ABSTRACT
The Washington Conference's gradual approach toward eliminating extraterritoriality in China attempted to copy Japan's experience. From the 1850s until 1899 Japan had also been subjected to so-called unequal treaty relations with Western nations, but instead of protesting these inequalities, the Meiji government had quickly developed a Western legal system. Its efforts culminated in the 1896 adoption of a legal code based on the German model. 13 Once Japan adopted a modern legal code and court system, then all foreign extraterritorial rights were abolished in 1899. Meanwhile, Japanese citizens soon obtained extraterritorial rights in China like the other foreigners.14
