[Untitled], February 28, 1868.
[Untitled]
Present, the representatives of France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, and the United States.
Taking into mature consideration the fact that hostilities have broken out in Japan between his Majesty the Mikado and the Tycoon, and that the only way to preserve a perfect neutrality between the contending parties is to regard them both as belligerents, the undersigned, having learned that vessels of war have been ordered by princes belonging to both the contending parties in Europe as well as in America, and are expected to arrive shortly in Japan, have come to the following conclusions:
That the fact of the delivery to either of the contending parties of any vessel of war arriving in the Japanese waters under the flag of one of the above-mentioned powers, and being therefore still under the jurisdiction of such power, would constitute a breach of neutrality.
1. That the possession of such vessel of war might enable either of the contending parties not only to blockade the open ports in Japan, and therefore to completely ruin the foreign commerce in this country, but also to offer formidable opposition to the naval forces of the treaty powers, in these seas, in case any difficulties should happen to arise between either of the belligerents and the treaty powers, a case not unlikely to occur in the present disturbed state of affairs in this country.
2. That, taking into consideration the above-mentioned reasons, the undersigned agree to use severally their utmost endeavors to prevent the delivery to either of the contending parties of vessels of war arriving in these waters; and they further agree that this understanding shall remain in force until they shall receive the instructions of their respective governments on this question, or until the restoration of peace shall render the continuance of such measures unnecessary.
3. This vote is executed by the undersigned this day in virtue of an understanding already arrived at by them on the 18th instant.