Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 535.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
November 13, 1863.
Sir: Under the directions contained in your
despatch No. 704, of the 9th of September last, I addressed a note to
Lord Russell on the 30th of that month. His reply, dated the 10th
instant, has been received this week. Copies of both papers are herewith
transmitted.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
September 30, 1863.
My Lord: I am directed by my government to
submit to your consideration the copy of an extract of a despatch
addressed to the Secretary of State by the minister resident of the
United States at Japan. Should it be deemed expedient by her
Majesty’s government to have recourse to any of the measures
suggested in it, I am instructed to say that the United States would
cheerfully direct Mr. Pruyn to labor on their part for their
adoption in the interest of all the Western Powers.
I pray your lordship to accept, &c., &c.,
Right Honorable Earl Russell, &c., &c.
[Extract from Mr. Pruyn’s No. 45, to Mr.
Seward.]
[Page LIX]
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
November 10, 1863.
Sir: Her Majesty’s government have
attentively considered the matter referred to in your letter of the
30th of September, and they request that you will have the goodness
to express to the government of the United States their
acknowledgment for the friendly offer conveyed in your letter to
instruct the United States minister in Japan to co-operate with the
representatives of other powers, with a view of making such a
communication to the government of Japan as was indicated in the
letters addressed by Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons, on the 14th and 20th
of May, 1861, and also of carrying out the other measures which Mr.
Pruyn, in his letter of the 27th of June last, appears to consider
essential for the improvement of the position of foreigners in
Japan.
Her Majesty’s government, however, looking to the uncertain state in
which matters at present appear to be in Japan, think it better to
wait till the further progress of events shall show more clearly the
line of policy which will be most conducive to the relations of
peace and the development of commerce with Japan.
It would appear from the correspondence of the minister of the Prince
of Satsuma with Colonel Neale, recently published in the London
Gazette, that the power and right of making treaties is acknowledged
by that powerful daimio to reside in the Tycoon.
But I need scarcely assure you that her Majesty’s government set
great value on the co-operation of the United States minister in
Japan with the representatives of her Majesty and of other European
powers, in their endeavors to place affairs in that country on a
footing generally advantageous to all foreign nations having
intercourse with us.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
