Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward
No. 43.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yokohama,
June 25, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit (No. 1)
translation of a letter of the minister of France in reply to the
notification of the Japanese government of the intention to close the
ports, and (No. 2) copy of the letter of the British chargé d’affaires.
I sent forward a copy of my letter on the 24th instant, via San
Francisco.
These letters were written without our having had a conference, which
would have been advisable, in view of the great importance of the
subject, had time been afforded. We were, however, compelled to reply
immediately on the receipt of the letter of the Japanese minister, as he
was on board a steamer, on his way to Osaca.
We have been told by the governor of Kanagawa that there is no intention
of enforcing these orders; but his. declarations may, at any moment, be
disavowed by the government. I thought—and it appears so also to my
colleagues—that the letter must speak for itself; that no clandestine
whispered explanations should be entitled to any weight in modifying its
offensive declarations.
At present, the government at Yedo, no doubt, honestly intend to preserve
peaceful relations, and is fully aware of the extreme folly of
attempting to carry the Kioto decrees into effect. The mass of papers I
have sent forward will enable the President to judge whether it will be
wise to depend too securely on the continuance of that policy, and
whether it is not apparent that an imposing exhibition of force can
alone be relied on.
I enclose (No. 3) translation of the orders of the Tycoon to Stotsbashi,
of the family of Mito, who is charged with the execution of the decree
of expulsion. I am indebted for this, as well as the important
proclamation handed to the Tycoon by the Mikado, at their secret
audience, (of which I have sent you a copy translated by a governor for
foreign affairs,) to Eugene M. Van Reed, an American citizen.
[Page 1123]
I hope my reply to the minister will be regarded as sufficiently pointed
and direct. It appeared to me an occasion when the living truth should
be spoken, and stand forth free from the cerements of diplomatic
phrases.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident in
Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.
The Minister of France to Ogasawara Dsusio No
Kami, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I received your excellency’s communication concerning the
instructions which you state to have received from the Tycoon in
relation to negotiations with me on the subject of closing the
Japanese ports opened to French trade by the treaty concluded by my
sovereign, in 1858, with the Tycoon of Japan, empire of the Mikado,
as stated in the act of ratification of the French treaty.
In reply, I have to say to your excellency, though your announcement
is not confirmed by the signature of your colleagues of the Gorogio
for foreign affairs, that I, as well as the government of the
Emperor, my august sovereign, consider that the treaty concluded
with Japan still remains in force, any notification by any Japanese
authority whatever to the contrary notwithstanding, and that it must
be executed according to the terms agreed upon with the Japanese
embassy sent to Europe in the course of last year.
I shall, nevertheless, transmit to France the audacious notification
which your excellency addressed to me, in order that it may be
promptly decided to take measures for redress for this fresh
violation of the right of nations, which is without precedent in the
history of civilized nations, and which may bring some chastisement
upon those who had the temerity to conceive it.
Considering that the treaties must remain in force until the arrival
of the reply of the imperial government, I have the honor to inform
your excellency, and to request you to make it known to all
authorities in Japan, that I have placed the safety of the subjects
of the Emperor, my sovereign, residing in this country, under the
protection of the French military forces in the China and Japan
seas, under the chief command of M. Admiral Jauris, now in Yokohama,
and that henceforth this general officer will take, as he may deem
proper, all necessary measures to act, by land or by sea, against
any one unwarrantably acting contrary to the spirit of the treaty of
1858.
With respect and esteem,
DUCHESNE DE BELLECOURT, Minister
Plenipotentiary of France, in Japan.
[Untitled]
Her Britannic Majesty’s
Legation, Yokohama,
June 24, 1863.
The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires in Japan,
has received, in common with his colleagues, and with extreme
amazement, the extraordinary announcement which, under instructions
from his Majesty the Tycoon, his excellency has addressed to
him.
Apart from the audacious nature of this announcement, which is
[Page 1124]
unaccompanied by any
explanations whatever, the undersigned is bound to believe that both
the spiritual and temporal sovereigns of this country are totally
ignorant of the disastrous consequences which must arise to Japan by
their determination, thus conveyed through you, to close the opened
ports, and to remove therefrom the subjects of the treaty
powers.
For himself, as representative of her Britannic Majesty, the
undersigned has to observe, in the first instance, that the rulers
of this country may, perhaps, still have it in their power to modify
and soften the severe and irresistible measures which will, without
the least doubt, be adopted by Great Britain, most effectually to
maintain and enforce its treaty obligations with this country; and
more than this, to place them on a far more satisfactory and solid
footing than heretofore, by speedily making known and developing any
rational and acceptable plans directed to this end, which may be at
present concealed by his Majesty the Tycoon, or by the Mikado, or by
both, to the great and imminent peril of Japan.
It is, therefore, the duty of the undersigned solemnly to warn the
rulers of this country, that when the decisions of her Majesty’s
government, consequent upon the receipt of your excellency’s
announcement, shall have in due course been taken, the development
of all ulterior determination now kept back will be of no avail.
The undersigned, in the meanwhile, has to inform your excellency,
with a view that you may bring the same to the knowledge of his
Majesty the Tycoon, who will doubtless make the same known to the
Mikado, that the indiscreet communication now made through your
excellency is unparalleled in the history of all nations, civilized
or uncivilized—that it is, in fact, a declaration of war by Japan
itself against the whole of the treaty powers, and the consequences
of which, if not at once arrested, it will have speedily to expiate
by the severest and most merited chastisement.
E. ST. JOHN NEALE, Her Britannic Majesty’s
Chargé d’Affaires in Japan.
His Excellency Ogasawara Dsusio No
Kami, Member of the Gorogio, &c.,
&c., &c., Yedo.
[Untitled]
Translation of a
document purporting to be an order from the Tycoon to the
Gorogio, dated
the 4th month, 20th day.
The time is positively fixed for the expulsion of the barbarians,
viz., the 10th day of the 5th month, (25th June,) as we have
determined to expel them, and have so represented to the Emperor.
Let it also be made known to all the princes.
TYE SHINGO, Tycoon.
On the return of Stotsbashi, (to Yedo,) when the negotiations for
expulsion take place, though there should be a series of
discussions, yet the main idea is the original treaties of commerce.
In consequence of our having opened the ports at first without
conferring with the Emperor, the minds of men in this exclusive
country have not been united; for this reason it is necessary to
negotiate for the absolute exclusion of the barbarians.
A communication for all the daimios as to the removal of the
barbarians. They must be utterly expelled on the 10th day of the 5th
month. Having received such instructions from the Emperor, let each
one of you, with an understanding of the foregoing, make every
preparation for the defence of the sea-coast of his domain, and when
invaders come, let them be utterly swept away.
The 4th Month.
