulation made and issued by the undersigned on the first day of the present month.
Any British merchant vessel wilfully infringing the above regulation forfeits all claim to her Majesty’s protection, and, as provided by the 97th section of the order in council aforesaid, may be compelled by the said commanding officer to desist from violating the above regulation, or may be seized and detained at the place of seizure, or may be taken to any port or place in Japan or elsewhere where the offence so committed may be most conveniently prosecuted.
In addition to the above proceedings against the vessel, every person convicted of a breach of this regulation may be punished by any of the penalties named in the 86th section of the order in council aforesaid, viz:
Imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months, with or without hard labor, and with or without a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, without imprisonment.